Royal appointment at Croke Park for Walter (3)
visit Prince Harry and Meghan meet Walter Kiernan (3) and his dad Thomas from Bettystown, Co Meath, as they Croke Park in Dublin. Photo: Chris Jackson
THOSE royals can fit a lot into 24 hours. A garden party, tussling with the presidential hounds, multiple costume changes, thousands of handshakes, a potted history of the Great Famine, and a glass of Guinness no less.
Yesterday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex Prince Harry and Meghan Markle continued their two-day tour of Dublin with a visit to GAA headquarters in Croke Park.
Last year, Prince Charles nearly took out some of the press corps when he whacked a sliotar across the grounds of Kilkenny Castle under the watchful eye of Brian Cody and Henry Shefflin. His son however was slightly more reticent; politely declining the opportunity to do the same on the hallowed ground of Croke Park.
Instead, he spoke to Galway All-Ireland winner Joe Canning, as Meghan skilfully navigated her way across the wet grass in stiletto heels. No easy task.
Harry told Canning he heard he was “something of a God”, but the UK photographers were less taken by the hurler.
They urged Canning to “get out of the shot” – much to the bemusement of the Irish press.
Among those waiting to meet the royals were Tom Whooley (8) from Clonakilty in Co Cork, and Cara Leonard (12) from Omagh, Co Tyrone.
Tom handed Harry his hurley. “It’s much lighter than I expected,” said the prince, lifting it in the air.
He also examined Tom’s helmet and face-guard. “Have you taken a ball in the face – or have you put a ball in some else’s face?” he joked.
The duke also leaned in to say hello to Dylan Mahon (4) from Grange Rath in Co Meath, who pulled him closer by the beard.
“You might have a beard soon, you never know,” Harry warned him.
Last night’s semi-final remained a go-to conversation starter.
Earlier in the day, a rogue reporter had broken with royal protocol and screamed “Is it coming home?” at the duke during his meeting with President Micheal D Higgins and Sabina. “Most definitely, yes,” he replied smiling.
It was the fourth time Harry has met the President. The pair were first introduced during the President’s state visit to the UK in 2014. They met again in 2015 in Turkey for the centenary commemorations of the Battle of Gallipoli, and most recently in July 2016 at an event marking the Battle of the Somme.
As the men posed for the cameras beside the visitors book, Harry asked the President if he knew “all the people here” gesturing towards a bank of photographers. “Maybe every second face,” he admitted.
Both Harry and Meghan seemed particularly taken with the President’s dogs
Bród and Sioda who plonked themselves at Meghan’s feet.
Across town, in the grounds of Trinity College crowds with posters and placards started to build.
There was a shriek of excitement when the couple emerged from the historic Long Room and embarked on a 25-minute walkabout.
David Balfany, on holiday from the US, said he invited Meghan to a student reunion at Northwestern University where they were both students. “She told me she didn’t think she would be able to make it,” he laughed.
Pauline Beatty was delighted to have got a hug and a kiss from Harry. “When I asked him for the hug he said: ‘I can’t hug you because then I’ll have to hug everybody else.’ So I just grabbed him. He was scarlet.”
The walkabout proved to be thirsty work, so the couple made their way to Delahunt on Camden Street for lunch where they shared an intimate table in the glass-panelled snug.
They enjoyed a starter of smoked salmon on Guinness bread, followed by roast hake, curried mussels and saffron potato (for her), and salt-aged sirloin of Irish lamb, with pressed potato (for him).
Apparently, Meghan enjoyed a glass of Guinness with their meal.
They then had a tour of the EPIC Immigration Museum. Rumours had been rife early on in the day that Meghan may have Irish ancestry linking her to a Mary McCague, born in Ballinasloe in 1829.
Sadly, this turned out to be untrue.