The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Make Official Visit to Ireland
24 February 2020
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will undertake an official visit to Ireland between Tuesday 3rd March and Thursday 5th March, at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The visit, which will see Their Royal Highnesses spend time in Dublin, County Meath, County Kildare and Galway, will highlight the many strong links between the UK and Ireland.
From its thriving cities to rural communities, the programme will take in Ireland’s rich culture, its impactful community initiatives and spectacular scenery. Following Her Majesty The Queen’s historic visit in 2011, the visit will also focus on the relationship between the two countries, and build on the theme of remembrance and reconciliation.
During the three-day tour, The Duke and Duchess will learn about local organisations working to support and empower young people and projects which provide opportunities to help them develop important life skills. Their Royal Highnesses will also hear more about Ireland’s conservation initiatives and efforts to protect its environment, with a particular focus on sustainable farming and marine conservation.
2020 will see Galway host the European Capital of Culture on behalf of Ireland – a showcase of events highlighting the richness and diversity of Irish culture, art and sport. During their time in Galway, The Duke and Duchess will have the opportunity to experience a taste of modern and traditional Irish culture for themselves.
Throughout the visit, Their Royal Highness will meet a broad range of people, including the President, the Taoiseach and senior political leaders, children and young people, and those working in the creative arts, business and charity sectors.
The UK’s links with Ireland are extensive, and The Duke and Duchess are looking forward to building a lasting friendship with the Irish people.
Tuesday 3rd March 2020
Engagement 1:
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will arrive at Dublin Airport, where they will be met by representatives from the Irish government and the British Ambassador to Ireland.
Engagement 2:
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be received by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, at Áras an Uachtaráin, Phoenix Park, Dublin.
Engagement 3:
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will attend a ceremony and lay a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin city centre. A place of remembrance and reflection, the Garden of Remembrance is dedicated to those who gave their lives for Irish independence.
Engagement 4:
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will meet caretaker Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar at Government Buildings, Merrion Street, Dublin.
Engagement 5:
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will attend a reception at Guinness Storehouse’s Gravity Bar hosted by the British Ambassador to Ireland. Their Royal Highnesses will meet a broad range of people from the creative arts, sport, business and charity sectors.
Wednesday 4th March 2020
Engagement 1:
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit the mental health support service Jigsaw in Dublin’s Temple Bar district. TRH will meet young people who have been supported by the charity.
Engagement 2:
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit Savannah House in Co Kildare, a residential facility run by the social justice charity Extern. The couple visited their Roscor youth village last year.
Engagement 3:
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be in Co. Meath to hear more about Teagasc Research Farm’s to promote sustainable farming across Ireland and meet farmers who have implemented the research into their own practices.
Engagement 4:
The Duke and Duchess will visit Howth Cliff, a spectacular cliff walk north of Dublin with views out over the Irish Sea. Here, Their Royal Highnesses will meet representatives from the Marine Institute, a state agency responsible for marine research, technology development and innovation in Ireland. As they walk along the cliff path, the Duke and Duchess will learn more about the impact of climate change and conservation efforts around Ireland’s coastline.
Engagement 5:
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will attend a reception hosted by the Tánaiste, Simon Coveney, at the Museum of Literature Ireland in central Dublin.
Thursday 5th March 2020
Engagement 1:
2020 will see Galway host the European Capital of Culture on behalf of Ireland – a showcase of events highlighting the richness and diversity of Irish culture, and the country’s proud history of artistic endeavour. The Duke and Duchess will attend a special event at Tribeton featuring a number of Galway 2020’s acts, including Livefeed, Hoops and the Galway Community Circus, and will meet performers, young people and volunteers.
Engagement 2:
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit Tig Coili, a family-owned, traditional Irish pub in Galway city centre, where they will meet local Galwegians who volunteer to promote the city and its people. On departure, Their Royal Highnesses will have the opportunity to meet members of the public gathered on King Street.
Engagement 3:
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit a local Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club to learn more about traditional sports which are popular across Ireland, including hurling and Gaelic football. The GAA has over 2,200 clubs in all 32 counties of Ireland. Every summer, the inter-county All-Ireland Championships in hurling and football capture the attention of the Irish public and around 1.5 million people attend the GAA Championships from May to September.
During the visit, Their Royal Highnesses will join children and young people from the club’s teams as they take part in matches on the pitch.
Catch up on The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s most recent engagements, in the latest issue of Royal Life magazine.
