General correspondence to and from President Mary Robinson (MR), and other presidency related material, 1996 including typed letter from anonymised person who attended Alcoholics Anonymous, detailing how they had given up drinking through the help of AA, wishing MR to know what AA had done for her, and mentioned canvassing for MR, 13/01/1996; best wishes note from Italian Senator Francesco Cossiga during visit to Dublin, and unofficial translation, 17/06/1996; typed memo from Colm Butler to Nick Robinson in relation to Christmas Card requirement, including theme/subject for 1996, 16/07/1996; typed letter from Peter D Sutherland [Irish businessman, barrister and Fine Gael politician], thanking MR for inviting him and his wife Maruja on visit to Washington, 01/08/1996; handwritten letter from Noel Dorr [Secretary Dept of Foreign Affairs] thanking MR for gift of Declan Kilber's book "Inventing Ireland", 07/08/1996; handwritten letter from Mary O'Donoghue, Tuam, Co. Galway thanking MR for sending representative to [her husband?] Noel's funeral [acting State Solicitor], 21/08/1996; handwritten letter from Brian Urquhart regarding death of Erskine Childers and referring to their meeting with MR in 1995 [see P143/4/6/7/5], 01/09/1996; handwritten thank-you from Elizabeth Longford for message Robinsons sent for her 90th birthday, 14/09/1996; handwritten letter from Stephen Joyce, Paris/La Flotte-en-Ré, [grandson of James Joyce and the executor of Joyce's literary estate] regarding "Joyce Images" book and meeting in Galway in 1997, 17/09/1996; handwritten letter from Seán Sweeney [co-executor of James Joyce Estate] in relation to possibility of meeting Robinsons at the Nora Barnacle house in Galway in the future, or visiting them in Mayo, 13/09/1996; fax from Moya McHugh, Druid Theatre, on behalf of Garry [Hynes?], with details of and tour schedule for show "The Beauty Queen of Leenane", and mentioning that writer Martin McDonagh had been nominated for "Most Promising Writer", 30/10/1996.

Ref: P143/4/6/7/7

General correspondence to and from President Mary Robinson (MR), and other presidency related material, 1997, including card from Stan [St Stanislaus Kennedy, President, Focus Ireland], sending best wishes including in relation to MR's task of deciding whether to stay for second term of office or move on to other work, 11/01/1997; text of address by Sir Shridath Ramphal to the Commonwealth Countries League, sent to Bride Rosney, Special Adviser to the President, by Terry Dormer, Commonwealth Secretariat, with photocopy of response, 14-20/1997; typed letter from John Kennedy thanking MR for best wishes on his appointment as a Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Greater Manchester, 02/04/1997; typed letter from Seán Sweeney [co-executor of James Joyce's estate], apologising for missing MR's visit to Nora Barnacle House in Galway, 08/05/1997; handwritten letter from Mary Gallagher thanking Robinsons for visiting the Nora Barnacle House, 28/05/1997; correspondence from Enda [McDonagh, Professor of Moral Theology and Canon Law at St Patrick's College Maynooth, and official chaplain for MR while President] congratulating her on appointment as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (HCHR), 13/06/1997; handwritten postcard from ben Whitaker wishing MR all the best in Geneva, following her appointment as United Nations HCHR, 26/07/1997; handwritten letter of congratulations from John Nankivell [artist] and his wife Annie on news of MR's appointment as HCHR at United Nations, with photocopy of response, 07-11/09/1997; handwritten letter from [Dame] Jennifer Jenkins, [Chair of the National Trust] thanking MR for inviting her, [her husband, Roy Jenkins, former Labour politician and Chancellor of University of Oxford], and the Augleseys to lunch on St Patrick's Day at Aras an Uachtaráin, 19/11/1997.

Ref: P143/4/6/7/8

This subseries consists of material relating to gifts given and received, and presentations made during Mary Robinson (MR)'s term as President of Ireland, 1990-1997, and is arranged chronologically.

