Queen Elizabeth II 'charmed entire country' on her Irish visit

Queen Elizabeth II "managed to charm an entire country" during her historic state visit to the Republic of Ireland, the Irish foreign minister has said.

Simon Coveney said many Irish people saw her with "new affection" after she became the first UK monarch to visit the independent state in May 2011.

Across Northern Ireland, people have been laying flowers and signing books of condolence for the late Queen.

A number of sports events have been postponed as a mark of respect.

The UK is in mourning after its longest-reigning monarch died on Thursday afternoon at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

The Northern Ireland Assembly will be recalled on Monday at 12:30 BST to allow members to pay tribute.

Politicians and dignitaries from across the island of Ireland have expressed their admiration for the Queen's 70 years of service as Britain's head of state.

In particular, they have praised her contribution to the peace process on the island of Ireland, remembering her first and only visit to the Republic of Ireland 11 years ago.

She was hosted by Belfast native Mary McAleese, the then president of Ireland.

Mrs McAleese described the four-day trip as "magical" and said the Queen had made a "very special pilgrimage of reconciliation".

During the visit, the Queen laid a wreath in Dublin's Garden of Remembrance - a park dedicated to Irish people who fought against British rule.

She also spoke a few words in Irish at a state dinner in Dublin Castle, the former seat of British power in Ireland.

Speaking to the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme, Mrs McAleese said the Queen was a person who transcended politics and who was "deeply respected" by people from different backgrounds and political persuasions.

"Many, many people across the island who would not be supporters of the idea of monarchy, for example people who would be republicans, and many Irish nationalists would share with me deep sorrow at her passing, because she was always a woman who was worthy of respect," the former president said.

"Why? Because she earned that respect over seven decades."

The 2011 visit was "an extraordinary moment" in British-Irish relations, according to the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney.

At the time, Mr Coveney escorted the Queen on a walkabout around the English Market in his native Cork.

He told the BBC's Talkback's programme the royal guest "managed to charm an entire country" during her trip.

"And she addressed the British-Irish relationship in terms of our history - with all its tragedy, but with all it's closeness - in a way that really I think resulted in so many Irish people seeing her with a new affection.

"It was just one of her many achievements over 70 years of an extraordinary reign."

The following year, the Queen broke new ground in her first meeting with the then deputy first minister, and former IRA commander, Martin McGuinness.

Speaking to Evening Extra, the former first minister Peter Robinson recalled his memories of the historic handshake.

"I felt that she very strongly wanted to make a contribution. She felt we were on the right path, that the kind of reconciliation and way forward that we were moving was something that was worthy of her support," he said.

"She showed that by her own endeavours in Northern Ireland as well as her visit to the south.

"It wasn't an easy occasion for either of the two individuals because there was a lot of history on both sides. I think it was an important part of our overall process."

Mr Robinson said Mr McGuinness "did take some flak" from some people around him over the occasions he met the Queen.

"It wasn't always an easy thing for republicans to do but I think it did just indicate that we were moving on in Northern Ireland," he added.

People in Northern Ireland are continuing to mourn the Queen's death and floral tributes are mounting outside the gates of Hillsborough Castle in County Down, the Royal Family's official residence in Northern Ireland.

More than 200 people stood at the gates of Hillsborough Castle for a gun salute in honour of Queen Elizabeth II - part of a UK-wide military honour.

Those who brought floral tributes include people in their 90s, who remember well the Queen's coronation.

Parents have been guiding young children to the gates to lay flowers.

As the cannons fired - some people stood with their heads bowed, and many remarked on the sense of history, change and grief.

Books of condolence opened in Belfast City Hall at 14:30 BST on Friday and the council is also organising a special sitting in which councillors can pay tribute.

A book of condolence has also opened in Londonderry's Guildhall, while similar tributes have opened in Derry's St Columb's Cathedral, where the Queen visited as a young princess in 1945, and Strabane's Alley Theatre.

Signing his own tribute at the cathedral, Bishop Andrew Forster said: "Little did she know what lay ahead of her.

"But she's been a wonderful monarch and her life has been solely about duty and service, and she will be sorely missed by a great many people."

Several councils across Northern Ireland are opening books of condolence at venues which include:

A major security operation is continuing to manage the flow of people who want to pay their respects.

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) said special transport will be put in place from the Eikon Centre to visit Hillsborough Castle from Saturday.

"There are currently structural preparations being put in place and Hillsborough Castle will remain closed to members of the public until tomorrow," the NIO added.

The Irish FA said that fixtures across all affiliated football in the country, and all other organised football activity at all levels, will not go ahead this weekend.

All of this weekend's rugby and hockey games in Ulster have also been postponed.

The NI International Air Show has been cancelled as a mark of respect.