London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Jun 30, 2025

Irish president urged to attend centenary service with Queen

Irish president urged to attend centenary service with Queen

DUP leader criticises Michael D Higgins’ decision not to attend service marking 1921 partition
Ireland’s president, Michael D Higgins, has triggered a political row with Northern Ireland’s unionists by shunning a commemoration of the island’s partition 100 years ago.

Higgins said he would not attend a church service with the Queen next month to mark the creation of Northern Ireland because the event had become politicised.

Higgins also said the invitation had referred incorrectly to him as the president of the Republic of Ireland, rather than the president of Ireland.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the leader of the Democratic Unionist party (DUP), on Friday accused Higgins of impeding reconciliation and urged him to reconsider. The Ulster Unionist party and Alliance expressed disappointment at the president’s decision. Some called it insulting and disrespectful.

The row caught the British and Irish governments off guard because Higgins, a largely ceremonial head of state who is independent of the Irish government, has often championed reconciliation, including appearing alongside Queen Elizabeth and in 2014 making the first state visit by an Irish head of state to the UK.

It is the most serious diplomatic flare-up in a year-long series of events to mark the creation of Northern Ireland in 1921. Formed from six of Ireland’s 32 counties, it had a Protestant majority that wished to remain under British rule while the rest of Ireland obtained de facto independence.

Sinn Féin and the SDLP, which represent Irish nationalists in Northern Ireland, have shunned many centenary events, leaving the British government and unionists to mark the state’s foundation with a low-key programme.

Higgins had been expected to join the Queen at a religious service in Armagh on 21 October. Earlier this week, it emerged he would not attend, prompting unionists to seek clarification. After several days of silence, Higgins on Thursday briefed Irish journalists who are covering his four-day visit to Rome, where he is due to meet Pope Francis.

The president said the title of the event, which it stated was to “mark the centenaries of the partition of Ireland and the formation of Northern Ireland”, made it inappropriate for him to attend.

“What [had started out as] an invitation to a religious service had in fact become a political statement” he told the Irish Times. “I was also referred to as the president of the Republic of Ireland. I am the president of Ireland.”

Referring to the Queen, he said: “I am not snubbing anyone and I am not part of anyone’s boycott of any other events in Northern Ireland. I wish their service well but they understand that I have the right to exercise a discretion as to what I think is appropriate for my attendance.”

Higgins bristled at DUP claims that this amounted to a snub. “It’s a bit much, to be frank with you. I have gone up to Northern Ireland to take part in events. There often has not been a great deal of traffic down from the DUP people who are criticising me now.”

Donaldson told the BBC on Friday the president’s comments were disappointing and “not conducive” to reconciliation. “Failing to recognise the existence of Northern Ireland does not help anybody.”

The Irish government said it would consider any invitation for a government representative to attend and that the president was free to make his own decision.

In a comment piece for the Guardian in February, Higgins urged all sides to remember complex, uncomfortable aspects of Britain and Ireland’s shared history.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
Russian Shadow Payments via Cryptocurrency Reach $9 Billion
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
×