Folder labelled "Dudgeon v UK" relating to submission by Jeffrey Dudgeon, Belfast, Northern Ireland, to the European Court of Human Rights, represented by Francis Keenan, solicitor, Kevin Boyle, Barrister at Law (BL), and Michael O'Boyle, BL. This case was referred to by Mary Robinson in David Norris case. File includes photocopy of application to Council of Europe Commission of Human Rights, 04/1976; photocopy of Council of Europe Press Release on decision of commission 10/07/1979; photocopy of decision of European Commission of Human Rights on admissibility of application, 03/03/1978; photocopy of report of Commission, 02/1980; photocopy of typed observations of the Government of United Kingdom on merits of Dudgeon's application, 197[?].

Material relating to the National Gay Federation (NGF) which at some stage [1981?] incorporated the Irish Gay Rights Movement (1974-1978). Material includes typed copy of Constitution of NGF as adopted at first Annual General Meeting (AGM), Gresham Hotel, Dublin, 31/05/1980; letter from Michael Keating T.D. (Alderman), Fine Gael Spokesman on Human Rights, to Tom McClean, NGF, Hirshfield Centre, Dublin 2, stating Fine Gael's view that law on homosexual acts was in need of reform, 24/11/1980; correspondence between Bernard Keogh, General Secretary NGF, Gerry Collins T.D., Minister for Justice and Dr Noel Browne T.D. 13/12/1980-31/03/1981 on law reform; correspondence between Keogh, and Dr Michael Woods, T.D., Minister for Health and Social Welfare in relation to new Mental Health Bill, 03/02-15/04/1981; photocopy of pamphlet "The Homosexual in Ireland”, written by David Norris (DN), for Gay Rights Movement, 19[7?]; photocopy of typed article "Making a case for the socially responsible treatment of homosexuals by the Irish Church hierarchy and Irish people as a whole", Willie Murphy, 19[7?]; report "National Gay Conference 1981 May 15-17 Connolly’s Hall Cork Gays in the Eighties: Which Way Forward?"; photocopy of NGF typed declaration "The Rights of the Homosexual Citizen Of Ireland", 27/06/1981; photocopy of report on Trade Union activity, presented to the second AGM of NGF, Royal Dublin Hotel, 27/06/1981; draft report on political action undertaken by Research Unit, NGF at the time of General Election, June 1981, prepared by Research Unit, September 1981; NGF press statement re concern at dissenting judgement by Justice Walsh to human rights verdict of European Court of Human Rights in case of Dudgeon v United Kingdom, 24/10/1981; correspondence between Keogh, and Eileen Desmond, Minister for Health and Social Welfare [succeeded Woods] 23-29/10/1981; correspondence between Keogh, DN and Dick Spring, Minister of State and Law Reform, which led to delegation from NGF meeting with minister 01/07-09/11/1981; NGF pamphlet 19[8?]; NGF press release relating to survey of all political parties, conducted 09-11/02/1982; NGF pamphlet relating to "Charles Self Murder Investigation" and "Guidelines for Dealing with the Gardaí" [Irish police force], 02/1982; typed agenda for interim National Gay Conference, Trinity College Dublin, 13/05/1982; letter from Edmund Lynch, Research Director, NGF to Garret Fitzgerald, Taoiseach [Irish Prime Minister], Charles J. Haughey, leader of Fianna Fáil [opposition party], and Michael O'Leary, Tánaiste [Deputy Prime Minister] and Leader of the Labour Party, seeking to ascertain their parties' attitude to Gay Rights during general election campaign taking place at the time, 15/02/1982; NGF press release "Gay Law Reform in Northern Ireland" referencing British government's intention to decriminalise homosexual relations in Northern Ireland following Jeffrey Dudgeon case, 26/02/1982; photocopy of circular from Northern Ireland Information Service on proposal for a draft Homosexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 1982, 18/03/1982; NGF press statement on banning by Censorship of Publications Board of English periodical "Gay News" in Ireland with copy of letter sent to Gay News Ltd., London, England (04/08/1982), 13/08/1982; Irish Association of Civil Liberties Bulletin Autumn 1982 which includes article by DN "Homosexuality and the Law - Civil Liberties"; copy of letter from Tonie Walsh, General Secretary of NGF (succeeding Bernard Keogh) to Senator Brendan Ryan confirming recent invitation to delegation including from NGF, 15/11/1982; correspondence between Tonie Walsh and Michael Noonan, Minister for Justice, relating to request for meeting to discuss case of death of Declan Flynn, Fairview, and setting up of an enquiry into police behaviour prior to his death 15/03-19/08/1983; NGF document stating resolution passed to nominate DN to represent the organisation in his application to the European Court of Human Rights, 19/09/1983, and copy of constitution and of NGF pamphlet attached; copy of letter from Eamon Somers, Counsel President, NGF to Joe Mulholland, Editor of Today Tonight Show, RTÉ [Raidió Teilifís Éireann, Irish public service broadcaster] relating to programme aired on 16/06/1983 and manner in which sensitive subject on law reform was handled, 17/06/1983, with follow-up letter from Tonie Walsh seeking response, 09/1983; flyer listing programming for Oct 1983-Jan 1984 for Hirschfeld Biograph, 10 Fownes Street, Dublin 2 [55 seat cinema, part of NGF facilities for members].

