Charles to visit site of Mountbatten assassination

On August 27 1979, the 79-year-old cousin of the Queen was targeted by the IRA as he set off with family and a local teenager to gather lobster pots and fish for shrimp less than 600m from the harbour of the normally peaceful fishing village.

Lord Mountbatten was killed along with Lady Doreen Brabourne, the 83-year-old mother-in-law of the earl’s daughter, his 14-year-old grandson Nicholas Knatchbull and 14-year-old Paul Maxwell, from Killynur, Enniskillen.

Charles, who is said to be excited by the prospect of his first official visit to Ireland in 13 years, will be in Mullaghmore following a service of peace and reconciliation at St Columba’s Church, in nearby Drumcliffe.

Visiting the site of his great-uncle’s murder and combining it with the themes at the prayer service a few miles away is widely seen as the next phase in ever deepening relations, friendships and bonds between the two countries.

Some representatives from Sinn Féin will take part in some events, but the party has not revealed which.

Joined by Camills the Duchess of Cornwall, Charles will also visit the grave of WB Yeats who is buried under the shadow of Benbulben.

On the eve of the trip, Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan said: "The visit programme celebrates the depth and potential of 21st century Irish-British links, while also acknowledging more difficult moments from the past.“

“I recall that the Prince of Wales had made peace and reconciliation central themes in his previous official visits in 1995 and 2002, both of which came during important stages of the Northern Ireland Peace Process.

“Reconciliation and dealing with the past are issues that can still challenge us, and were the subject of the Stormont House Agreement reached in Belfast last December. We are now working hard to realise the potential of that agreement.”

Mr Flanagan acknowledged the personal side of the trip and added: “Above all we will celebrate the strength of Irish-British relations today.”

It will be the royal couple’s first official engagement in Ireland but not the first time in the country for either of them as both have visited many times in a personal capacity including the Prince’s trips to the Duke of Devonshire’s Lismore Castle in Co Cork.

Charles was last in the south on formal business in 2002 and had previously been in the country in 1995.

The invitation to the west of Ireland was extended after the Prince and Duchess welcomed President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina on an official trip to Britain last year.

The list of engagements begins tomorrow at the National University of Ireland Galway where they will mark the city’s and the college’s links with Britain and a reception featuring Irish crafts, music and dance.

Charles will then attend the Marine Institute where he will be met by Taoiseach Enda Kenny before travelling south to the Burren in Co Clare. Both engagements will allow the Prince to highlight environment and conservation projects.

That night they will join President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina for a private dinner in Lough Cutra Castle.

The royal couple will travel to Sligo on their second day, beginning with a civic reception featuring performances of Irish poetry and music and a viewing of the Niland Art Collection at the Model contemporary arts centre before moving on to the local institute of technology.

The most significant engagement at Mullaghmore then takes place where it is expected the royals will have an opportunity to meet with locals and see some of the locations synonymous with Lord Mountbatten and his death.

A number of people who were there on the day of the assassination are expected to attend.

It is understood the royals are keen for the themes of peace and reconciliation to be strong throughout their visit while it has also been suggested they are looking forward to meeting as many people as possible.

Other themes they are keen to develop are the importance of heritage, community, conservation and innovation some of which was evident in the publication last week of some of the Prince’s private letters to government ministers.

On May 21, the royals will arrive in the North where engagements include a reception and concert featuring performers from the region at Hillsborough Castle.

Charles and Camilla will visit Mount Stewart house and gardens and mark the completion of a three-year restoration programme.

They will also visit Corrymeela, Northern Ireland’s oldest Peace and Reconciliation centre, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year and the return follows the Prince’s trip to the centre in 1998.