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#State Papers

# state-papers - Friday 1 January, 2016

An English car enthusiast made a play for Eamon de Valera's Rolls Royce in 1985
# Dev's Car
# Dev's Car

An English car enthusiast made a play for Eamon de Valera's Rolls Royce in 1985

Jan 1st 2016, 3:00 PM 20,108 Views 31 Comments

Ten years after his death Ireland still wasn’t at all sure what was to be done with Dev’s classic car.

Dublin planning officer: More pubs will reduce drink driving as people wouldn't have as far to travel
# 1985
# 1985

Dublin planning officer: More pubs will reduce drink driving as people wouldn't have as far to travel

Jan 1st 2016, 3:00 PM 889 Views 0 Comments

The planning officer for Dublin city and country wanted the one mile restriction between pubs abolished in favour of half mile limits.

The great Donegal postal voting scam of 1985
# Donegal Dodginess
# Donegal Dodginess

The great Donegal postal voting scam of 1985

Jan 1st 2016, 7:30 AM 18,131 Views 20 Comments

An enormous scam to rig postal voting in the north-western county took place. Fortunately, the scammers weren’t all that subtle…

This letter is most blatant Big Tobacco threat to a Taoiseach you're likely to see
# No Qualms
# No Qualms

This letter is most blatant Big Tobacco threat to a Taoiseach you're likely to see

Jan 1st 2016, 7:00 AM 16,368 Views 38 Comments

Carroll Industries threatened to stop investing in businesses if new laws come in

The man who let the Taoiseach know exactly what he thought about Jack the Ripper being Irish
# Not Impressed
# Not Impressed

The man who let the Taoiseach know exactly what he thought about Jack the Ripper being Irish

Jan 1st 2016, 6:10 AM 15,559 Views 13 Comments

Talk about tarring us all with the same brush.

# state-papers - Thursday 31 December, 2015

That time an Irish minister got the UK's Northern Secretary so hammered he had to be walked around a park
# That's How We Roll
# That's How We Roll

That time an Irish minister got the UK's Northern Secretary so hammered he had to be walked around a park

Dec 31st 2015, 9:30 PM 38,575 Views 11 Comments

Douglas Hurd struggled to keep up with our own Peter Barry it seems.

Garret FitzGerald really, really did not like Sinn Féin in 1985
# Mansion House
# Mansion House

Garret FitzGerald really, really did not like Sinn Féin in 1985

Dec 31st 2015, 8:15 PM 15,622 Views 115 Comments

The then Taoiseach even reached out to his nemesis Charles Haughey in an attempt to stymie Gerry Adams’ party.

Irish prisons ran out of overtime cash in 1984 - so they started letting prisoners go early
# Off You Go So
# Off You Go So

Irish prisons ran out of overtime cash in 1984 - so they started letting prisoners go early

Dec 31st 2015, 6:00 PM 9,966 Views 8 Comments

The process was known as ‘shedding’.

State Papers 1985: Garret Fitzgerald's government wasn't too keen on helping Stardust victims
# Terror Blaze
# Terror Blaze

State Papers 1985: Garret Fitzgerald's government wasn't too keen on helping Stardust victims

Dec 31st 2015, 8:30 AM 15,173 Views 28 Comments

An official wanted a redress scheme kept well away from the Taoiseach’s department.

30 years ago, Dublin was a crime-riddled joyrider's paradise
# State Papers
# State Papers

30 years ago, Dublin was a crime-riddled joyrider's paradise

Dec 31st 2015, 7:15 AM 21,922 Views 37 Comments

The damage being done with stolen cars in particular had the population terrified.

Governor warned of potential 'bloodbath' among IRA prisoners if rubber bullets were removed
# RIOT CONTROL
# RIOT CONTROL

Governor warned of potential 'bloodbath' among IRA prisoners if rubber bullets were removed

Dec 31st 2015, 6:10 AM 12,590 Views 1 Comment

The government wanted to stop using them as part of efforts to rid them from Northern Ireland.

# state-papers - Wednesday 30 December, 2015

'Say the daily rosary': This is the kind of fan mail you get when you're Taoiseach
# 1985 State Papers
# 1985 State Papers

'Say the daily rosary': This is the kind of fan mail you get when you're Taoiseach

Dec 30th 2015, 10:00 PM 14,303 Views 11 Comments

Garret Fitzgerald got quite a bit when he signed the Anglo-Irish agreement.

Irish people really didn't like paying for their TV licence 30 years ago
# State Papers
# State Papers

Irish people really didn't like paying for their TV licence 30 years ago

Dec 30th 2015, 6:30 PM 15,189 Views 65 Comments

The government needed to make savings in 1985, and RTE was very much in the firing line.

'It wasn't long after the hunger strikes... mayhem on the streets and we realised that something had to be done.'
# Anglo-Irish Agreement
# Anglo-Irish Agreement

'It wasn't long after the hunger strikes... mayhem on the streets and we realised that something had to be done.'

