Queen Elizabeth II was a neighbour and friend to Ireland

THE passing of Queen Elizabeth II has elicited much comment on this island in recent days. Keyboard warriors have argued that her death should not be mourned here for a variety of reasons: because she is a head of a monarchy; because she is the head of state of a nation with which this country has had a long and often troubled relationship; because she can be seen as a symbol of vast wealth and inequality.

But these arguments are facile and ignore the common sense approach that most reasonable Irish people, even those with fervent republican views, will hold. She is a neighbour.

In Ireland that is all you have to be to be given the respect of sympathy on your death.

Whatever about differences of the past, or the future, or even the continuing present, our islands are too entwined to pretend that this is not a major historical moment, with huge impacts both in Britain and Ireland.

The uncertainty being felt by the British public at the moment, as they transition from having a constant presence in their lives for more than 70 years to a new sovereign is not a situation that should be ignored or downplayed. Her demise will have political consequences, most likely in Scotland, but also perhaps in the North.

Her death would be of huge global significance, even if it didn’t represent the passing of the second Elizabethan age.

Her role as Head of the Commonwealth is not a hereditary title – and as such many member countries will have to figure out what that means for them. The British monarch is separately head of state of many countries – what now for those?

But more than the undoubted historical and geopolitical importance, for many Irish citizens there will be a much more human impulse. Put simply, many Irish people liked her.

Many have a huge regard for her, and the stoicism she has employed throughout her reign. Many watched her trials and family travails over the years as a royal soap opera – yet retained a respect for her dignity and grace. The same phenomenon that endeared her to the British public, had a collateral benefit here by cultural osmosis.

So many Irish people have family and friends in Britain, have lived there, or visited on numerous occasions. And you will find in the Irish community in England, a deep well of respect for the Queen. She was a symbol of Britain that they could relate to – even when other parts of the state made it clear that they were considered second-class citizens.

Because yes, our post-colonial relationship with Britain may have been strained at times and our politics and our history may not always be given due consideration at the higher levels of the British establishment. But try as they might to sometimes pretend Ireland doesn’t matter, we are the nation that knows them best in all of the world.

Crucially, what may have been initially a sneaking regard was changed utterly by her 2011 visit. At what was a critical and difficult time in Ireland, she won the hearts and minds of those prepared to accept the hand of friendship she extended on behalf of her country. She transcended the past by refusing to ignore it.

And she employed the most Irish of traits, a touch of charm. Even at a distance of over a decade, it is still impossible to forget how disarming her use of a cúpla focail at the State banquet was. It was a tour de force from a consummate diplomat, that spoke over the heads of those in attendance, right to every Irish citizen who saw the speech.

It showed that she came not to visit a former colony, but to pay homage as a neighbouring head of state.

As an equal. As a friend. She paid respect to our culture and history, she acknowledged mistakes of the past, she bowed her head in remembrance of men and women who fought to get her grandfather’s forces out of this land. In doing so, she forged a basis for a renewed relationship between our nations, based on mutual respect.

As such, she deserves the simplest of Irish tributes in death. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis. Ní fheicfimid a leithéid arís.