Following a morning meeting with the President of Ireland, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex carried out a variety of interesting engagements in Dublin.
Harry and Meghan's second engagement of the day saw them visit Croke Park, the home of the Gaelic Athletic Association.
They were accompanied by several officials including John Horan, President of the GAA; Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Colin Regan and Tánaiste Simon Coveney. The Tánaiste is the deputy head of government of Ireland and the second-most senior officer in the Government. Below, Meghan chatting with Mr Coveney.
The couple enjoyed a Gaelic sports festival.
More from the Mail Online:
The Duke and Duchess met young footballers.
Harry and Meghan met Lorcan Madden and Sarah Clegg who discussed wheelchair hurling with them.
Back to the Mail Online story:
This little girl was very excited to meet Meghan.
The pair were incredibly popular with the children they met. This photo is priceless.
The Duke and Duchess were eager to learn more about Ireland's culture and heritage and had a fantastic opportunity to do so with a visit to Trinity College.
They saw the Book of Kells, one of Ireland's greatest cultural treasures.
The Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript Gospel book in Latin, containing the four Gospels of the New Testament together with various prefatory texts and tables. It was created in a Columban monastery in either Britain or Ireland. It is believed to have been created c. 800 AD.
It is a masterwork of Western calligraphy and represents the pinnacle of Insular illumination. It is also widely regarded as Ireland's finest national treasure.
They also visited the Long Room of the Old Library.
They viewed the Brian Boru Harp at Trinity, it is the oldest surviving Irish harp and the model of the Insignia of Ireland.
The Mirror reports:
From there, the couple walked on the cobblestones to great the waiting crowds.
They say Ireland is the land of a thousand welcomes - that was certainly the case in Dublin today.
Prince Harry was particularly taken with an adorable little girl who was upset.
People reports:
Elizabeth Ring, a 19-year-old law student, said of her conversation with the couple: “Meghan said Dublin was her favourite city. Harry said he’d come back with his jacket over his head, incognito.”
The Mirror writes "Royal fan Chloe Mullins, 19, gave the couple a framed sketch she had done of their engagement photograph. Harry said ‘you’ve given me more hair’,” she disclosed. “He saw it and was like, wow. Meghan came over and he said ‘look at this, what do you think of it? She said wow too and thanked me for it.” Told she was coping well with walking on cobblestones in her high heels, the Duchess replied: “I’m trying!” Katie Balfe, who is studying journalism, appeared emotional as she spoke to the Duchess, telling her she was a personal “inspiration” as a high profile advocate of women’s rights. “She said she was really enjoying her visit and that what I said made it even more special,” she said."
The video below has nice footage from the Trinity visit and walkabout.
Meghan received so many flowers, Harry stepped in to help :)
Then it was time for a spot of lunch. They stopped at Delahunt Camden, a modern Irish restaurant and cocktail bar. Omid Scobie reports they enjoyed smoked salmon served with dill pickled cucumber. Meghan had Roast hake served with curried mussels and saffron potatoes and Harry had the lamb for the main course. The pair shared a pint of Guinness for dessert.
Before leaving, they posed for a photo with staff.
The Duke and Duchess had a moment for reflection at the Famine Memorial. The statues commemorate the Great Famine of the mid 19th century. During the famine approximately 1 million people died and a million more emigrated from Ireland, causing the island's population to fall by between 20% and 25%. No event in history has had a more profound effect on Ireland and the worldwide Irish Community.
Rebecca English said the royals were left "powerfully moved" by the memorial.
Omid Scobie said Harry told sculptor Rowan Gillespie that famine “is happening all around us today” and that people should be looking at “what we’re not dealing with.”
They also visited EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum, telling the story of the 10 million Irish people who have emigrated across the world.
Meghan was presented with native Irish flowers by seven year old Maria Dempsey who wore a blue dress by Irish designer Paul Costello.
The museum said "The couple got to uncover stories from the celebrated to the unsung and how Irish emigrants shaped the world, with the focus on what they brought with them, not what they left behind. Their Royal Highnesses walked through the state-of-the-art interactive galleries, complete with touch screens, motion sensor quizzes and a feast of powerful audio and video that bring to life what it means to be Irish."
In the music gallery, Harry recognised the music of Riverdance immediately and the royal couple also got to listen to early recordings of traditional Irish music on gramophones. Meghan was "delighted" to see the work of her favourite Irish milliner Philip Treacy on show.
