Material relating to talks Mary Robinson (MR) gave at Academic Institutions in 2005. It includes material relating to MR's participation at 17th Annual Nobel Peace Prize forum, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, on 11th February, including event itinerary, letter from Cheryl A Maloney, which included a photograph of Maloney with MR, 11/02/2005, and letter of thanks from William V Frame, President, Augsburg College, 04/03/2005; material relating to MR's participation in Compelling Conversations speaker series, at Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC), 15 March 2005 such as flyers, letter to MR from Governor of Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, inviting her to visit during her stay, 09/03/2005, correspondence from Patti Mitrushi, American Program Bureau (APM) to Mary Bayliss, personal assistant to MR, concerning logistics, 13/03/2005, programme, and letter of thanks from Mary L Fifield, President BHCC, 30/03/2005; itinerary for MR's lecture at Old School Square Crest Lecture Guild, 17/03/2005, from Mitrushi to Mary Baylis, 13/03/2005; event itinerary, cue book and background material regarding MR's talk at University of California, Riverside Chancellor's Distinguished Lecture Series, 01/04/2005; material relating to MR's lecture "Human rights and Ethical globalization" as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series at Joan B Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice, University of San Diego, on 31 March 2005, including correspondence between Mitrushi and Baylis regarding booking and logistics, 03/02-30/03/2005, invite and programme, promotional material and background material relating to the series and the Institute, 15/10/2003-31/03/2005; material relating to MR's participation in University of California, Riverside Chancellor's Distinguished Lecture Series "Imagining the Future", including programme, flyer, background material and correspondence between Mitrushi and Baylis, 14-18/03/2005; material relating to MR's delivery of 9th Annual Smyth Leadership Lecture, at Mary Baldwin College, Staunton, Virginia, 28/09/2005, including event itinerary, promotional material and biography for MR; material relating to talk MR gave as guest speaker at 25th anniversary event for International College Spain, on 30 September 2005, including itinerary, and background material relating to the college; programme for 2005 Rubin Lecture, Columbia Law School, presented by the Samuel Rubin Program for Liberty and Equality through the Law, on 10th October 2005.

This subsubseries consists of material relating to gifts given and received, and presentations made which related to Mary Robinson’s role as President of Ireland and covers the year 1992.

See also P143/4/13/16.

