The Princess Grace Irish Library in Monaco hosted its traditional harp music concert followed by a special rendez-vous between H.R.H. The Princess of Hanover and Irish author Flor MacCarthy, whose book contains a letter from five-year old Princess Caroline to the President of Ireland in January 1962.
H.R.H. The Princess of Hanover with Trustees of the Library and others. From right to left: Paula Farquharson, Director of the Princess Grace Irish Library, Anne-Marie Boisbouvier Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary - Permanent Delegate to U.N.E.S.C.O., Flor MacCarthy, The Ireland Funds Monaco Writer-in-Residence, H.R.H. The Princess of Hanover, Peter K. Murphy and his wife Jacqueline and Mark Armstrong.
All photos © Michael Alesi / Palais princier
The twist to this year’s Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations centred around correspondence to the Presidents of Ireland, including thank you letters from the mother and daughter Princesses of Monaco to President of Ireland Éamon de Valera for his gift of an Irish pony to Princess Caroline in 1962. The surprise gift, named ‘Babbling Brook’, was on the foot of a visit to Ireland’s National Stud by Prince Rainier III with his family in June 1961.
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Flor MacCarthy, who spends the month of March as The Ireland Funds Monaco Writer-in-Residence at the Princess Grace Irish Library, revealed extracts from her book, The Presidents’ Letters – An Unexpected History of Ireland (New Island Books), covering correspondence to and from nine Presidents since the inauguration of the first President of Ireland in 1938. Remarkably, the first ever state visit to Ireland by any head of state was in 1961 when H.S.H. Prince Rainier of Monaco was accompanied by his wife Princess Grace and their two eldest children. Unsurprisingly the world media covered the event and as a result it truly placed Ireland on the international map, with subsequent visits by other heads of states, including President of the United States of America John F. Kennedy in 1963.
Flor MacCarthy’s illustrated talk also covered the relationship between the Prince's Family and successive Irish presidents as seen through their correspondence, highlighting the warm friendship between Ireland and Monaco, which continues to this day.
Actor Nick O'Conor reads a letter from Flor MacCarthy's book The Presidents’ Letters – An Unexpected History of Ireland (New Island Books)
A letter from a Princess to a President about a pony
St Patrick’s Day celebrations with music and correspondence to Ireland
The audience at the library enjoyed the display of talent by four harp students from L’Académie Rainier III Musique & Théâtre, as well as dramatic readings from letters in Flor MacCarthy’s book by actors from the Monaco-Ireland Arts Society.
A full audience including H.R.H. The Princess of Hanover and other guests enjoyed Irish traditional music on the harp by young pupils from l’Académie Rainier III de Musique & Théâtre
H.R.H. The Princess of Hanover with young pupils from l’Académie Rainier III de Musique & Théâtre and actors from Monaco-Ireland Arts Society. From right to left: Noël Nardi, Anaïd Conquet, Margaux Horgne, Nick O’Conor, H.R.H. The Princess of Hanover, Miranda Dawe, Marie Fantino, Noëlle Vera, harp professor
Students from the Lycée Rainier III, Alexandre, Noé, Lyann, Daniel, Mélia, Nour and Jessy who prepared delicious sweet and savoury cakes for our VIP guests
Actor Miranda Dawe reads the letter from Princess Grace to the President of Ireland Éamon de Valera in 1962
