Photocopy of letter sent by Peter Ryan (PR), Secretary to the President, to Mr Damien Kiberd, Editor, The Sunday Business Post, in relation to an article by Mark O'Connell with "an imputation that the President referred the Matrimonial Home Bill, 1993, to the Supreme Court to "copper fasten the legislation so that doubts could not be cast over its constitutionality in the course of the referendum campaign by those opposed to the introduction of divorce"", which PR stated were improper and untrue, 31/01/1994, photocopy of article itself, 30/1/1994, and of cover letter from PR to Taoiseach Albert Reynolds, where he requested all members of the Council of State be given a copy of both his letter and the article excerpt, 31/01/1994.

Ref: P143/4/14/12/1

Material relating to the Council of State, a body established by the Constitution of Ireland to advise the President of Ireland in the exercise of many of their discretionary, reserve powers. Members include those by virtue of office (Taoiseach [Irish prime minister], Chief Justice, President of High Court, Chairman of Dáil Éireann [Irish lower house of parliament], Chairman of Seanad Éireann [Irish upper house of parliament], Attorney General), those by virtue of having held office (e.g. previous Taoisigh [Irish language term used for more than one Taoiseach]), and those appointed by the President. Members appointed by President Mary Robinson (MR): Monica Barnes; Emer Colleran; Patricia O'Donovan; Quintin Oliver; Rosemarie Smith; Donal Toolan; TK Whitaker [Chair?]. Material excludes that relating to MR addressing Houses of Oireachtas [Irish parliament] which can be seen in P143/4/11/3/5 and P143/4/11/6/2.

Ref: P143/4/14/12

Card from Jean Wilson, widow of Gordon Wilson in relation to his biography being launched and the family being welcomed at Áras an Uachtaráin, 07/01/1997; email from Inez McCormack [Northern Ireland Labour Organiser, human rights activist and MacBride Principles Signatory] to Bride Rosney, Special Adviser to the President, which includes her thoughts on how President Mary Robinson (MR)'s response to Lady Diane, Princess of Wales' sudden death, was being received in Northern Ireland, 04/09/1997; letter of thanks from Geraldine McAteer, Urban Initiative, Belfast, to MR for her support for community development throughout Ireland, and in particular the Upper Springfield community, and wishing MR well in new role, with copy of response from MR, 09/1997; letter of thanks from Ms Marie Mulholland, Women's Support Network, Belfast, for MR's work and support during her term in office, and wishing her well for future role, with copy of response from MR, 09-11/09/1997.

[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 in June 1995].

Ref: P143/4/16/2/7

Correspondence between Inez McCormack [Northern Ireland Labour Organiser, human rights activist and MacBride Principles Signatory] and Bride Rosney, Special Adviser to the President, including McCormack sending background information on her work with United States of America politicians, and drafts and reports from UNISON [Trade Union] on policy appraisal, fair treatment and Fair Employment legislation 07/06-31/10/1996; typed letter from James A Porter, which includes typed statement on his account as key witness on the events of Bloody Sunday, in Derry, which he had given at the Widgery Tribunal in 1971, and stating that copies of tapes of his evidence were in the RTÉ archives and should be deposited in the Public Records Office, 11/11/1996.

Ref: P143/4/16/2/6

Memo from Bride Rosney (BR), Special Adviser to the President, to President Mary Robinson (MR) in relation to meeting BR had with Inez McCormack [Northern Ireland Labour Organiser, human rights activist and MacBride Principles Signatory], and including press release from McCormack relating to her 10-day visit to United States of America (USA), 07/12/1994-18/01/1995; briefing document "Recent Political Developments in Northern Ireland", Anglo-Irish Division, Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland, 06/04/1995; correspondence from Mr Terence Brown, Chairperson, Cultures of Ireland to MR, in relation to submission to Forum For Peace and Reconciliation by Cultures of Ireland Group of which MR was a patron, with reply from Peter Ryan, Secretary to the President, 25/04-16/05/1995; copy of letters from BR to Inez McCormack in relation to death of Tom Douglas, and MR seeking help with quote, 10/11/1995 and to meeting in January, 21/11/1995; memo from BR to MR in relation to Michael Hall, Island Publications and his work with "The Shankill think-tank", 10/11/1995; copies of replies to members of public in Northern Ireland who had written, including to Ms Pat Campbell, Belfast, in relation to her visit to Verbay Women's Club in Sutton, Co. Dublin and the 25th anniversary of Women Together Working for Peace, to Dr John Morison, Faculty & School of Law, Queen's University of Belfast (QUB), in relation to publication "Reshaping Public Power: Northern Ireland and the British Constitutional Crises" which he co-wrote, letter to Ms Breda Carberry, Birmingham, England, in relation to her daughter returning to Northern Ireland from England, to Ms Nicole Mezey, Institute of Continuing Education, QUB, in relation to facilitating the visit of extra-mural students to Áras an Uachtaráin (Áras) [official resident of the President of Ireland], and to Mrs Marion E Edwards, Hon Secretary, Saintfield Parish Church Mothers' Union, in relation to their link with colleagues in Delgany and a visit to Áras, 13/11-15/12/1995; copy of response from BR to Ms Deirdre Morrissey, co-operation North, in relation to MR receiving the Citizen Foundation Gulbenkian Youth Award winners to Áras, 15/12/1995; copy of responses from MR and BR to Mr BW Rudkin-McCullough in relation to contacts his son might find useful in seeking work on his return to Ireland, and including contacts in "agent/film/TV/modelling world", 20-21/12/1995.

