'Giant step' as NI leaders shake hands

Published Tuesday, 03 July 2012
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Northern Ireland's First and deputy First Ministers have shaken hands in public for the first time, after four years at the head of the Stormont administration.

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The low-key gesture happened as Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness arrived at the Giant's Causeway, for Tuesday's official opening of the new visitors' centre at the World Heritage site.

The launch event featured a sham fight between historic Irish giant Finn McCool and his Scottish counterpart Benandonner.

"I think Peter and I are well ahead of those two," Mr McGuinness told UTV. "We're hoping to bring the two of them together for a handshake today."

Last week, the senior Sinn Féin politician shook hands with the Queen in an historic moment during a visit to Belfast as part of the monarch's Diamond Jubilee tour.

Mr McGuinness later appeared to have caught the handshake bug, when he headed to the Irish Open at Royal Portrush and joked that he thought he had shook hands with every one of the sell-out crowd.

© UTV News
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8 Comments
CM in Lisburn wrote (349 days ago):
Masrty mentions somewhere called Derry? Never heard of it, I know where LondonDerry is though :D
Eamonn Andrews in Belfast wrote (349 days ago):
Glad to see Peter Robinson has matured and is acting like a real man now,because all that,i wont shake Martins hand in public was getting a bit boring and childish.All we need to do now is wait patiently to see if Nigel Dodds will shake hands with Gerry Kelly, or Gregory Campbell will shake hands with Conor Murphy, or maybe if were really,really lucky we might see Jim McAllister go around all the shinners, and give them a big hug.Now that would be progress.Its all very well all the boys shaking hands etc.But how about throwing a big cross community party at stormont for all the people in the six counties,protestants,catholics, disenters.Spend the tax payers money on the tax payers.And wouldnt it be great for everyone to mingle and get to know more about each others fears,hopes,and aspirations.What better way to do this survey than have a big get together at a party, Where men,women and children can spend a day together just to get a real feel of what this process is all about.Because a few politicans sitting in stormont and councils around the six counties do not have a handle on the true feelings of people from the falls and the shankill. So fork out a few quid and bring the people together and then this will let you politicans know if you are doing your job right.All you have to do is get feed back from the people,and you can take that to the world stage,and then our econonmy will well and truly flourish with out a doubt. So get the money out and invest in the people of the six counties,and sit back and watch the money rolling in from the countries you are trying to get investments from. The people are the wealth of this small island.So get the party going.I will look forward to getting my invitation, and meeting some of my fellow country men,and women.And maybe if wee Norman from bangor is reading this, he might come along and we can have a burger or two and get a wee go on a bouncey castle or something,Now that would be progress in its self.LETS PARTY.
Ryan in Belfast wrote (350 days ago):
Its good to see both Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness shaking hands in public, it sends out a clear signal that Northern Ireland is moving on. But as an Irish Republican myself, its important for people, especially from the Loyalist/Unionist community, is that Irish Republicanism is in no way diluted. We're just as determined to achieve a United Ireland peacefully and democratically, with the consent of the majority. Its also important to note to Unionists that a United Ireland isnt something that Unionists should fear, its a political aspiration.
ian in northern ireland wrote (350 days ago):
sinn feins charm offencive is really taking off now, as Joint first minister Robinson joins the queen in shaking hands with a reformed terrorist ha, There is no hope now for unionism in northern ireland.Sinn fein /ira have no intention sharing power with unionists in ni,the sickening hollow apologies will continue and gullible unionists will be sucked into voting for a new ireland, masterminded by sinn fein.I wonder how many americans at Royal portrush would shake hands with an al qaeda terrorist and fund its terror campain?
Andy C in Belfast wrote (350 days ago):
Shocking entrance fee , up from £6 per car (5 people per car average = £1.20 each) to £8.50 per each adult.
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