Dublin’s Lord Mayor denies seeking full ban on royals from 1916 centenary
Dublin’s Lord Mayor Christy Burke has strongly disputed claims he was looking to ban members of the British royal family from attending any part of the 1916 centenary commemoration.
Burke, a former Sinn Fein councillor, was responding to a report in the Irish Times this morning that he was looking for a full ban on any royal presence at the commemoration.
Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland show, the Lord Mayor said he was reacting to concerns raised to him by members of the public.
“I'm asking the Taoiseach if he would consider not putting any members of the royal family in the front row or strategic positions during the 2016 commemorative, given the fact that relatives of men and women of 1916 have yet to be told that they will be even in attendance,” said Burke.
“I'm not setting out to block any member of the royal family from attending any event in Dublin.”
The Independent councillor stressed: "If the Taoiseach is going to invite members of the Royal Family to dinner, or Michael D, that's fine by me. Who am I to stop it?”
“My aim is not to insult or to block, which (were) the words used by the Irish Times. I wish journalists would report adequately and honestly rather then make up what they believe is what I’m saying,” he said.