Ref: P143/4/13

Card [which most likely accompanied a bouquet of flowers] congratulating President Mary Robinson (MR) on becoming president, [12?]/199[0?], from Christina McDonagh; handwritten letter from Maura Shanahan, Bambury, Dalkey, County Dublin in relation to a choice of Robert Clergerie shoes/boots Shanahan was offering, 19/11/1990; photocopies of correspondence between MR and Mr Michael and Mrs Patricia Mortell, Michael Mortell Ltd., relating to raincoat from their latest collection they gifted her, 23/11-07/12/1990; card from Evelyn Williams, Dublin 24, which had accompanied a piece of crochet, and photocopy of thank-you letter to Williams from Ann Lane, Personal Assistant to the President, on behalf of MR, 12/12/1990.

Ref: P143/4/13/1

Correspondence and other material relating to gifts given and received at some stage during Mary Robinson (MR)'s presidency (1990-1997), including two thank-you cards which had accompanied bouquets of flowers, from Desmond Doherty, and from the trainees in "The Sheltered Workshop", [Carndonagh?]; compliment slip from "all the community Care girls", Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Service for the Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults Community Care Programme, which had accompanied a tapestry made by "Patsy"; handwritten letter from Patricia [Lordan / Gordan?] which had accompanied a painting by her following or during a visit to Kinsale, County (Co.) Cork; photocopy of poem about President Robinson, written by pupils of Athleague National School, Co. Roscommon; two cards with pressed flowers on front, which had accompanied gifts to MR during her visit to Rwanda, from Jeannette Kagame, President of the [Ardec/Ardel?] site and wife of Vice President of Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame and from Kagame family.

Ref: P143/4/13/11

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, covers the year 1991, and is arranged across three files.

See also P143/4/13/14, P143/4/13/15.

Ref: P143/4/13/2

Correspondence and other material relating to gifts given and received, and presentations made in 1991 in connection with Mary Robinson (MR)'s presidency, including correspondence with Colum Kenny, Lecturer in Communications, Dublin City University, who gifted a book by Gunter Grass "From the Diary of a Snail", which he remembered previous president Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh reading during a turbulent time and which Ó Dálaigh recommended to Kenny and others during their visit to the Áras in 1976, 07/12/1990-16/01/1991; letter from Mr Tom Graves, George Weidenfeld & Nicolson Ltd., London, in relation to gift of first book "Irish Watercolours", by Patricia Butler, with photocopy of response from MR, 18-23/01/1991; letter from Mr Brian Lacey, Derry City Council, Derry, Northern Ireland, in relation to gift of his publication "Siege City, The Story of Derry and Londonderry", and response from MR, 17/01-05/02/1991; letter from JP Sorohan, Chairman, RTÉ [Raidió Teilifís Éireann, Ireland's public service broadcaster] in relation to video cassettes of series "The Year of the French", which MR had shown interest in viewing, and response from MR, 31/01-25/02/1991; letter from Thomas Kabdebo, Librarian, St. Patrick's College Maynooth, Co. Kildare in relation with copy of the study "The Hungarian-Irish 'Parallel' and Arthur Griffith's use of his sources", to mark the opening of the first Hungarian embassy in Dublin, 15/02/1991; handwritten postcard from Scott Young and Margaret Burns Hogan, Dublin in relation to books gifted as memento of the Nova Scotia Art Exhibition, and photocopy of response from Ann Lane, Personal Assistant to the President, on behalf of MR, 18-26/02/1991; letter from Mrs Frances Hickey, in relation to her painting which was presented to MR by the National Association of Widows of Ireland, and photocopy of letter from Ann Lane, 26/02-06/03/1991; handwritten letter from Barbara McCarthy in relation to gift of book "Ireland and the Crown 1922-1936", from her and her husband Justice Niall McCarthy, with response from Ann Lane, 18/02-01/03/1991; handwritten letter from artist Caitriona Breslin and note from Ms Millie Cullivan, Hon Secretary, Embroidery Designer Group, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, in relation to piece of framed embroidery by Breslin gifted to MR by the group, with responses from Ann Lane, Feb - 5th March, 1991; handwritten postcard from Lady Sheila Dunsany, Dunsany Castle, Co. Meath and photocopy of response from MR, in relation to gift of "Millie's Book", 07-08/03/1991; card which came with bouquet of flowers sent to MR by Labour Women's National Council on International Women's Day, with photocopy of response from MR, 11/03/1991; handwritten letter from JP FitzPatrick in relation both to gift of painting and to the Niemba Ambush, 8 November 1960 during United Nations Operation in the Congo, at which 9 members of the Irish Defence Forces died and two survived, including FitzPatrick, and for which he was seeking recognition in the form of medals for all involved, 09-13/03/1991; correspondence with Cahir McKeown, Clones, Co. Monaghan, and two small pieces of Art which he sent in appreciation for MR's interest in the Arts, 21/03-22/04/1991.

