Letters from VIPs to President Mary Robinson (MR), 1996 including typed letter from Nelson Mandela, President of Republic of South Africa, noting his delight with MR's acceptance of an earlier invitation to visit in March 1996, and that Ireland had always "been dear to [him] with its strong Anti-Apartheid Movement in the past and its unstinting support in [their] struggle towards a democratic South Africa", [01/1996?]; typed letter from Senator Edward Kennedy, thanking MR for a recent letter, wishing her well for 1996, complimenting her on her address on human rights at Yale University, and noting he was looking forward to her visit, 02/01/1996; letter of thanks from Prime Minister of Canada Jean Chrétien for book on Grosse Isle [aka Grosse Île] which was given to him on her recommendation, and for her compliments on his knowledge of the contribution made by Irish settlers to the development of the Province of Quebec, 08/01/1996; typed letter of thanks from Prime Minister of Japan Tomiichi Murayama, on his resignation from office for the good will extended during his term, 13/01/1996; typed letter from Senator Kennedy enclosing copy of letter he sent Ambassador Madeline Albright recommending that United States support MR for the position of Secretary General of the United Nations, and copy of response from MR stating she did not want to be considered for the role 27/02-15/03/1996; card from the Sultan of Brunei wishing MR happy 1996, with cover letter from Catherine Moloney, Department of the Taoiseach, 05-12/03/1996; letter of thanks from Michael Hardie Boys, Governor-General, New Zealand, for invite to Áras an Uachtaráin [official residence of the President of Ireland] during his visit to Ireland with his wife, 04/04/1996; letter from Derek Hill [English artist who was associated with painting style on Tory Ireland, who donated art collection and his house to Ireland in 1981 and who was given honorary Irish citizenship in 1999] congratulating MR on her work, 14/05/199[6?]; letter of thanks from Martii Ahtisaari, President of the Republic of Finland, for hospitality shown during his visit to Ireland with his wife Eeva, 23/05/1996; handwritten letter from singer Christy Moore, thanking MR for inviting him to perform in her honour at concert in Paris , and enclosing set list, 25/05/1996; handwritten letters from artist Louis le Brocquy, thanking her and Nick Robinson for attending his exhibition and for her thoughtful initiative on behalf of Irish artists "l'Imaginaire Irlandais", 26/05/1996, 02/11/1996; typed letter from President FW De Klerk, South Africa, concerning her recent visit, and giving explanation and background for the decision of the National Party to withdraw from the Government of National Unity, which was made at that time, 27/05/1996; handwritten note from Peter Brooke [politician and member of the British Conservative Party], apologising for being unable to attend a banquet in her honour during her visit to London, but noting he would be accepting the invitation from the Irish Ambassador to the reception in MR's honour, 03/06/1996; typed letter on "Highgrove House" headed paper, from Prince Charles, British Royal family, referring to MR's attendance at an event for his Trust while visiting the UK, 10/06/1996; fax from Ann Sharpe, Duty Officer, British Embassy, Dublin noting text of message from Queen Elizabeth II to MR following message of condolence from MR after an IRA bomb exploded in Manchester, killing 7 people, 15/06/1996; typed letter from John A Dalton, Secretary of the Navy, United States of America, following MR's visit to USA, 17/06/1996; letter of thanks from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, for MR's letter of support, [most likely on occasion of the provisional adoption of the new Constitution, May 1996], and noting the Irish people's solidarity, and the support of the Government and MR's personal interest in the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, 11/07/1996; correspondence between Bernie Guerin, mother of Irish Journalist Veronica Guerin [murdered in a contract killing believed to have been ordered by a South Dublin-based drug cartel, in June 1996], and MR including thank you note to MR for attending Veronica's funeral, and for sending a note for a memory box for Veronica's son Cathal, and thank-you note for sending flowers on Veronica's 1st anniversary, 11/07/1996-28/06/1997; handwritten thank you card from Radio presenter, Joe Duffy, for MR's "courtesy, kindness and good natured barter at the opening of the Ballyfermot Arts Festival", 15/07/1996; handwritten note from Máirín Lynch, wife of former Taoiseach Jack Lynch, thanking MR for bouquet of flowers, with note of thanks from Jack at bottom, 15/07/1996; typed thank-you letter from Hilda Tweedy [Irish women's rights activist. A founding member and leader of the Irish Housewives' Association (IHA)] and husband Robert for flowers sent on their 60th anniversary, 20/07/1996; handwritten note of thanks from Judge Hubert Wine, for message from MR which was read out at the event to mark the endorsement of a lecture room in his name in the Law faculty of the Hebrew University, 22/07/1996; handwritten letter of thanks from Joan Wilson, widow of Gordon Wilson [see archivist's note], for the foreword written by MR for a biography of Gordan, by Alf McCreary, 13/08/1996; thank-you card from Irish athlete Sonia O'Sullivan for the support, encouragement and "also the kind and strong words", prior, during and following a disappointing Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA, 29/08/1996; typed letter from Cahal Daly, Archbishop of Armagh ahead of announcement on his retirement, letting her know in advance, thanking her for her courtesy and kindness and congratulating her on her work to transform attitudes towards Ireland in Britain and towards peace in Northern Ireland, 30/09/1996; typed letter from Erskine Childers, thanking MR on behalf of his family for her attendance at ceremony for his father, Erskine Barton Childers (EBC), who passed away previous month [EBC was son of former President of Ireland Erskine Hamilton Childers who died in office in 1974, and grandson of Robert Erskine Childers who was executed during the Irish Civil War], 18/09/1996; handwritten letter from Loretta Brennan Glucksman thanking MR for welcome, and noting their time relaxing in her home, 30/10/1996; handwritten card in Irish from Ken Whitaker, thanking MR for flowers sent for his 80th birthday, 10/12/1996.

