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BRITAIN’S KING CHARLES spoke Irish during a visit to Belfast today, where he met with First Minister Michelle O’Neill, PSNI officers and a number of sportspeople representing Northern Ireland.
This afternoon, Charles held private audience with O’Neill and, separately, with DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at Hillsborough Castle.
According to Sinn Féin, the British royal greeted the First Minister as Gaeilge, saying: “Trathnona maith, a Chead Aire (Good afternoon, First Minister)”.
O’Neill in turn also spoke Irish, replying “Trathnona maith duitse fosta. Cad e mar ata tu? (Good afternoon to you, too. How are you?)”
During his visit, Charles also travelled to to the Newforge Sports Complex and Event Hub, where he was greeted by Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long and PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher
Upon arrival, Charles was shown a showcase of sport drills taking place on the lower pitch, including rugby, football, hockey and GAA.
Charles learned about the forging of cross-community links that have been developed and maintained through the Newforge development, and met the chairperson of east Belfast GAA Kimberly Robertson.
He also met PSNI representatives and presented an award to the force’s peer support and wellbeing volunteers.
In an impromptu speech, Charles expressed his admiration for the “thin green line” of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Charles told a roomful of officers in Belfast they are owed “an enormous debt of gratitude which can never really be paid enough”.
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Well done King Charles fair play sir.
Anybody making an effort should be commended.
Lovely to see us unifying with our neighbours. Respect and gratitude.
Very good, very nice
Maith an fear a Cathal. Buladh bos.
@Anthony Curran: In the King’s English please.
@damien leen: póg mo thóin Damo.
Always seemed a decent skin that lad
@Derek Moran: Yes, civil and inoffensive, his mother was the same!
Bet Gregory Campbell was thrilled!
@Lulu: that will curry his yoghurt.
A true friend to Ireland! As well as Jimmy Saville and Jeffrey Epstein..
@Vladimir Poutine: what have two pedophiles got to do with anything?
Tiocfaidh do lá…
Lovely to hear him saying Tiocfaidh ar la
mar sin dúirt sé cúpla focal i nGaeilge, tar éis a theaghlach agus a chomhghleacaithe cosc a chur air agus pionós a ghearradh ar aon duine é a labhairt. anois is fear iontach é cuimhnigh ar do stair
Hearing reports Sammy Wilson’s head has just exploded.
@Ken Fallon: Ali G: so you is Irish Sammy?
Wilson, clearly offended: certainly not, I’m British.
Ali G: ah so you is on holidays innit?
Chuckee …. (I’ll get me coat)
When is he giving us our country back . He was also a member of the Para’s who murdered innocent civilians on Bloody Sunday .
Maybe when Ireland is united we can pay him on the back for such trivia..
It has taken thousands of years for a British monarch to speak his neighbour language. That alone tells you what you need to know
@BL Music: Blah blah blah blah, so bloody boring.
Good on you Charlie, you always seemed like a decent sort. I liked your Mother too, although she was probably a bit more aloof.
Michelle shaking hands with her boss .
Gregory Campbell the DUP Last week Mr Campbell began a question to the culture minister by saying: “Curry my yogurt, can coca coalyer.”
The Irish sentence “Go raibh maith agat, Ceann Comhairle” translates as “Thank you, Speaker” and is used by nationalist MLAs in the chamber.
Mr McGuinness said some unionists had a hatred of the Irish language.
Yis are missing a few fadas there
Fear an-mhaith. Bualadh bás.
It was not easy when your great uncle and father figure got blown up on a boat off the coast of Donegal. Tit for tat.
Hold your tongue aul Charlie horse.
@Colin Savage: He was certainly Prince Andrew’s father figure, judging by what’s now known about them both.
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