Ref: P143/4/13/3

Correspondence and other material relating to gifts given and received, and presentations made in 1992 in connection with Mary Robinson (MR)'s presidency, including Certificate of Appreciation sent by Programme for Belize, to certify MR had made a donation to purchase or endow "One acre of tropical forest in the Rio Bravo Conservation Area of northwest Belize", 1992; typed letter from Peter Barry, Officer I/C [In Charge (of)] Craft Unit, Place of Detention, Wheatfield [prison], Dublin, and card signed by members of the craft unit [inmates], with copy of response from MR in relation to wooden table lamp gifted to her, 14/08-03/09/1992; typed letter from Mr Thomas Lavoie, Assistant Director, Syracuse University Press, New York, United States of America, in relation to gift of Lawrence McCaffrey's "Textures of Irish America", and response from MR, 26/08-08/09/1992; handwritten letter from Irish writer, Maeve Binchy, in relation to gift of book "The Copper Beech", and mentioning she was taking four-month trip around the world to celebrate her 50th birthday, and response from MR, 24/08-08/09/1992; card with handwritten message, two colour photographs of state quarry at Windgap, Kilkenny, and flyer from Ms Breda Raggett, Federation President, Irish Countrywomen's Association (ICA), Kilkenny, in relation to specially commissioned piece made from slate by artist Shamus Malone, and presented by Raggett on behalf of the Kilkenny Federation ICA, with copy of response from Ann Lane (AL), Personal Assistant to the President, 10/09/1992; typed letter in Irish from Prof Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh, University College Galway [now University of Galway], handwritten response (not by MR), and typed version from MR in relation to gift of books on connection between Ireland and Australia, which she had wanted to research ahead of visit there, 30/08-22/09/1992; handwritten letter and gift of green scapula in sealed envelope from Sister Mary Magdalen of Jesus, Carmelite Monastery, Greystones, Co. Wicklow, and copy of typed response from AL, 15-24/09/1992; handwritten letters from Sandro Cafolla and Rhonda Smith (partial letter), Design by Nature, in relation to presentation of single cut flower which came from the last wild Irish Cornflower, which they were working to save from extinction, and typed response from AL, 26-28/09/1992; typed letter from Mr Paul J Regan Jr, Senior Vice President, Corning Inc, Corning, New York, USA in relation to his visit to Áras an Uachtaráin [official residence of the President of Ireland] and gift of "Steuben" apple [glass apple], with commercial invoice and shipping receipt attached, and response from AL, 21-28/09/1992; several letters of congratulation, complimenting MR on her visit to Somalia the previous week, which had accompanied gifts of books, with copies of responses from AL, 29/09-14/10/1992; copy of typed letter from AL thanking Dr Bryan MacMahon, Irish playwright, for sending personally signed copy of his autobiography "The Master", 14/10/1992; handwritten letter in relation to print of photo by Fr Browne which was sent by Fr Eddie O'Donnell SJ, Gonzaga College, Dublin for MR to bring to New South Wales, Australia, with typed response from AL, 14-15/10/1992; typed letter from Michael Mehigan, Chairman, McDonald's Licensee Group in Ireland, in relation to gift of "The Cat's Pyjamas", a book of work from young writers who won Mc Donalds Young Writers competition, with copy of response from Joseph Brennan, Deputy Secretary to the President, on behalf of MR, October 1992; typed poem "Candles" written for MR by Joan McBreen, Tuam, Co. Galway, in carboard frame [originally possibly in glass frame], 04/12/1992; handwritten letter from Karen Kenny, ONUSAL El Salvador [United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador], which accompanied a picture entitled "El Calor de lo Nuestro" [the Warmth of Our Own?], 05/12/1992; handwritten letter from Regina McGarrity, Buddy Bear Trust in relation to framed scroll presented to MR during her visit to Ballina, Co. Mayo, on Heritage Day [16?]/08/1992, with typed response from AL thanking her and apologising for delay in responding, 16/08-11/12/1992; copy of typed response to Professor Roger Little, Dept. of French, Trinity College Dublin, for sending gift of book via MR's daughter Tessa, who was in Little's class, and who as per to a post-it note "doesn't like her professor at all at all!", 16/12/1992; compliment slip from Gandon Editions, Dublin and copy of typed letter to Irish artist Louis le Brocquy and his wife Anne, in relation to gift of signed copy of his book "The Irish Landscape" which was sent on his behalf by the publishers, 14-18/12/1992; handwritten letter from Ms Catherine Byron, Leicester, England (originally from Northern Ireland), in relation to gift of signed copy of her book "Out of Step: Pursuing Seamus Heaney to Purgatory", which included an 'after-dedication' to MR, with press release and biography, and copy of typed response from AL, 20/11-12/12/1992.

Correspondence also includes that relating to gifts of 19th Century French engraving, tape of Aly Bain [Shetland fiddler]'s music, painting, and to various other publications not listed above.

Ref: P143/4/13/3/3

This subsubseries consists of material relating to gifts given and received, and presentations made which related to Mary Robinson’s role as President of Ireland and covers the year 1993.

See also P143/4/13/17.