Reacting to a quote by Mary Robinson displayed in the museum, the Duchess remarked that she admired the former Irish President, whom she chatted with at the summer party last night. I mentioned in last night's post, Mary Robinson is a One Young World Counsellor, Meghan served as a Counsellor with the organisation for several years. They both appeared in a piece for Vanity Fair in 2016 following a summit in Ottawa.
Neville Isdell, Founder and Chairman of EPIC, says, “One of the driving forces behind founding EPIC was to highlight how important emigration is to Ireland’s history. I’ve always believed that the story of Irish people around the world was one worth telling and it’s a great privilege to share that with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The Irish have long had a close connection with the United Kingdom, particularly in our diaspora community.”
Harry and Meghan's final stop was DogPatch labs, a co-working space for technology start-ups located in Dublin's 'Digital Docklands'.
The couple met children and young people taking part in free coding workshops.
More from The Mirror:
Meghan was chic in a sleek black Givenchy suit for the day. The suit was a very good choice for the variety of engagements and walkabouts on the itinerary. The double breasted blazer and tailored trousers made for a professional ensemble. Meghan teamed it with a white top underneath.
Lavender Hill Clothing England told the lovely ladies at What Meghan Wore, the Duchess wore their £34 Boat T-Shirt today. The piece is described as "The boat is a take on our classic scoop with a twist - its reversible! The flattering neckline, rolled cuffs and scooped back make this t-shirt perfect for day-night wear. Pair it with a pencil skirt and blazer during the day and at night take off the blazer for a sexier look. Made from our cotton modal blended fabric, the t-shirt is super soft and lightweight.The fabric is knitted in Austria and manufactured in England."
Meghan wore her Givenchy Black 2G Buckle Belt. Made in Italy, it retails for $450.
Perth Fashion identified Meghan's clutch as the Givenchy GV3 Frame Bag.
Meghan's Sarah Flint Perfect pumps completed the look.
A recap of Meghan's Dublin wardrobe. Which look is your favourite? The green Givenchy crew neck top and skirt styled with a tan Strathberry tote and stylish pumps gets my vote!
The visit was a resounding success. I thought the itinerary brilliantly planned; we saw a focus on Ireland's history and cultural heritage, and the Irish capital offered the Duke and Duchess an incredibly warm welcome. It came as no surprise to hear the city is Meghan's favourite. Relations with Ireland are hugely important to Charles and with tricky waters to navigate as Brexit unfolds with neighbouring EU countries, there has never been a more appropriate time to strengthen the relationship between the younger generation of royals and overseas countries. It was very much a visit focused on people. From Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to President Michael D. Higgins and his wife, Meghan has proved herself more than adept when it comes to representing Britain with leaders abroad.
It was good to see her accomplishments highlighted, from her time at Northwestern University to her previous visits to Ireland and her work with One Young World. Meghan is drawing on her experiences and bringing them into her role. She was obviously very well informed; a fact which was evident during the reception last night when she met cervical cancer campaigner Vicky Phelan and told her she has been following her story. There were many references throughout to women's issues and it was encouraging to hear so many who met her told her they look forward to seeing her work supporting women moving forward. This is merely the beginning of a lifetime representing the monarchy abroad; I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to their two to three-week tour of Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Fiji in October :)
Harry and Meghan's second engagement of the day saw them visit Croke Park, the home of the Gaelic Athletic Association.
They were accompanied by several officials including John Horan, President of the GAA; Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Colin Regan and Tánaiste Simon Coveney. The Tánaiste is the deputy head of government of Ireland and the second-most senior officer in the Government. Below, Meghan chatting with Mr Coveney.
The couple enjoyed a Gaelic sports festival.
More from the Mail Online:
'The couple also spoke to Ciarán Harkin, 16, from Galway, and Cera Kenny, 17, from Kildare, both youth leaders. Cera said: 'She was saying how important it was to stay in your community and bring on younger children.'
However they were both most impressed at the way Harry refused to move when an official tried moving the duke on to the next group waiting to meet him. Cera said: 'When he was being rushed, he said no, two more minutes.'
Ciaran said: 'He was very genuine and real.'
The informality of the event was emphasised when the Tanaiste, or deputy prime minister, Simon Coveney stepped in to take a picture on a parent's phone of Harry and Meghan posing with a young man in a wheelchair.'
The Duke and Duchess met young footballers.
Harry and Meghan met Lorcan Madden and Sarah Clegg who discussed wheelchair hurling with them.
