Irish people pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth: ‘She won the hearts of a lot of right-thinking people’

“Thank you your majesty for all your devoted service to us all. You were our rock. Rest in peace Ma’am,” were the words of one person remembering Queen Elizabeth II in the book of condolence opened at the British Embassy in Dublin on Friday.

The embassy has frequently been the focal point for Irish people’s complicated relationship with their nearest neighbour.

Fifty years ago the original building in Merrion Square was burned down following Bloody Sunday. Almost 25 years to the week ago people came to lay flowers after the death of Princess Diana .

Another quarter of a century on and the walls are arrayed with bouquets of flowers in a neat row to remember the queen following her death .

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“Thank you for your years of service. Thank you for the example that you set for young women. You weathered many storms,” wrote another admirer.

Sean Lattin from Drumcondra said he wanted to pay his respects because of her visit to the Republic in 2011. “That lady came over to Ireland and done what she done. She won the hearts of a lot of people of right-thinking people.

“It’s time to move on and not be talking about about 1916 and 1690. It’s time to move from the past.”

“I wrote in the book inside, ‘those who do not learn the lessons of history and condemned to repeat them’. I also wrote that the queen had learned that lesson.”

Tommy Daly described the queen as a “wonderful woman who did a lot for both of our countries when she came in 2011. A lot of our politicians could learn a lot from her. She did a lot for peace when she came here.”

The embassy opened the book of condolence for the public in Ballsbridge to sign quietly at midday on Friday, but it was already attracting a steady stream of visitors by lunchtime. It will be open on Saturday from 10am to 4pm and from Monday to Friday next week during the same hours.

“It struck me over the last day how much admiration and how much emotion there was for her Majesty. It feels like a very powerful moment,” said the British ambassador to Ireland Paul Johnson who was, like the rest of the staff at the embassy, dressed in black.

“It’s a curious thing to say it’s a shock. She was a very old lady, but we have seen her less in recent months, but we only saw her a few days ago accepting the resignation of one prime minister and appointing another one,” he said.

The ambassador anticipated that King Charles III will want to come to the Republic as soon as he can. “I know that his care for the people of Ireland, his affection for Ireland will persist.”

Among those who came to sign the book of condolence was President Michael D Higgins. Earlier in Áras an Uachtaráin he paid further tribute to the queen

Mr Higgins recalled the queen as “being very well informed about complex issues and she still managed to retain that extraordinary charm. It is reflective very much in the reaction to her death.”

He said Queen Elizabeth had a “sustained deep interest in Ireland” and her interest went far beyond politics and history. “We were discussing horses. We were discussing the glossary that Queen Elizabeth I prepared to meet the Irish chieftains.”

An online book of condolences to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II has been opened by the Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy.

The digital document, which will host messages of consolation and respect for the deceased monarch, will be available from Friday until Monday, September 19th..

Cork City Council, which tweeted pictures of the queen’s celebrated visit to the city’s English Market in 2011, said Lord Mayor Deirdre Forde would open a book of remembrance on Friday. A book of condolences is also due to be opened in Galway.