Ref: P143/4/13/4

Correspondence and other material relating to gifts given and received, and presentations made in 1993 in connection with Mary Robinson (MR)'s presidency, including Season's Greetings card from Ambassador and Mrs Abdeslam Tadlaoui, Kingdom of Morocco, which had come with gift of book "Living in Morocco", and typed thank-you note from Joseph Brennan (JB), Deputy Secretary to the President, on behalf of MR, 12/1992-06/01/1993; typed letter from Peggy Kenny, Wexford Community Writers Group, which had accompanied a gift of their book "Wordweavers" published in aid of Somalia, with handwritten notation from Ann Lane (AL), Personal Assistant to the President, that New Year's Card had been sent, 04-14/01/1993; handwritten letter from Irish writer Colm Tóibín, in relation to gift of American edition of his second novel "the Heather Blazing" and "Homage to Barcelona", with handwritten notation from AL that card was sent, 18-19/01/1993; letter from Barbara Dargan, Chairperson, Great Island Writers' Group, Cobh, County (Co.) Cork who sent a copy of the group's first edition of short stories, prose and poetry, and included two poems signed by the poets about MR, with letter 18/01/1993; typed letter from Rev Patrick J Twohig, in relation to book in Irish he had published on the bardic school in the Coolea Gaeltacht [Irish language speaking region] of Co. Cork, published to coincide with centenary of Conradh na Gaeilge's foundation in which MR was participating, with copy of typed response from MR, 15-25/01/1993; copy of typed letter from MR to Dr LM Singhvi [Laxmi Mall Singhvi, Indian jurist, parliamentarian, scholar, writer and diplomat] thanking him for gift of signed copy of his book "Freedom on Trial", 03/02/1993; post-it note from JB to MR with two photographs of wooden bowls taken at Iveagh House, which were carved by Liam O'Neill and presented to Queen Elizabeth [possibly during MR's courtesy call, May 1993], and two slides of same images © Lensmen Ltd. Dublin 2, "No fee for Publication" 25/05-01/06/1993; handwritten letter from Mr Patrick Browne in relation to his gift of harp and Celtic cross made from matches, with photocopy of newspaper article showing him and the pieces, and copy of response from MR, 29/05-08/06/1993; handwritten card from Dr Caren M Carney, Potomac Valley Irish Wolfhound Club, Maryland, United States of America (USA), in relation to sweatshirt and dog show catalogue which they sent MR, and copy of reply from AL, 14/05-09/06/1993; handwritten letter from Ms Lexie Brockway Potamkin, Philadelphia, PA, USA, Board member, International League for Human Rights, in relation to recent meeting at their awards dinner where she gave MR book "Megatrends For Women", by Patricia Aburdene, and to gift of book "A Women's Worth", by Marianne Williamson, which she was enclosing, with copy of typed response from MR, 28/05-09/06/1993; typed response from MR to Michael D Higgins (MDH) and Sabina Higgins [who became President and First Lady of Ireland in 2011] in relation to gift of "The Season of Fire", book of poems by MDH, 15/06/1993.

Correspondence also includes that relating to gifts of silk scarf, Lowe Alpine Jacket, flowers and various other publications not listed above

Ref: P143/4/13/4/1

Material relating to Northern Ireland including the build-up to the Anglo-Irish Agreement. It is further divided into 8 subsections: Reports / Background information (P143/2/3/1); correspondence (P143/2/3/2); Speeches / Events (P143/2/3/3); Press / Statements (P143/2/3/4); Extradition 1970s, 1980s (P143/2/3/5); Separation of Church and State (campaign) (P143/2/3/6); New Ireland Forum (P143/2/3/7) and Anglo-Irish Agreement (P143/2/3/8).

Mary Robinson (MR) took a keen interest in political affairs in Northern Ireland and followed developments and engaged where possible throughout her political career. She was actively involved in the New Irish Forum and resigned from the Labour party following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, as she was unhappy with the treatment and exclusion of the Unionist community during negotiations. She would go on to visit Northern Ireland 17 times during her Presidency, and material relating to Northern Ireland, covering her term of office (1990-1997) can be found there (P143/4/16). Material in this subseries therefore covers the period 1973-2015, excluding 1990-1997.

