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
US gifted second piece of moon rock after final moon mission, which is now in National Museum
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
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
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
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
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
Kidnapping of dissident Tohill in 2004 heightened tensions, with McDowell comparing Sinn Féin to Nazis
Emigrants sometimes lost touch with relatives who had no way to contact them
Department of Justice feared communists in Ireland would target film’s screening
Residents of Dunloy village, north Antrim, suffered sectarian abuse and oppressive policing
President signalled intention in newspaper interview, to the consternation of taoiseach Albert Reynolds
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
Dutch company Eurometaal NV planned shell factory in Ireland, but Brian Lenihan was ‘extremely dubious’
Bill Clinton overruled objections to let Gerry Adams fundraise – and to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in White House
State Papers: Beleaguered Irish legation in Washington briefed that German and Italian embassies only had six staff
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
Deputy leader Seamus Mallon warned against ‘hand-holding’ of Sinn Féin in 1995
Irish officials suspicious of ‘malign mandarins’ encouraging ‘King Rat’ Billy Wright
Former House of Commons speaker was a ‘Welsh Uncle Tom’, Foreign Affairs note records
Issue raised over possible elevation of well-regarded lawyer Ronnie Appleton to bench
Alleged attempt to put weed killer in English water supplies was taken seriously
Former PM ‘crestfallen’ when SDLP leader failed to agree with suggestion, officials noted
IRA Army Council management by Gerry Adams, Bertie Ahern’s referendum worries and unionists’ mistrust are revealed in documents
The guns, which sank with the HMS Post in 1566 near Tramore, were allegedly put on display in London with no reference to their provenance
No precedent for papal knights calling themselves ‘Sir’, Catholic Church confirmed
Furious messages to diplomats in US took issue with taoiseach’s action amid wartime neutrality
Eamonn McKee complained the report’s ‘studied neutrality’ was not intended to reflect Catholic attitudes accurately
Businessmen sued for defamation over then-minister’s statement, claiming it was for legitimate pork export business
Disclosure ignited ‘all kinds’ of conspiracy theories about who was being protected and who eliminated
President John F Kennedy visited Ireland for four days in June 1963, the year of his assassination
Once dismissed as ‘John Unionist’ in the Dáil, Bruton’s lifelong interest in history served him in key 1990s talks
June 1998 briefing note prepared for then taoiseach Bertie Ahern complained of ‘strong dissatisfaction’ with British handling of the matter
Then taoiseach wished to know if Giorgio Joyce, the writer’s son, expected the government to pay
Department of Foreign Affairs found open criticism of political leaders remarkable
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices
