Ex Inmates To Show Queen Around 'The Crum'

By David Blevins, Ireland Correspondent

The Queen will have tour guides with first-hand experience when she steps inside Belfast's Crumlin Road Gaol.

Northern Ireland's First Minister and Deputy First Minister were both detained there at Her Majesty's pleasure.

Democratic Unionist Party leader Peter Robinson was locked up four times during the 1980s for protesting against the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness was remanded there for six weeks in 1976 when accused of IRA membership.

They now share power in devolved government and will accompany the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh on a tour of C wing.

Lord Lieutenant of County Down David Lindsay greets the Queen

The Crum, as it is known locally, evokes memories of conflict, daring escape and in the case of 17 prisoners, execution.

Some 25,000 people were imprisoned there, many interned without trial, during the jail's 160-year history.

Former inmates include Eamon de Valera, one of the leaders of Ireland's fight for independence, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams and the prominent Unionist, Reverend Ian Paisley.

It was 1996 when the Governor emerged through the air-locked doors and slammed the gates shut for the last time.

Since then, the Victorian penal architecture has been restored and Crumlin Road Gaol turned into a popular tourist attraction.

The Queen meets First Minister Peter Robinson at Hillsborough Castle

During their visit to Belfast, the royal couple will also tour the set of the television drama Game of Thrones in the Titanic Quarter.

They are expected to meet leading members of the cast and view costumes and props used in the hugely successful first four series.

Other engagements include a trip to St George's Market, a civic lunch in Belfast City Hall and a garden party at Hillsborough Castle.

On Wednesday, the Queen will honour First World War soldiers from Northern Ireland and the Republic during an act of remembrance in Coleraine, County Londonderry.

It is Her Majesty's 21st visit to Northern Ireland, but never before have so many details been released in advance.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Ex Inmates To Show Queen Around 'The Crum'

Dengan url

http://kotasepisunyi.blogspot.com/2014/06/ex-inmates-to-show-queen-around-crum.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Ex Inmates To Show Queen Around 'The Crum'

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Ex Inmates To Show Queen Around 'The Crum'

sebagai sumbernya