Bomb on bus made safe in Ireland security alert Published duration 17 May 2011

media caption A bomb has been made safe following a security alert in the Republic of Ireland

A bomb has been made safe in the Republic of Ireland just hours before the Queen's visit.

It was discovered on a bus outside the Glen Royal Hotel in Maynooth, County Kildare at 2130 BST on Monday.

It was later made safe by an Irish army bomb disposal team.

An Irish army bomb disposal unit is dealing with a suspect device at Dublin's Phoenix Park. A suspect package found earlier near the Luas tram line at Inchicore was a hoax.

A suspicious device found at Fairview Park in Dublin also turned out to be a hoax.

The alerts came ahead of the Queen's historic trip to the Irish Republic.

Speaking on BBC NI's Good Morning Ulster, Irish prime minister Enda Kenny condemned those who left the bomb.

"Obviously, the Garda authorities working together with the British authorities in respect of safety for the Queen have put in place a really serious operation in respect of safeguarding the Queen," he said.

"The vast, vast majority of people here welcome the visit of the Queen and her party. We hope that they will have a very enjoyable time here."

'Ring of steel'

A massive security operation is in place in Dublin and a bomb threat from Irish dissidents was received in London on Monday.

Up to 4,000 people are involved in the ongoing security operation for the four-day trip.

Around 30 people were on the private bus in Maynooth on which the bomb was found.

It is understood it had stopped there on its way to Dublin from Ballina in County Mayo.

John Gilligan of the Irish police said they were waiting to find out more about the device.

"We have a plan in place," he said.

"We are prepared for eventualities, we have the experience and we have a lot of cooperation with the police force in Northern Ireland, the UK security services and British police.

"These incidents are very much regrettable.

"It is such an important visit, everyone wants this visit to go well and that is what we have to get on with today."