[Archivist's note: Gordon Wilson, a draper from Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, survived the IRA bombing at Enniskillen, 08/11/1987, but lost his daughter, Marie, who died from her injuries. He became known internationally as a peace campaigner. He died 27/06/1995 ].

Ref: P143/4/6/3/8

Letters to and from VIPs to President Mary Robinson (MR), 1997 including typed letter from Emil Constantinescu, President of Romania, thanking MR for support given by Ireland to the Romanian children of the orphanages, and sending best wishes for the new year, 06/01/1997; postcard from Gemma Hussey, politician, in relation to a radio poll of the public which hugely favoured MR staying for a second term as President, 07/01/1997; typed thank-you letter from Kofi Annan, for MR's best wishes on his appointment as new Secretary General of the United Nations, 08/01/1997; handwritten letter from Máirín Lynch, wife of former Taoiseach Jack Lynch, thanking MR for bouquet of flowers, 19/02/1997; handwritten letter from Garet [FitzGerald, former Taoiseach] congratulating MR on decision not to stand for a second Presidential term, 13/03/1997; handwritten letter from Roy Jenkins, Lord Jenkins of Hill Head, thanking MR for meeting for lunch on St Patrick's day, and noting a future meeting on 11th November later that year, 20/03/1997; photocopy of typed letter from Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Secretary of State for the Vatican, acknowledging MR's letter of thanks following her visit, 30/04/1997; typed letter from Senator Edward Kennedy congratulating MR on being chosen as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (HCHR), 13/06/1997; typed letter of congratulations from José Ayala Lasso, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Ecuador, and previous HCHR, 17/06/1997; typed letter from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan stating the General Assembly had approved MR's appointment as UN HCHR for a term of four years, 17/06/1997; typed letter from Dick Spring, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, congratulating MR on her appointment as HCHR, thanking her for her letter of thanks to all officers concerned with her candidature and stating "all our good wishes go with you", 19/06/1997; photocopy of letter of congratulations from Tony Blair, Prime Minister United Kingdom, and of MR's reply, in which she wishes him well in his commitment to "bringing about peace in Northern Ireland", 13-20/06/1997; typed letter of congratulations from the Dalai Lama, on MR's appointment as HCHR, with photocopy of reply, 23/06-09/07/1997; photocopy of typed message of congratulations from Mr TC Tethong, Information and International relations, Central Tibetan Administration, on MR's appointment as HCHR, and of her reply, 26/06/1997; photocopies of fax from Benita Ferrero-Waldner, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Austria, congratulating MR on her HCHR appointment and her reply, 24-27/06/1997; handwritten letter in French from Louis Pettiti, European Court of Human Rights, congratulating MR on her HCHR appointment, 30/06/1997; typed letter of congratulations in Polish from Mr Aleksander Kwaśniewski, President of Republic of Poland, with translation, 26/06-23/07/1997; typed letter of congratulations from John Boorman CBE, 01/08/1997; handwritten letter of thanks and congratulations from poet Paul Durcan, which included photocopy of an article he wrote on her election as President seven years previously, and MR's reply, 18/08/1997; photocopies of translation of message of congratulations from Ivan Antanovich, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Republic of Belarus, and of MR's reply, 16/07-[01?]/09/1997; typed letter of congratulations in Spanish from Roberto, Robaina González, Foreign Minister of Cuba, with translation and MR's reply 04/07-[01?]/09/1997; envelope of letter from artist Louis le Brocquy (letter missing), and photocopy of MR's response, 09/1997; photocopy of fax sent by Vice Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, United Kingdom, with details of representation at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, at Westminster Abbey on 6th September, and noting it would not be a State funeral, 02/09/1997; handwritten letter from Mo Mowlam, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, apologising for not being available on MR's last visit to Northern Ireland as President, and thanking her for helping to improve relations on the island, stating "The roots of the present ceasefire, and the desire for peace have been nurtured by your work as President", 06/09/1997, and photocopy of MR's reply, 11/09/1997; photocopies of letter of congratulations on her term of office as President and wishing MR luck in new role as HCHR from United States of America President Bill Clinton, with reply from MR, 11-12/09/1997; photocopy of fax sent to MR by Gerry Adams, President of Sinn Féin, in relation to detailed political report and assessment Adams and Martin McGuinness had provided to the IRA [Irish Republican Army], noting they had urged a return to cessation of August 1994 and received response that IRA would respond without relay, and hoping this new opportunity is not squandered [by] the British government as happened before", thanking MR for her "efforts to date in pursuit of a just and lasting peace in Ireland", and enclosing Sinn Féin press release, 29/11/1997.

Ref: P143/4/6/3/9

This subsubseries consists of correspondence between President Mary Robinson (MR), Peter Ryan (PR), Secretary to the President, Joe Brennan (JB), Deputy Secretary to the President, and other staff within Áras an Uachtaráin [official residence of the President of Ireland] and between the Áras and Government through Dermot Nally, Secretary to the Government (until 03/1993), Frank Murray, Assistant Secretary to the Government, later Secretary (from 03/1993), Brian McCarthy, Assistant Secretary to the Government (from 03/1993) and others in Government, and is further arranged by year.

Ref: P143/4/6/1