Simon P. Connor CV, 19/06/1990.

Correspondence between Mary Robinson (MR) and public, colleagues and friends, following her nomination as candidate for the Irish Presidential Election, including messages of congratulations, offers of support, advice and suggestions including typed letter from Brian Quinn "...There is nothing profound in what I have to tell you about the residents of Aida's tomb in the Park...", giving insight into previous presidents' terms and their time at the Áras, including Hyde being 1st president to be "got out of bed to dissolve the Dáil", 01/06/1990; from Colm Roddy, Campaign Aid, which noted that "it might be worth bearing in mind... that Mr Brian Lenihan has a deplorable record as Irish minister for Foreign Affairs where matching words with actions is concerned...", 07/06/1990; fax from MR to Fergus Finlay with two page letter to Labour party members, and sample signature, 12/06/1990; fax of letter from Dick Spring, TD, Party Leader (Labour) to each member of party [06/1990?]; offers of assistance with creating fashion style from Simon P. Connor, 19/06/1990. It includes correspondence with Darina Allen, Ballymaloe Cookery School, County Cork, 11/06/1990, from MR's brother Adrian Bourke relating to event for Press Photographers Association of Ireland which MR was invited to contribute to, 20/06/1990 and Donal Flynn, association for Choice in Irish, in relation to their aims to have Irish removed as a compulsory subject in the Leaving Certificate Examination, 06/04-28/06/1990.

Ref: P143/4/1/2/3

Correspondence between Mary Robinson (MR) and public, colleagues and friends, following her nomination as candidate for the Irish Presidential Election, including messages of congratulations, offers of support, advice and suggestions. It includes correspondence between Nicholas Robinson and Jack O'Sullivan, Environmental Management Associates, following Robinsons' attendance at the National Coastal communities conference in Allihies, West Cork 20/06-04/07/1990, a letter from Michael Sheehan, Bantry, County Cork asking MR to nominate Lady Valerie Goulding for the Nobel Prize, 26/06-06/07/1990, a letter from Dr Kevin Quinn, Arranmore Island School Action committee, requesting assistance in persuading Minister for Education to make a favourable decision, 26/06-11/07/1990, letter of support from Linda Hutton Durcan, Legislative Aide to Delegate William J Howell, Commonwealth of Virginia House of delegates, 02/07/1990, letter from Dick Spring, TD and leader of Labour Party, in relation to the need to test the constitutionality of the Broadcasting Bill, 11/07/1990, letter from Dr A[ubrey] Bourke, MR's father, which includes reference to a promotional ad doing well, 13/07/1990, letter from Inez McCormack requesting an opportunity to finally meet, 10-16/07/1990 and letter from Jimmy McAllister, H-Block, Long Kesh Prison on discrimination in new parole system in Northern Ireland, with response from Ann Lane on behalf of MR, 23-24/07/1990 [see also P143/2/3 and P143/4/16].

Ref: P143/4/1/2/4

Correspondence between Mary Robinson (MR) and public, colleagues and friends, following her nomination as candidate for the Irish Presidential Election, including messages of congratulations, offers of support and invites. It includes letter written by MR to Editor of The Nationalist about her position on abortion, and the Irish constitution, in response to an open question in the paper, 22/08/1990; material relating to co-ordinating the youth campaign including correspondence with Bernard Mulvey, and lists of contacts, 09-20/08/1990; correspondence from Tom Lyons, Cork South Labour party, in relation to the Cambodia Solidarity Group, looking for support, 08/1990.

Ref: P143/4/1/2/5

Correspondence between Mary Robinson (MR) and public, colleagues and friends, following her nomination as candidate for the Irish Presidential Election, including messages of congratulations, offers of support, campaign donations and invites. It includes correspondence from Regina McGarrity, Mayo branch of the Buddy Bear Trust inviting MR to become Trustee, 09/1990; draft letter from Niall Greene to be sent to Managing Directors of top 1000 Irish businesses seeking support for MR, 04/09/1990; letter of support from John Murphy chairman, and Owen Regan, PRO, Claremorris branch of Labour Party which also mentions their support for other Labour candidate Dr Noel Browne, who lost out to MR as nominee, 01-17/09/1990; letter from Senator David Norris offering support, but recognising that an endorsement from him may be a mixed blessing, 18/09/1990; letter of support from Senator Brendan Ryan; draft letter to be sent to all parliamentary party members of the Progressive Democrats requesting support for MR, 24/09/1990; draft copy of letter from Dick Spring TD, Leader of Labour Party, to membership seeking support, 24/09/1990; list of key points for speech to youth leaders, 24/09/1990; correspondence with members of Glór an Deoraí [Irish Emigrants Voice] in relation to Irish abroad being able to vote in Irish elections, 12-25/09/1990.

