Material in this subsubseries relates to Mary Robinson (MR)'s work in the area of child welfare including legislation and is arranged across 15 files, for the most part in chronological order. It includes material relating to "Child First", the organisation, formed in 10/05/1974, concerned with the welfare of children in adoption, and with proposed amendments to the Adoption Bill 1974 (P143/1/3/3/1); material relating to various Adoption Bills in Ireland and Northern Ireland including in relation to the Adoption Bill MR puts before Seanad Éireann [upper house of Irish parliament, Senate] in 1971 which she withdraws in favour of a Government promise to introduce a bill before Christmas 1972, and the Adoption Bill 1974 (P143/1/3/3/2); material relating to 6th Amendment of the Constitution Bill 1978, a private members bill put forward by the Labour party (P143/1/3/3/3); material relating to Maintenance Orders Bill (P143/1/3/3/4); correspondence and articles relating to changes in Adoption Law (P143/1/3/3/5-8); material relating to the Working Group on Child Abuse, convened by the ICCL [Irish Council for Civil Liberties] of which MR was a member and Chair of sub-committee examining legal aspects (P143/1/3/3/9-11); material relating to the Sanctuary Trust, a Board of Trustees founded by Clodagh Corcoran, Chairwoman of the Working Group on Child Abuse, in December 1985 on which MR was a Trustee (P143/1/3/3/12); articles, reports and other research material (P143/1/3/3/13); material relating to ISPCC [Irish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children] (P143/1/3/3/14) and newspaper cuttings (P143/1/3/3/15).
Large folded handmade card wishing Mary Robinson (MR) luck as new President, 03/12/1990, from pupils at Cloghoula National School, Millstreet, Co. Cork, Ann Lane (AL) [Personal Assistant to President]'s former school, with photocopy of thank-you letter from AL on behalf of MR.
Ref: P143/4/6/5/1
Several items sent or presented by children to Mary Robinson (MR) over the period of her Presidency (no exact date) including poems written in English and Irish from pupils at Bun Scoil Chaomháin, Inis Oírr (11-12 years old); large handmade congratulations card sent by pupils at The Holy Family School, Cootehill, Co. Cavan (either 1990 or 1997); handwritten letter in pencil from Florencia Caness[o?], wishing MR a Merry Christmas and best of luck in the new job (either 1990 or 1997); laminated large card from St Joseph's [Special School], Galway, with list/signatures of pupils inside and drawing of school on cover; handwritten essay and photocopy "I am Lady President in Ireland for a month", possibly written by Susan Colan-O'Leary; photocopy of essay "If I was a character in Irish History", by Niall [Montgomery?], 12 years old, as per post-it note attached.
Ref: P143/4/6/5/11
Photo album with illustrated poems from pupils (ages 8-11) at St Brendan's [Primary School], Craigavon, Co Armagh, Northern Ireland, presented to Mary Robinson during a visit to the school (no date).
Ref: P143/4/6/5/12
Pencil, marker and crayon drawing of Mary Robinson (MR) and Nick Robinson, by Matthew Krasa, 5 1/2 years old, Sunday's Well, Cork, with note from Matthew, and copy of response from Ann Lane, on behalf of MR, 23-26/07/1991; large home-made card with best wishes from the Children, Kolbe Centre, Portlaoise, 10/09/1991; book of letters wishing MR well on end of her first year as President, from pupils in Remedial Class, Scoil Mhuire, Ballyboden, Dublin 16, with cover letter from Maire Hynes, Vice Principal, thanking MR for stopping despite rain, and photocopy of response from Ann Lane on behalf of MR, 30/10-08/11/1991.
Ref: P143/4/6/5/2
Book of cards sent by 4th class [9/10 years old] pupils of Presentation Convent, Millstreet, County Cork, with cover letter from Sr Geraldine, and photocopy of thank you note from Ann Lane on behalf of Mary Robinson, 13/11-02/12/1991.
[Archivist's note: the book of cards was bound loosely with wool ribbon. For ease of access to each individual card and to avoid damage through handling, the ribbon was removed.]
Ref: P143/4/6/5/3
Book of artwork and essays from "Special Class" (8-13 years old), Holy Spirit Girls' School, Ballymun, Dublin 11, with photocopy of thank-you note from Ann Lane on behalf of Mary Robinson, 19/12/1991.
Ref: P143/4/6/5/4
Folder of artwork and poems from students aged 4 to 12, to mark Mary Robinson's visit to Scoil Eoin, Kilbarrack, 11/1992.
[Archivist's note: the folder of individual items was tightly tied. For ease of access to each individual item and to avoid damage through handling, the tie was loosened.]
Ref: P143/4/6/5/5
Handwritten letter in pencil from Laura Williams, (granddaughter of Niall McCarthy's, she notes), Ealing, London, asking for information and a photograph of Mary Robinson (MR) since her class were doing a project on famous people, and mentioning "Mummy only sometimes cries, and I am fine", 22/03/1993; scrapbook by school girl Jacinta Kinsella (primary school) with notation and cuttings, and reference to MR's upcoming 50th birthday in May 1994; photocopy of condolence letter sent to Gerard and Karen Hogan on sudden death of their son, shortly before his second birthday, with thank you letter from Gerard, which mentioned they had named their child Niall Douglas, following a lecture by MR on Douglas Hyde, 16-20/05/1994; laminated A4 sheet with "To President Mary Robinson, Friendship Tree...", from Primary Seven Children, Holy Family Primary School, Teconnaught, Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, possibly following a visit on 14/12/1994.
Ref: P143/4/6/5/6
Large scrapbook, with dark green leather cover with gold lettering, bound by Mucros bookbinding in Killarney, Co. Kerry, presented to Mary Robinson by children (ages 3 to 14) of Christy Brown Therapy and Resource Centre, Tralee, on her visit 05/07/1994. Consists of children's drawings including of Kerry landmarks (Blennerville Windmill, Tralee, Farranfore Airport [Kerry airport], Kerry bog village and Ross Castle, Killarney) and 6 colour photographs of the centre and of some children getting therapy.
Ref: P143/4/6/5/7