Series 18 - Nicholas Robinson

10 Boxes, 15 subseries

This series relates to the work of Mary Robinson’s husband Nicholas, Irish author, historian, solicitor and cartoonist and who on Mary Robinson’s inauguration as Ireland’s first female president in 1990, became Ireland’s first First Gentleman.

The Robinsons met when both attended Trinity College Dublin (TCD) studying Legal Sciences (the then title of TCD’s Law degree) and graduated together in 1967. They married in 1970, and had three children. On graduation, Nicholas worked as a solicitor and material relating to some of his legal cases can be found in P143/18/7. They co-founded the Irish Centre for European Law, in TCD, and material relating to this can be found elsewhere in P143/1/5.

Nicholas Robinson took a huge interest in Ireland’s rich heritage, and helped establish many organisations responsible for its preservation. He was a committee member of An Taisce [The National Trust for Ireland] and material spanning the period 1972-1992 including correspondence can be found in P143/18/1. Material from 1976-1985, relating to his work with The Heritage Trust* can be found in P143/18/2, including his time as “full-time Executive”. P143/18/3 consists of material (1992-2005) relating to the Irish Landmark Trust, which he helped establish with Edward McPartland in 1992. Robinson was the first chairperson of the board and became president of the Trust in 2017. Material relating to the Irish Architectural Archive (IAA), covering the period 1978-2014 can be found in P143/18/4. Again with McParland, Robinson established the IAA, (formerly the National Trust Archive) in 1976. He held the roles of company member (1976 to date), board member (1976-1993), Chairman (1976-1981 and 1987-1993), and Honorary President (1994 to date), a position he shares with McParland. P143/18/5 consists of some correspondence relating to the Irish Georgian Society.

On 3 December 1990, President Mary Robinson was inaugurated, becoming the first female president of Ireland. As such, Nicholas, as her spouse, became Ireland’s first First Gentleman, handing over to Ireland’s second First Gentleman, Martin McAleese on the inauguration of Mary Robinson’s successor Mary McAleese on 11 November 1997. He gave up his work as solicitor at this time to avoid conflict of interest issues, and to support his wife in her new role. P143/18/6 consists of material from this period and includes correspondence, briefing books and other background information relating to official state visits. During his wife’s presidential term, Nicholas Robinson took an active interest and part in the conservation and renovation work of Áras an Uachtaráin, the presidential residence, and material related to this can be found elsewhere in P143/4/10.

P143/18/8 contains material relating to events attended by Nicholas Robinson, including draft speeches, invites and flyers. Press material relating to him can be found in P143/18/9 and various correspondence is contained in P143/18/10. Robinson is a cartoonist and material relating to his work, and his interest in this field can be found in P143/18/11. P143/18/12 consists of material relating to his work on published books, including reviews and launch material, and P143/18/13 contains research material. The final two subseries in this series consist of ephemera (P143/18/14) and oversized items including architectural drawings and degree and honorary degree certificates from TCD and National University of Ireland respectively (P143/18/15).

[*Archivist’s Note: The Heritage Trust of this period is unrelated to the Heritage Trust established in 2006]

INCOMPLETE - FURTHER CATALOGUING OF THIS SERIES TO COME

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Catalog

02/02/2023
18/07/2025