Ahern unveils famine memorial

Bertie Ahern arrives at Carfin with Dr John Reid

The Taoiseach has finally unveiled a memorial to the victims of the Irish potato famine at Carfin Grotto in Lanarkshire.

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern's first planned visit four months ago was cancelled after fears were raised that it could spark sectarian violence.

But the ceremony eventually went ahead on Wednesday evening after Mr Ahern received a second invitation to visit Scotland.

The Taoiseach carried out a series of engagements during an official one-day visit.

Mr Ahern visited the Carfin memorial

Mr Ahern's first scheduled engagement was in Edinburgh, where he officially opened the new Bank of Ireland office.

Arriving under police escort, he was greeted by bank staff and Edinburgh Lord Provost Eric Milligan.

Accompanied by Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell, Mr Ahern unveiled a plaque to commemorate the occasion.

He then left to meet First Minister Henry McLeish at his official residence in the capital.

He also addressed MSPs in the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, where he received a standing ovation.

Mr Ahern later paid his respects to the late Cardinal Thomas Winning.

Dr Reid and Henry McLeish at Carfin

He visited the Archdiocese of Glasgow's main office, where the body of the leader of Scotland's Roman Catholics is lying in state.

He was accompanied by Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid, Mr McLeish and Mrs Liddell.

Mr Ahern spent five minutes inside the building before leaving for Carfin.

The crowd of about 500 people at the site included Mrs Liddell, Dr Reid and the leaders of the four main political parties in Scotland.

Mr Ahern said: "The memorial being dedicated here this evening urges us to cast our minds back to a time when Ireland and Scotland were less fortunate societies than they are today.

"For more than 100 years after the famine, the effects of emigration left deep marks on Irish society, an experience also paralleled in many parts of Scotland."

Mr Ahern had originally been due in Scotland in February to unveil the memorial to the victims of the Irish potato famine.

Frank Roy was widely criticised after the row

But the ceremony was delayed after fears were expressed about the possibility of sectarian violence following a match between Celtic and Rangers in nearby Glasgow earlier the same day.

Local Labour MP Frank Roy - who was one of those attending Wednesday's ceremony - contacted the Irish government to say he was concerned about the timing of Mr Ahern's visit.

Asked about the difficulties which led to his earlier visit being called off, Mr Ahern replied: "That's history. It was never any great difficulty for me."

Mr Ahern said that Ireland and Scotland historically had a good relationship - and he said he hoped to build on it with this visit.

The Carfin ceremony was also the first official engagement attended by both Mr McLeish and Dr Reid since the first minister was recorded making unguarded comments about the Northern Ireland minister and then Foreign Office minister Brian Wilson.