Correspondence also includes that relating to gifts of silk scarf, smoked salmon, artwork and various other publications not listed above.

Ref: P143/4/13/2/1

Correspondence and other material relating to gifts given and received, and presentations made in 1991 in connection with Mary Robinson (MR)'s presidency, including photocopy of letter from MR to Dr Geza Jeszenszky, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Republic of Hungary in relation to gifts he presented when visiting Áras an Uachtaráin [official residence of the President of Ireland], 22/04/1991; correspondence between MR and Yanku Venkatesh, SN, Tumkur, India in relation to their gift of inscribed rice grains, 09-23/04/1991; correspondence relating to MR participating in event honouring Women of Europe, receiving statuette and bouquet, including response from Ann Lane, Personal Assistant to the President, to Ms Mary Papaconstantinos, Athens, Greece, 23/04/1991; compliment card and photocopy of response from MR to Mr Sten Anderson, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, in relation to gift he had delivered following visit to Áras an Uachtaráin, 24/04/1991; photocopy of letter to Prime Minister [John Major, United Kingdom], thanking him for gift of glasses and noting she enjoyed her first visit to London as President, 02/05/1991; card and correspondence relating to birthday gift send by young girl, Julie Tiernan, Bunratty, Co. Clare, to MR, 08/05/1991; correspondence between fashion designer Sybil Connolly and MR, relating to gift of clock Connolly had designed for Tiffany's collection, which she gifted as memento to MR's inauguration and in thanks for invite, 09/01-08/05/1991; correspondence between Irish artist, environmentalist and children's author, Don Conroy, and MR relating to launch of book, and gift of another, 21-23/05/1991; a ringbound selection of poems and cover letter from Rose McLoughlin, with response from Ann Lane on behalf of MR, 29/04-23/05/1991; handwritten note from Gearailt Mac Eoin, Irish language poet, short-story writer and translator, in relation to gift of book "Labhrai Loingseach", 19/05-05/06/1991; correspondence between Maria Julia Guerra, Lisbon Portugal, and Ann Lane on behalf of MR, in relation to MR's visit to Portugal, and which includes two photographs, 12-24/06/1991; typed letter from Ann O'Malley, President, Limerick Federation of Women's Organizations, which had accompanied a book "Living at the Time of the Siege of Limerick" gifted to MR, with thank-you note from Ann Lane, on MR's behalf, 21/06-02/07/1991; note from Aide-de-Camp to MR informing her the base of a presentation had been taken away for inscription, 04/07/1991.

Correspondence also includes that relating to gifts of flowers, prawns and various other publications not listed above.

Ref: P143/4/13/2/2

Correspondence and other material relating to gifts given and received, and presentations made in 1991 in connection with Mary Robinson (MR)'s presidency, including correspondence between MR, John Kuhlmann, Bronx, New York, Ann Lane, Catherine Eddery, Department of the Taoiseach, Commandant (Comdt) E O'Donohoe, Superintendent of the Houses of the Oireachtas and others in relation to Kuhlman's interest in a flag presented by President John F Kennedy to the people of Ireland in 1963, a tour of Leinster House, which was arranged for him, and a coin he gave the Captain of the Guard to be presented to MR on behalf of members of the 69th infantry of New York, 15/07-25/09/1991, and including the coin itself; correspondence in Irish between MR and Riobaird Mac Gorain, Deputy Head, Gael-Linn, in relation to video tape of "Mise Éire" which he sent MR, 27/06-06/08/1991; handwritten letter from Dr Anne Primavesi, Newbury, Berkshire, England which accompanied a copy of her book "From Apocalypse to Genesis", and copy of typed response from MR, 29/08-02/09/1991; handwritten letter from Brian Parker, Councillor, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, which had accompanied a book written by local historian (possibly Parker himself), which he gifted ahead of a forthcoming visit by MR to the town, 23/09/1991; correspondence between Ms Allie Kay and Ann Lane, Personal Assistant to the President, in relation to the gifting of a handwoven fabric created by Kay, which was exhibited at the "Strands" exhibition opened by MR, and gifted by The Irish Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, 10/10/1991; letter from David Alvey which accompanied gift of book "Irish Education - The Case for Secular Reform", 10/11/1991; handwritten letter from Harry Hughes, Dal gCais Journal of Clare, which accompanied copy of 10th issue, and response from Ann Lane on behalf of MR, 11-14/11/1991; photocopy of response to Dr Bryan MacMahon, Judge, who had gifted several law textbooks he had written, 16/12/1991 .

Correspondence also includes that relating to gifts of chutney, cheeses, jewellery, mass cards and various other publications not listed above, such as poetry anthologies by female poets.

Ref: P143/4/13/2/3

Correspondence and other material relating to gifts given and received, and presentations made in 1992 in connection with Mary Robinson (MR)'s presidency, including typed letter from Tim Severin, explorer, writer and film-maker, and response from MR, in relation to gift of his book "The Brendan Voyage", and a new expedition he was planning from East Asia, 30/12/1991-02/01/1992; typed letter from Rita McNulty, Banúlacht, Irish Women for Development, which accompanied a report "Women Worldwide: Common Interests?", with response for Ann Lane (AL), Personal Assistant to the President, on behalf of MR, 11/01-17/02/1992; handwritten letter in pencil from primary school pupil Jason Grehan, Brideswell National School, Co. Roscommon, to MR, which had accompanied a St. Brigid's cross for St. Brigid's Day [1st of February], with copy of typed response from AL, on behalf of MR, 28/01-03/02/1992; handwritten letter from Prof Derry Jeffares, Crail, Fife, Scotland, in relation to gift of signed copy of his biography of WB Yeats, which he sent to MR ahead of her launch of the Maud Gonne Yeats letters, with response from MR, 03-06/02/1992; handwritten letter from Frank Hughes, Director, Dublin Boy Singers, in relation to record and tape he sent MR and response from Ann Lane, 03-06/02/1992; typed letter from Dr Karola Dillenburger, Portrush, Northern Ireland in relation gift of her book "Violent Bereavement: Widows in Northern Ireland", and response from AL, 13-18/02/1992; handwritten letter from Mr Michael Mullen, congratulating MR on her first year and which accompanied a book "The Flight of the Earls" which he enclosed for Aubrey, MR's young son, with response from AL, 13-16/02/1992; typed letter from Julie Hucks, Personal Manager to Sir Harry Secombe, in relation to how much he had enjoyed meeting MR and to tapes of the Goon Show which he sent for MR's son William, with response from AL, 02-06/03/1992; handwritten letter from Lt Col John P Duggan, in relation to gift of his book "A History of the Irish Army", and copy of response from MR, 12-20/03/1993; handwritten letter from Ms Gretchen Fitzgerald, which accompanied a booklet "Repulsing Racism", with response from AL, 18-23/03/1992; typed response to Mrs Nowlan, Ballymore Eustace National School, Co. Kildare, in relation to a sculpture the students had made and which was on display at Áras an Uachtaráin, 23/03/1992; handwritten letter from Mrs Elizabeth O'Byrne, Galway, with crochet peace prayer and miraculous medal, and response from AL, 22-24/03/1992; handwritten letter from Dr Ben Whitaker, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, London, congratulating MR on her Allen Lane lecture and enclosing collection of books, with response from MR, 28-30/02/1992; handwritten letter from Ms Philomena Gallagher, Craigavon, Northern Ireland, in relation to published books she sent MR from Craigavon Women's Writing Group, and copy of response from AL, 29/03-03/04/1992; response to Dr Maurna Crozier, Cultural Relations Group, Community Relations Council, Belfast, Northern Ireland, in relation to box of books from the group which were left in by Dr Maurice Hayes, and to MR wanting to be added to mailing list, in order to receive future publications, 13/04/1992.

Correspondence also includes that relating to gifts of chocolates, honey, crochet, lace and various other publications not listed above.

Ref: P143/4/13/3/1