Ref: P143/4/1/2/6

Correspondence between Mary Robinson (MR) and public, colleagues and friends, following her nomination as candidate for the Irish Presidential Election, including messages of congratulations, offers of support, requests for support on several issues including tax free allowances for children, cutbacks in education leading to short-staffing, driving conditions in Dublin, the setting up of a Gaeltacht TV service, local community radio, the welfare of Judy, an African elephant at Dublin Zoo, water pollution in County Galway, overly long admittance time to hospital for cardiac patients, issues facing carers of disabled, correspondence relating to MR's perceived views on abortion and contraception, in particular following an interview with Hot Press, and appearance on "Questions and Answers", campaign donations and invites. It includes correspondence with Mary and William King in relation to difficulties faced with planning issues in Connemara area 09/09-01/10/1990; letter from member of public Tony Kelly accusing MR of refusing to represent him in his quest to establish his birth details from the National Maternity Hospital, 29/09-02/10/1990; letter of congratulations and support from classmate at Harvard, l'Honorable Helene Le Bel, Montreal Canada, including a cutting from The Gazette, Montreal, about the Irish Presidential race, 18/09-02/10/1990; letter from Desmond O'Malley TT, Leader of Progressive Democrats stating party had decided not to support any individual candidate, 02/10/1990; correspondence from Adrian Bourke, (brother of MR) re various press and MR's visit to Castlebar, County (Co.) Mayo; letter to the editor of the Irish Times from Mark Silke, former President of Co. Galway Irish Country Women's Association encouraging women to vote for MR, 20/09-08/10/1990; letter from JC Fabien declaring MR's appearance on TV as unprofessional and unconvincing, 02/10/1990; letter from schoolgirl Hannah Doyle re mini Presidential Campaign being run in the school, with her speaking on behalf of MR, 03-09/10/1990; correspondence with Greg Shine re conditions in Mountjoy Women's prison, 04-10/10/1990; correspondence from Darina and Myrtle Allen, Ballymaloe House, Midleton, Co. Cork (on campaign committee?), 16/07-12/10/1990; fax of letter from Interim Women's Committee of SIPTU [Services Industrial Professional Technical Union] to the joint SIPTU President, William Attley, recommending the NEC [National Executive Committee?] formally endorse candidature of MR, 17/10/1990; letter from Prof Richard Kearney, UCD [University College Dublin] with paper he delivered at Strathclyde "Towards A European Charter of the Regions: An Irish Perspective", and which Fintan O'Toole told him he was planning something similar in run-up to voting day, 22/10/1990; letter from Roddy O'Sullivan, 17 year old student interested in journalism, who asked MR 12 questions for school magazine, with MR's responses, 26-30/10/1990; letter from Arthur O'Neill whose wife Pauline was being held hostage by Iraq authorities in Baghdad, 25/10/1990; response from RTÉ Director of News, Joe Mulholland, to Ruairí Quinn, Chairman, MR's Presidential campaign committee, in relation to balance of coverage MR was receiving in comparison to other candidates Brian Lenihan and Austin Currie, 31/10/1990; letter from Seán McConkey, in H Bloc, H.M. Prison, Lisburn Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland re extradition, and the hunger striker Dessie Ellis, 31/10/1990; letter outlining difference in lottery distribution 1990 between charities supporting males and females (factor of 400).

Ref: P143/4/1/2/7

Correspondence between Mary Robinson (MR) and public, colleagues and friends, following her nomination as candidate for the Irish Presidential Election (7th November) including messages wishing her luck. Includes letter from photographer Henry Wills, Ballina, County (Co.) Mayo, referring to photographs he took of MR on "the Island" (Inishbofin/Inishturk?) which were used on the election campaign broadcast, and stating he "never felt so politically and personally involved in any election" 02/11/1990; letter from Senator Des Hanafin, Chairman Pro-Life Referendum Campaign committee 1983, to unknown receiver(s?) essentially endorsing either Austin Currie or Brian Lenihan, 02/11/1990; copy of letter from Mary Maher, former Women's Page editor, Irish Times, which she handed in to RTÉ studios to be read by Gay Byrne on his radio show, and which related to comments by Minister for the Environment, Mr Flynn, about MR having a "new" interest in her family image, 04/11/1990*; correspondence with Christopher Kelly re photographs he took of MR in Edenderry, Co. Offaly, on campaign trail which were possible requested by the campaign after the fact, 06/11/1990; good-luck fax from Michael and Maggie O'Boyle, European Court of Human Rights, 05/11/1990;letter from 13 year old wishing MR best of luck, with reply, 02-06/11/1990; letter from PW Kennedy, Weston Aerodrome, wishing MR success, inviting her for flying lessons, and referencing President Hillary who Kennedy had instructed, 05-06/11/1990; letter of thanks from the Gulf Relatives Group, [linked to Irish hostages in Iraq?] for MR visiting them during busy schedule, 02-06/11/1990; letter from Louise Connolly, 11 years old, re mini Presidential election in her school, 28/10-06/11/1990; handwritten letter from Dermot Lacey, Local Labour representative, Pembroke Ward, Dublin, which had enclosed a table cloth sent by Mrs Peggy Daly which she wished to have signed, and photocopy of letter sent to Daly by Imelda Kavanagh for MR, enclosing the signed tablecloth, 19-26/11/1990. File also includes polling card for Dr Aubrey Bourke (MR's father).

[*Archivist's note: this comment was generally considered to have backfired and to have partially contributed to Brian Lenihan losing the election]

Ref: P143/4/1/2/8

Correspondence from public seeking MR's legal advice to which she responded that as a practicing barrister she was not permitted to deal directly with clients. Includes letters from Josie Lynch (formerly Airey) 10/10/1990 and cutting of article "Marriage and the Law", by Mary Leland, which references and includes a photograph of MR, Irish Times, 03/04/1973.

Ref: P143/4/1/2/9

Material consisting of posters, stickers, flyers and other ephemeral material relating to Mary Robinson's presidential election campaign.

Ref: P143/4/1/4

Campaign ephemera and circulars including flyers, tickets, blank headed paper, badges, and tickets for fundraising gig, Whelans, Dublin, 31/10/1990.

Ref: P143/4/1/4/1