Ref: P143/4/16/2/5

Memos from Bride Rosney (BR), Special Adviser to the President/Ann Lane, Personal Assistant to the President, regarding conversation with Inez McCormack [Northern Ireland Labour Organiser, human rights activist and MacBride Principles Signatory] on the feelings on the ground in relation to peace talks in Northern Ireland, 15/06/1994 and 09/09/1994; material relating to the IRA Ceasefire, 31/08/1994, including telex of statement issued by the IRA, subsequent statements from Irish Government, from Tánaiste and Leader of the Labour Party, Dick Spring, from Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds, and address by Tánaiste to Dáil Éireann [lower house of Irish parliament], 31/08/1994, photocopy of press article and photocopy of briefing from Tom Brady, Irish Embassy, Canada in relation to Canadian media coverage, 01/09/1994; copy of letter of thanks to Inez McCormack, UNISON [British Trade Union], Belfast, from BR which included reference to MR meeting representatives of women's groups from East Belfast in Áras an Uachtaráin (Áras) [official residence of the President of Ireland] in December 1994, 19/10/1994; copy of correspondence from BR to the heads of several churches in Northern Ireland in relation to MR inviting representatives from their churches who were involved in difficult work including dealing with bereavements as a result of violence, to a reception in Áras in December, 04-08/12/1994; copy of response to Ms Eileen Howell, Falls Community Council, Belfast, from BR, thanking her for copy of "Clar Nua - The West Belfast Community Agenda", 24/11/1994; copy of letter from BR to Mr Johnston McMaster, Youthlink NI, Belfast thanking him for material he had sent, 25/11/1994; handwritten letter from Archbishop [Robin Eames?], Church of Ireland, See House, Armagh, where he shared his personal opinions on MR's role as President of Ireland, which she had requested him to do, with photocopy of reply, 02-08/12/1994; copy of letter of response from BR to Dr Marjorie Mowlam, Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, London, in relation to meeting between her and MR in January 1995, at Áras an Uachtaráin, 22/12/1994; copy of letter from BR to Mr Quintin Oliver, NICVA [Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action], in relation to material he had sent, and to a possible European conference in 1995, 22/12/1995.

Ref: P143/4/16/2/4

Fax from Ruth [wife/partner of Adrian Bourke, Mary Robinson (MR)'s brother] on headed paper from Adrian P Bourke & Co Solicitors, with text of address given at ecumenical service held in the Cathedral in Ballina, Co. Mayo, which referred to violence and terrorism as it related to Northern Ireland, 03/04/1993; "Good Luck" card with handwritten message from Gerry Adams, referring to the work MR was doing for Peace, and to her recent visit to West Belfast: "Unfortunately the time has not yet come when people can talk or meet without the pettiness and begrudgery that has marred your visit to West Belfast. I thank you for coming and wish you well for the future. Some time we will talk, all of us, about a new and peaceful Ireland. I hope that day comes soon, not least and especially for the people you met today. Your office can be a force for good and you can reach out to all the people of Ireland...", 18/06/1993; letter from (Dr) Maura Crozier, Cultural Traditions Group, Community Relations Council, Belfast in relation to meeting MR as a judge at the Gulbenkian awards at Dublin Castle, and to the publication of the first edition of "Causeway", a cultural traditions journal which she enclosed, with thank-you letter from Bride Rosney, Special Adviser to the President, on behalf of MR, 05-15/11/1993.

Ref: P143/4/16/2/3

Letter and brochure from Chuck Richardson, Bursary Administrator, The Spirit of Enniskillen Bursaries, Belfast, Northern Ireland, relating to details of the 1993 bursary scheme launch, taking place September 1992, 16/09/1992; "Cultural traditions" flyers sent by Dr Maura Crozier, Community Relations Council, Belfast, Northern Ireland, with copy of letter of thanks from Ann Lane, Personal Assistant to the President, on behalf of MR, 17/09/1992.

Ref: P143/4/16/2/2

Letter from Seamus Heaney in his role as Chairperson of Creggan Cooperative Society Ltd., Creggan Estate, Derry [also known as Londonderry] , Northern Ireland, with a copy of the Business Plan for the development of a Community Enterprise Centre at Creggan, and copy of letter of thanks from Ann Lane, Personal Assistant to the President, thanking Heaney on behalf of President Mary Robinson, 25/03-13/05/1991.

Ref: P143/4/16/2/1

Correspondence relating to Northern Ireland, arranged chronologically across 7 files.

Ref: P143/16/2