Ireland has transcended a "cruel history" to build a strong relationship with former enemies including former colonial power Britain, Irish President Mary McAleese said on Friday.Delivering a lecture in London, she said that the two nations' histories, "dominated for years by narratives of conflict and conquest, resistance and suppression," had finally been freed of those fetters.
Relations between Britain and Ireland crossed a watershed in May when a new power-sharing government in British-run Northern Ireland took power, uniting hardline Protestant and Catholic parties.
"We have made friends, good neighbours and partners of what were once seen as old enemies and we are making peace with our past," she said.
"We look forward to seeing the results that will come from the combined genius of Protestant, Catholic, Irish, British... as they focus on what they can achieve together for the first time in our history."
She added that there was a new spirit of confidence in Ireland as a result of transcending "a cruel history and its lingering, long-term consequences."
For those who grew up during the three decades of civil unrest known as "the Troubles", "the reduction in negativity and the growing generosity of spirit have been little short of miraculous," McAleese added.
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