From May 17 to 20, 2011, Queen Elizabeth II made the first state visit to the Republic of Ireland by a British monarch since 1911, a symbolic gesture of reconciliation. The Queen visited Dublin and other sites, laying a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance and expressing regret for past injustices. The visit was a powerful symbol of the growing normalization of relations between Britain and Ireland.

The Queen's visit was a subject of poetic reflection, with writers exploring the complex symbolism of the British monarch's presence in Dublin. Poets like Eavan Boland and others engaged with the themes of history, memory, and forgiveness, using the event to reflect on the long and troubled relationship between the two islands. The visit inspired a new wave of poetry that looked towards a shared future.