18 May 2011 Last updated at 22:54

In pictures: The Queen in Ireland

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at the Guinness Storehouse, Dublin.

The second day of the Queen's historic royal visit to Ireland started with a trip to the Guinness Storehouse.

The Queen and Prince Philip were shown how to pour a pint of Guinness, but declined a taste of Ireland's most famous export.

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at Government Buildings, Dublin, with Taoiseach Enda Kenny and his wife Fionnala Kenny (right) during the second day of her State Visit to Ireland

They then met Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny and were shown around government buildings in the capital.

The Queen also laid a wreath at the Irish National War Memorial honouring almost 50,000 Irish soldiers who were killed fighting for Britain in World War I.

The Queen's attendance at the ceremony honouring the Irish soldiers who died in World War I reflects an aspect of history that has been troubling for her hosts. For decades, when the focus of admiration was on the rebels who fought and died in the 1916 Easter Rising, the soldiers' contribution went unrecognised.

Armed police guard the Irish War Memorial Gardens

The visit has so far gone smoothly, though there have been some protests. Armed police could be seen at the Irish War Memorial Gardens ahead of the Queen's visit.

Queen Elizabeth II, President Mary McAleese and GAA president Christy Cooney walk out of the tunnel towards the pitch at Croke Park, Dublin

The Queen visited the Croke Park sports stadium in Dublin, where 14 people were killed by British forces during a Gaelic football match 91 years ago. The Queen was met at the main entrance by GAA president Christy Cooney and President Mary McAleese, who is hosting the visit.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth enters Croke Park stadium

Addressing the Queen, Mr Cooney said the visit would underpin and advance the peace process and "go down in the history of the GAA". He said: "Your presence does honour to our association, to its special place in Irish life, and to its hundreds of thousands of members."

The Queen was presented with a limited edition of the GAA's written history, while Prince Philip was presented with a hurley (stick) and a sliothar (hurling ball), with the aside that he should use it "in the back garden".

The Queen arriving for state banquet at Dublin Castle

The Queen - in a dress adorned with 2,091 hand-sewn embroidered shamrocks - attended a state banquet at Dublin Castle with Irish President Mary McAleese.

The Queen giving speech at state banquet at Dublin Castle

The Queen, alongside the Irish head of state, gave her only speech of the visit. The monarch opened her words in Irish, and offered her deep sympathy to everyone who has suffered in the years of conflict between Britain and Ireland.

In Pictures

In pictures: The Queen in Ireland

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