Gleanings from departmental archives are pieces of jigsaw puzzles which illuminate decision- and policymaking, and the relationships of key figures
Dublin’s archive material is focused on 1994 - ‘a pivotal year for politicians, the Catholic Church and Anglo-Irish affairs’
Singer and campaigner wanted ‘Marshall Plan’ for Africa with ‘age-defining document’ to redefine relations
Intervention in X case and lack of action on extradition warrant for paedophile priest Fr Brendan Smyth among issues that marked Whelehan’s term
Community lived on ‘terms of closest friendship’ with fellow citizens, noted Jewish representative council
Blair-era pledge of giving ‘my loyalty to the United Kingdom’ faced concerns in wake of Belfast Agreement
Future president felt Ireland was ‘not too badly off’ and was apathetic towards partition
Embassy official issued rebuke after technical issues left pool out of action one week out of every four
Flood of Irish fans heading for 1994 World Cup added urgency to negotiations on the issue
US gifted second piece of moon rock after final moon mission, which is now in National Museum
Taoiseach criticised excessive profitability of lenders, prompting accusation of ‘anti-bank sentiment’
Peter Robinson and Nigel Dodds refused to attend Executive meetings due to objections to SF’s McGuinness and de Brún
New taoiseach caused concern as IRA grappled with ceasefire and decommissioning decisions, papers show
NI official found proposal ‘most attractive’ for tourism but ‘cannot see money being available for this’ in 1975
British government leaked the diaries to sway public opinion over Casement after his arrest for treason
IRA and Loyalist paramilitaries were able to ‘cream off’ millions through extortion rackets
Arrival of Sinn Féin members as elected representatives in 1980s met with caution and secrecy by officials
During final, critical negotiations ahead of 1998 Belfast Agreement, Dublin officials were ‘clearly under pressure’ from IDA, NI civil service noted
Party ignored ‘many other’ factors including ‘violent conflict that resulted in over 3,000 deaths’
British NI minister noted ‘legitimate concerns’ that released prisoners could end up teaching children of their victims
UDA factional feud had impact in strongly loyalist area at same time as north Belfast Catholic children faced attack
State records show controversial plan for paramilitary trials had backing in UK cabinet before Thatcher turned it down
The unreasonableness of David Trimble’s behaviour sometimes obscured the reasonableness of his argument, said Tony Blair
Kidnapping of dissident Tohill in 2004 heightened tensions, with McDowell comparing Sinn Féin to Nazis
Belfast man kidnapped by Islamic Jihad in 1986 in Beirut during Lebanese civil war
Unionist leader objected to Britain being designated part of ‘overseas’ market
Department of Justice feared communists in Ireland would target film’s screening
President signalled intention in newspaper interview, to the consternation of taoiseach Albert Reynolds
Residents of Dunloy village, north Antrim, suffered sectarian abuse and oppressive policing
Emigrants sometimes lost touch with relatives who had no way to contact them
Former House of Commons speaker was a ‘Welsh Uncle Tom’, Foreign Affairs note records
Nephew of painter Hannah Gluckstein, a member of poet’s late circle, approached embassy with information in 1978
Future Israeli prime minister defended opposition to Palestinian statehood and downplayed settlements and occupations
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