Back to the Mail Online story:
'Colin Regan, the GAA's community and health manager, said: 'Meghan was particularly interested in the fact that there were boys and girls playing sports together. She said she had not seen that before, really.' She was also struck by Sarah Cregg, who plays wheelchair hurling with the Connacht provincial team. Mr Regan said: 'She said, 'Good on you, Sarah,' She asked if it was a physical game. She said it was. She liked that Sarah was mixing it with the lads. She thought that was very empowering.'
This little girl was very excited to meet Meghan.
The pair were incredibly popular with the children they met. This photo is priceless.
The Duke and Duchess were eager to learn more about Ireland's culture and heritage and had a fantastic opportunity to do so with a visit to Trinity College.
They saw the Book of Kells, one of Ireland's greatest cultural treasures.
The Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript Gospel book in Latin, containing the four Gospels of the New Testament together with various prefatory texts and tables. It was created in a Columban monastery in either Britain or Ireland. It is believed to have been created c. 800 AD.
It is a masterwork of Western calligraphy and represents the pinnacle of Insular illumination. It is also widely regarded as Ireland's finest national treasure.
They also visited the Long Room of the Old Library.
They viewed the Brian Boru Harp at Trinity, it is the oldest surviving Irish harp and the model of the Insignia of Ireland.
The Mirror reports:
'The Duchess of Sussex promised to return to Ireland’s oldest library after she was told of plans to include the first female bust in its iconic Long Room. Prince Harry and Meghan, a keen feminist, were shown around the Hogwarts-style library, often described as the most beautiful room in Ireland, at Trinity College Dublin.
Showing them around, senior librarian Helen Shenton, the first female librarian to work there since it opened in 1752, remarked that though there were 37 busts of classical writers and senior figures on display, including Aristotle and Cicero, none of them was of a woman, which was something she intended to change.
“As they were leaving, she said ‘I’ll come back and look out for that first woman bust’,” said Shenton. Keen calligrapher Meghan described the Book of Kells, Ireland’s greatest cultural treasure and the world most famous medieval illuminated manuscript, as “amazing, beautiful”.
From there, the couple walked on the cobblestones to great the waiting crowds.
They say Ireland is the land of a thousand welcomes - that was certainly the case in Dublin today.
Prince Harry was particularly taken with an adorable little girl who was upset.
People reports:
"As the couple greeted fans in Dublin, Elaine Adam-Stewart, 43, told Harry, “My husband also has red hair and he gave me five children — when are you and Meghan going to get going?” Harry saw the funny side, Adam-Stewart tells PEOPLE. “He laughed and said ‘five children? — too many."
Elizabeth Ring, a 19-year-old law student, said of her conversation with the couple: “Meghan said Dublin was her favourite city. Harry said he’d come back with his jacket over his head, incognito.”
The Mirror writes "Royal fan Chloe Mullins, 19, gave the couple a framed sketch she had done of their engagement photograph. Harry said ‘you’ve given me more hair’,” she disclosed. “He saw it and was like, wow. Meghan came over and he said ‘look at this, what do you think of it? She said wow too and thanked me for it.” Told she was coping well with walking on cobblestones in her high heels, the Duchess replied: “I’m trying!” Katie Balfe, who is studying journalism, appeared emotional as she spoke to the Duchess, telling her she was a personal “inspiration” as a high profile advocate of women’s rights. “She said she was really enjoying her visit and that what I said made it even more special,” she said."
The video below has nice footage from the Trinity visit and walkabout.
Meghan received so many flowers, Harry stepped in to help :)
Then it was time for a spot of lunch. They stopped at Delahunt Camden, a modern Irish restaurant and cocktail bar. Omid Scobie reports they enjoyed smoked salmon served with dill pickled cucumber. Meghan had Roast hake served with curried mussels and saffron potatoes and Harry had the lamb for the main course. The pair shared a pint of Guinness for dessert.
Before leaving, they posed for a photo with staff.
The Duke and Duchess had a moment for reflection at the Famine Memorial. The statues commemorate the Great Famine of the mid 19th century. During the famine approximately 1 million people died and a million more emigrated from Ireland, causing the island's population to fall by between 20% and 25%. No event in history has had a more profound effect on Ireland and the worldwide Irish Community.
Rebecca English said the royals were left "powerfully moved" by the memorial.
Omid Scobie said Harry told sculptor Rowan Gillespie that famine “is happening all around us today” and that people should be looking at “what we’re not dealing with.”
They also visited EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum, telling the story of the 10 million Irish people who have emigrated across the world.
