File 8 - VIPs 1996

55 pp

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

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