Prince continues NI visit

Prince Charles is greeted by local politicians

The Prince of Wales has opened a new theatre and visited an agricultural college on the first of a two-day visit to Northern Ireland.

Prince Charles flew into Armagh City on Monday morning to open the 400-seat Armagh Theatre and Arts Centre.

Many of Northern Ireland's politicians, including the first and deputy first ministers, David Trimble and Seamus Mallon greeted him on his arrival.

The prince said he was delighted to be back in Armagh after almost six years.

The real significance of this visit is that the relationship between Britain and Ireland is being put on a very proper footing

Seamus Mallon

The prince then went to the Robinson Library in Armagh for a private meeting with representatives of the four main churches, before going on to have a tour of Saint Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral.

Newry and Armagh MP Seamus Mallon, who is also the deputy leader of the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party, said he was delighted to welcome the prince.

"I am meeting him because I want to show respect for all traditions," he said.

"The real significance of this visit is that the relationship between Britain and Ireland is being put on a very proper footing."

Mr Mallon said this new relationship would be cemented if the Queen was to visit Dublin in the near future.

At his next engagement at Enniskillen College of Agriculture, the prince met agriculture minister Brid Rodgers, of the SDLP, Fermanagh/South Tyrone MP Ken Maginnis and students studying livestock breeding and equestrian management.

He also supported a new Ulster Farmer's Union campaign to persuade local shops and multinational supermarkets to sell support local produce.

Controversy over cancelled visit

Meanwhile, Democratic Unionist Party assemblyman Gregory Campbell criticised the decision to cancel a visit to the University of Ulster's Magee campus in Londonderry by the prince.

Mr Campbell said he believed it had been cancelled because of fears it would be seen as insensitive in view of the ongoing Bloody Sunday Inquiry.

Gregory Campbell: "Nationalist sensitivities given more weight"

The inquiry, which is being held at the Guildhall in Derry, is investigating events when British paratroopers opened fire on a civil rights procession in the city's Bogside area in 1972, killing 14 people.

Prince Charles is colonel in chief of the Parachute Regiment.

Meanwhile Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern visited Derry City Airport on Monday aboard a new Dublin-Derry service.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster Mr Campbell said nationalist sensitivities were being given more weight than those of unionists opposed to visits by Irish heads of state.

"We have had Mary McAleese, the President of Ireland, visiting both Strabane and Greysteel, and today Bertie Ahern came to the airport.

"If you look then at heads of state of the Irish Republic - they don't seem to have a difficulty when it causes insensitivity to the unionist community, and yet when Prince Charles is going to come to Magee University, that appears to be put on ice because of sensitivities towards the nationalist community," he said.

"There are sensitivities on either side, but it seems to people in the unionist community that their sensitivities are placed to one side whenever there are these high profile visits, but there is ultra care taken not to annoy nationalists."

But Sinn Fein Foyle assembly member Mary Nellis welcomed the cancellation.

She said: "The issue here is about sensitivity. The position is that neither President McAleese or Mr Ahern are colonels in chief of a British regiment that was responsible for murdering citizens of our city. I don't know who is it on the NIO or British government who issues such insensitive and insulting invitations to royalty."

A request from the DUP's Ian Paisley to debate the issue was denied by the speaker.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams condemned the royal visit.

Gerry Adams: Critical of visit

Speaking on BBC Radio Five Live on Monday, he said: "Prince Charles shouldn't be coming here at all, not because he's a member of English royalty, but because he's commander in chief of the Parachute Regiment. "

The prince will be guest of honour at the Northern Ireland secretary's annual garden party at Hillsborough Castle in County Down on Tuesday, which is being held in memory of victims of the Troubles.

Prince Charles will meet victims of violence and their families.

Sinn Fein leaders Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness are believed to have turned down the invitation to the party extended to Northern Ireland's MP's and Assembly ministers.