Meghan was presented with native Irish flowers by seven year old Maria Dempsey who wore a blue dress by Irish designer Paul Costello.
The museum said "The couple got to uncover stories from the celebrated to the unsung and how Irish emigrants shaped the world, with the focus on what they brought with them, not what they left behind. Their Royal Highnesses walked through the state-of-the-art interactive galleries, complete with touch screens, motion sensor quizzes and a feast of powerful audio and video that bring to life what it means to be Irish."
In the music gallery, Harry recognised the music of Riverdance immediately and the royal couple also got to listen to early recordings of traditional Irish music on gramophones. Meghan was "delighted" to see the work of her favourite Irish milliner Philip Treacy on show.
Reacting to a quote by Mary Robinson displayed in the museum, the Duchess remarked that she admired the former Irish President, whom she chatted with at the summer party last night. I mentioned in last night's post, Mary Robinson is a One Young World Counsellor, Meghan served as a Counsellor with the organisation for several years. They both appeared in a piece for Vanity Fair in 2016 following a summit in Ottawa.
Neville Isdell, Founder and Chairman of EPIC, says, “One of the driving forces behind founding EPIC was to highlight how important emigration is to Ireland’s history. I’ve always believed that the story of Irish people around the world was one worth telling and it’s a great privilege to share that with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The Irish have long had a close connection with the United Kingdom, particularly in our diaspora community.”
Harry and Meghan's final stop was DogPatch labs, a co-working space for technology start-ups located in Dublin's 'Digital Docklands'.
The couple met children and young people taking part in free coding workshops.
More from The Mirror:
'Meghan spoke to Aisling Cowap, 13, about her website she designed and coded called ‘Girls do Code’, for which she won the Best Female Led prize at Coolest Projects International in May. Aisling said: “The Duchess said it was really special that I was showing her my website. Harry said my project was cool and that it would help other girls get into coding just like me.”
During a meeting with a cross section of social leaders, the Duke and Duchess discussed the importance of empowering women from diverse backgrounds with the skills to get involved in the tech industry.
In a moment of bashful self depreciation Harry said “These children are so impressive - I can’t even work an excel spreadsheet”.
Meghan was chic in a sleek black Givenchy suit for the day. The suit was a very good choice for the variety of engagements and walkabouts on the itinerary. The double breasted blazer and tailored trousers made for a professional ensemble. Meghan teamed it with a white top underneath.
Lavender Hill Clothing England told the lovely ladies at What Meghan Wore, the Duchess wore their £34 Boat T-Shirt today. The piece is described as "The boat is a take on our classic scoop with a twist - its reversible! The flattering neckline, rolled cuffs and scooped back make this t-shirt perfect for day-night wear. Pair it with a pencil skirt and blazer during the day and at night take off the blazer for a sexier look. Made from our cotton modal blended fabric, the t-shirt is super soft and lightweight.The fabric is knitted in Austria and manufactured in England."
Meghan wore her Givenchy Black 2G Buckle Belt. Made in Italy, it retails for $450.
Perth Fashion identified Meghan's clutch as the Givenchy GV3 Frame Bag.
A recap of Meghan's Dublin wardrobe. Which look is your favourite? The green Givenchy crew neck top and skirt styled with a tan Strathberry tote and stylish pumps gets my vote!
The visit was a resounding success. I thought the itinerary brilliantly planned; we saw a focus on Ireland's history and cultural heritage, and the Irish capital offered the Duke and Duchess an incredibly warm welcome. It came as no surprise to hear the city is Meghan's favourite. Relations with Ireland are hugely important to Charles and with tricky waters to navigate as Brexit unfolds with neighbouring EU countries, there has never been a more appropriate time to strengthen the relationship between the younger generation of royals and overseas countries. It was very much a visit focused on people. From Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to President Michael D. Higgins and his wife, Meghan has proved herself more than adept when it comes to representing Britain with leaders abroad.
It was good to see her accomplishments highlighted, from her time at Northwestern University to her previous visits to Ireland and her work with One Young World. Meghan is drawing on her experiences and bringing them into her role. She was obviously very well informed; a fact which was evident during the reception last night when she met cervical cancer campaigner Vicky Phelan and told her she has been following her story. There were many references throughout to women's issues and it was encouraging to hear so many who met her told her they look forward to seeing her work supporting women moving forward. This is merely the beginning of a lifetime representing the monarchy abroad; I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to their two to three-week tour of Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Fiji in October :)