Royal Quiz Question

What is the nearest country to the UK that the Queen has not yet visited?

In fact, no british monarch has visited this country in the whole of its existence as a sovereign state. Where is this pariah state? What have they done to deserve such antipathy?

Well, if you are struggling, here are some clues:

• They speak English
• They have just had a general election
• The President of this country is a british citizen

If you haven't guessed, or didn't know, then the answer is Ireland (Eire). It looks like the long-time ruling party, Fianna Fail, have been trounced in yesterday's general election. Fianna Fail ('Soldiers of Destiny') grew out of the opposition to the creation of a partitioned state, and were originally led by Eamon deValera (Alan Rickman in the film 'Michael Collins'). They have been in power for over sixty of the last eighty years.

Their main opposition, Fine Gael ('Tribe of the Irish'), were originally supporters of those who had advocated partition - led by Michael Collins (Liam Neeson in the film). They now look like they will form a coalition government with the Irish Labour Party and they certainly look like they have got a job on their hands. Loans from the IMF and the EU have come with strict conditions and the Irish look set for many years of austerity.

Maybe that's where the Queen comes in. Maybe the Irish need a bit of a distraction at present - a touch of royal soap opera might be just the ticket. However, given the simmering bitterness that some republicans hold for all-things-british, it is unlikely that she will be getting on her bike for a cycling holiday round the Ring of Kerry.

                                                       Ready for trouble...

This first historic visit, scheduled for shortly after the royal wedding, is likely to be confined to Dublin, where security is easier to ensure. It will be interesting to see how the people of Ireland respond - though somehow, I don't expect too many Dubliners out waving union flags in O Connell Street.