Material in this subseries relates to Mary Robinson (MR)'s Presidential Election campaign from her nomination as candidate, through to her successful election, and includes campaign committee minutes, press releases, correspondence, reports and polls, posters, cuttings and other ephemera. Nominated by both Labour and The Workers' Party to become candidate of political left, MR chose to remain independent from either party, and made history as both the first female candidate and eventual winner. The margin of victory between the three candidates [MR, Brian Lenihan (Fianna Fáil) and Austin Currie (Fine Gael)] was one of the tightest in history, and the final few weeks featured personal attacks from rival parties, scandal and resignation of Lenihan from Government, and internal bickering amongst Fianna Fáil party members. Fine Gael's leader, Alan Dukes, would later resign following Currie's poor third place showing. Ruairí Quinn, Deputy Leader of the Labour party, worked as MR's Campaign Director and the election took place on 7th November 1990.

[Archivist's Note: In January 1982, then Taoiseach, Garret FitzGerald, asked then President, Patrick Hillery, to dissolve the Dáil, which Hillery did. If Hillery had refused a dissolution, Charles Haughey as Leader of the Opposition, could have formed an alternative government. Lenihan among others called Hillery seeking to pressure him to refuse to dissolve the Dáil, something Lenihan denied doing in October 1990 during the Presidential election campaign. However, tapes existed of an interview he did with postgrad student and journalist, Jim Duffy, in May 1990, in which he stated he had done so, and (sections of) these tapes were subsequently released by Duffy following Lenihan's denial. Haughey dismissed Lenihan from government but supported him as Fianna Fáil's candidate in presidential election. This became known as the (Duffy) "Tapes Affair". To support Lenihan and weaken MR's standing with voters, a fellow Fianna Fáil government colleague, Pádraig Flynn, launched a personal attack which questioned MR's loyalty to her family among other insults, which, along with the "Tapes Affair", was seen to have gifted MR the election.

However, a letter in P143/4/1/3/5 from Robin J Addis, Managing Director, Lansdowne Market Research, references an unpublished poll showing MR had already almost caught up with Lenihan in estimated first preference votes, and stated pollsters would most likely have predicted MR to win regardless, without any assistance from these events.]

Ref: P143/4/1

The Reid Professor of Constitutional and Criminal Law [known as The Reid Professor of Criminal Law, Criminology and Penology since 1975] is a professorship at Trinity College Dublin. The Chair, established initially in 1888, is named after Richard Tuohill Reid (1823–83), an Irish lawyer and academic who was Perry Professor in Jurisprudence at Elphinstone College, a constituent college of the University of Bombay (now the University of Mumbai). Reid bequeathed £25,000 in trust to Irish education. Mary Robinson was Reid Professor from 1969 - 1975.

Material in this subseries relates to her work while Reid Professor, although no material covers her appointment to this position.

This subseries consists of material relating to Mary Robinson (MR)'s work at Trinity College Dublin, and is further subdivided into 13 subsections including Reid Professor of Constitutional and Criminal Law 1969-1975 (P143/3/1/1), Lecturer in European Community Law 1975-1990 (P143/3/1/2), Chancellor 1998-2019 (P143/3/1/3), Summer schools 1982-1990 (P143/3/1/4), Trinity College Dublin Academic Staff Association & Irish Federation of University Teachers (P143/3/1/5), Law School Committee (P143/3/1/6), Trinity College Dublin Trust (P143/3/1/7), Evets (P143/3/1/8). General correspondence (P143/3/1/9), Dublin University Women Graduates Association (DUWGA) (P143/3/1/10) and Trinity College Dublin Publications (P143/3/1/11).

Material relating to the Irish Centre of European Law (ICEL) and The Mary Robinson Foundation - Climate Justice, both of which were based out of TCD, can be found in P143/1/7 and P143/8, respectively.

[Archivist's note: The University of Dublin, corporately named as The Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin, is a research university located in Dublin, Ireland. It is the degree-awarding body for Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. As only one constituent college was ever established, the designations "Trinity College Dublin" and "University of Dublin" are usually synonymous for practical purposes.]