Correspondence 1976-1979 predominantly relating to Norris' initial action in High Court. File includes cover letter from Kevin Tuohy to David Norris (DN) for report on research essay Tuohy carried out on the Irish Gay Rights Movement (IGRM), for which DN was chair, as part of his B.A. examination in Maynooth College, 02/01/1976 [report closed]; photocopy of advertisement placed in Miami Herald 04/06/1977 by Dade County Coalition for Human Rights (United States of America) in relation to referendum on repeal of human rights, 04/06/1977; photocopy of introductory statement from Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform (CHLR), [DN, Chairman of Steering Committee], August 1977 with handwritten cover letter from DN to Mary Robinson (MR) asking to meet for chat, 05/08/1977; photocopy of typed letter from Herman Good & Co solicitors (on behalf of John Jay (JJ), solicitor with them) to DN referring to legal opinion sent from Donal Barrington (not enclosed), and referring to confusion relating to IGRM committee, 23/09/1977; correspondence between JJ and MR, 10/05/1978-12/12/1979, including in relation to Statement of Claim; correspondence from DN as Chairman of CHLR to MR, 30/07/1978; photocopies of correspondence between JJ and Chief State Solicitor 07-22/09/1978.

Report on research essay Kevin Tuohy carried out on the Irish Gay Rights Movement (IGRM), for which DN was chair, as part of his B.A. examination in Maynooth College, and which is marked confidential, 02/01/1976.

David Norris, scholar, Senator and civil rights activist, took a case to the High Court in 1977 seeking a declaration that the laws of 1861 and 1885 which criminalised homosexual conduct were not in force since the enactment of the Constitution of Ireland (Article 50 of the Constitution provides that laws enacted before the Constitution that are inconsistent with it would no longer be in force). The Irish courts ruled that Norris's right to privacy was not violated by the Offences against the Person Act 1861 (criminalising "buggery") and the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 (criminalising "gross indecency").

Norris appealed the Irish court's decision to the European Court of Human Rights in 1983. The Court passed judgment in 1988, deciding in Norris's favour on grounds similar to those of its 1981 decision in Dudgeon v United Kingdom. The laws impugned by the judgment were eventually repealed by the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 1993.

Material relating to this case, for which Mary Robinson (MR) acted as Junior and subsequently Senior Counsel, is arranged across 27 files. An additional subsubsubseries relates to a separate case for which MR was involved: David Norris v Seán Doherty (Ceann Comhairle [speaker of the lower house of Irish parliament]) and 11 other (members of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges) and Seanad Éireann.

File includes documents relating to data protection and security. Includes a 1984 policy document on Data Protection Act and Computers for Essex University; A copy of the Data Protection Act for Essex University (1994); some general correspondence between

File of articles, news coverage and related documents to the Danish Cartoon controversy and the media - Freedom of Expression/Religious Belief.

Files of items relating to production of "Dancing at Lughnasa" by Brian Friel, directed by Patrick Mason at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, designed by Joe Vaněk. Materials relates to original production at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin and also the Tony-Award winning Broadway production, and later subsequent productions.
File 1 includes a folder (Abbey Theatre branded) including colour polaroid photographs of furniture items for use on set in Dancing at Lughnasa with captions by Vaněk; printed flyer from the Irish tour of the play, with details of all venues and dates; printed invitation from Noel Pearson to a post-opening night party following the Broadway opening of the play; black and white photographic print from Dancing at Lughnasa, featuring Jane Brennan and [Anna Healy]; Letter on Dancing at Lughnasa headed paper, signed by Noel Pearson to Joe Vaněk in thanks for all work on "the journey to Broadway. . ." (24 Oct 1991). File also Includes draft poster; photographic print of field of wheat, and also assorted colour photographs, 6 inch X 4 inch, from production of the play at Abbey Theatre, Dublin. Also review of the play taken from Time magazine, 4 Nov 1991.
Theatre programmes from productions of Dancing at Lughnasa at Gaiety Theatre Dublin Spring 1993, National Theatre London; [1992]; Flyer mounted on card backing-board from Oxford Playhouse production, Spring/Summer 1992; Season programme from Melbourne Theatre Company, the Sydney Theatre Company and the Bristol Old Vic. Also photocopy of Drama Desk Award Nomination Certificate 1991-1992 for Joe Vaněk for "Outstanding Set Design" for Dancing at Lughnasa.
File 2 includes press coverage of the Tony Awards ceremony and the awards won by Dancing at Lughnasa for Brian Friel, Patrick Mason and Brid Brennan, as well as wider articles and US reviews of the play. Also includes interview with Joe Vaněk about his work on design for the play.

Printed programme from "Dance in Time" at the Abbey Theatre, by Pal Bekes and directed by Laszlo Marton and part of 'The Abbey and Europe' series as part of the Abbey One Hundred series at the Abbey. Includes an article by Pat Cox, MEP, on "Ireland's Uniquely European Year"; article entitled "Rapprochement: European drama at the Abbey" by P.J. Matthews, a chronology and brief history of 20th Century Hungary, a note from Laszlo Marton, the director. Also includes biographies of cast members.

TS report, "At a convention in Monaghan on Saturday, August 21st, a proposal to establish a parliament for Ulster, was adopted by acclamation." Details of those present are listed, such as Civil Rights Association, People's Democracy, Sinn Féin, Fianna Fa