Ireland of the Welcomes, the magazine of Bord Fβilte, celebrated its 50th birthday on Thursday with a party in the crypt of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. There was much talk of times past and, for a magazine which prides itself on its independence from government, one incident was recalled with amusement. In the edition of September/October 1966 there was a feature on the mechanics of Irish politics.
It was illustrated with eight photos of politicians - one of Declan Costello and Liam Cosgrave, three of the new Taoiseach, Sean Lemass, and four of Laois/Offaly backbencher Oliver J. Flanagan on the campaign trail. The edition was hardly out when there was a call to the then editor, Michael Gorman, from Minister Erskine Childers complaining that the number of Fianna Fβil photos did not reflect its strength in the Dβil.