Dec 30th 2015, 12:31 PM 11,148 Views 68 Comments

Former Tánaiste Dick Spring talks about the tensions and troubles of 1985.

The government wanted to launch a phone-tapping bill in 1985...
# Someone's Listening
# Someone's Listening

The government wanted to launch a phone-tapping bill in 1985...

Dec 30th 2015, 11:30 AM 8,250 Views 23 Comments

And they were very worried about the legal ramifications of it.

David Cameron adviser apologises over 'offensive' 1985 memo about black rioters
# Oliver Letwin
# Oliver Letwin

David Cameron adviser apologises over 'offensive' 1985 memo about black rioters

Dec 30th 2015, 10:08 AM 13,722 Views 49 Comments

The memo was sent to the then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher back in 1985.

An Archbishop, a Taoiseach and an angry face-off over IRA violence and 'genocide'
# A Just War?
# A Just War?

An Archbishop, a Taoiseach and an angry face-off over IRA violence and 'genocide'

Dec 30th 2015, 9:00 AM 23,557 Views 138 Comments

Garret Fitzgerald said the New York meeting was the most tense he has as Taoiseach outside Ireland.

30 years ago Dunnes Stores was involved in ANOTHER workers' dispute... one that shook the world
# Apartheid
# Apartheid

30 years ago Dunnes Stores was involved in ANOTHER workers' dispute... one that shook the world

Dec 30th 2015, 7:30 AM 14,757 Views 13 Comments

The protest of Dunnes workers against South Africa’s apartheid regime was one of the most compelling stories of 1985.

When Maggie dropped some epic shade on Garret FitzGerald...
# Ouch
# Ouch

When Maggie dropped some epic shade on Garret FitzGerald...

Dec 30th 2015, 6:30 AM 9,587 Views 29 Comments

Mrs Thatcher was not a fan of Ministers for Foreign Affairs.

Pornography being shown in pubs had the government in a fluster 30 years ago
# Nudey Films
# Nudey Films

Pornography being shown in pubs had the government in a fluster 30 years ago

Dec 30th 2015, 6:05 AM 25,506 Views 25 Comments

The government of the time was not one bit happy at the thought of sex shops coming to these shores either.

Womanhood on trial: The letters received by the Taoiseach during the Kerry Babies saga
# Kerry Babies
# Kerry Babies

Womanhood on trial: The letters received by the Taoiseach during the Kerry Babies saga

Dec 30th 2015, 6:05 AM 23,771 Views 30 Comments

Documents released under the 30-year rule show the public interest in the tragedies.

# state-papers - Saturday 3 January, 2015

Mrs Brown, tourists, and the Luas: The week in numbers
# Prime Numbers
# Prime Numbers

Mrs Brown, tourists, and the Luas: The week in numbers

Jan 3rd 2015, 7:30 PM 9,975 Views 4 Comments

Plus: What was the lowest temperature in Ireland this week?

What did Ronald Reagan eat on his visit to Ireland?
# State Papers
# State Papers

What did Ronald Reagan eat on his visit to Ireland?

Jan 3rd 2015, 3:00 PM 19,512 Views 24 Comments

Not too much butter, anyway.

Government Buildings got a lick of paint when Ronald Reagan came to visit
# 1984
# 1984

Government Buildings got a lick of paint when Ronald Reagan came to visit

Jan 3rd 2015, 11:30 AM 7,585 Views 12 Comments

Including varnishing, carpets, ceiling tiles and “general cleaning up”.

Iran wanted films of the Irish struggle... we wanted to send them nature docs
# State Papers
# State Papers

Iran wanted films of the Irish struggle... we wanted to send them nature docs

Jan 3rd 2015, 10:00 AM 15,943 Views 26 Comments

A rep from Iranian TV wanted a video from Ireland for broadcasting.

# state-papers - Thursday 1 January, 2015

The day an Irish fishing boat was sunk by a British submarine
# Cold War
# Cold War

The day an Irish fishing boat was sunk by a British submarine

Jan 1st 2015, 7:30 PM 36,157 Views 51 Comments

Newly released documents show the Government had ‘no intention’ to get involved in the crew’s case against the UK.

Back in 1984 the Government was worried about banning smoking in classrooms
# State Papers
# State Papers

Back in 1984 the Government was worried about banning smoking in classrooms

Jan 1st 2015, 7:15 PM 29,806 Views 48 Comments

In some schools smoking in the classroom was “an accepted practice”.

Government was worried about hiking up tax on booze in 1984 because we were so broke...
# 1984 State Papers
# 1984 State Papers

Government was worried about hiking up tax on booze in 1984 because we were so broke...

Jan 1st 2015, 10:15 AM 11,262 Views 17 Comments

… but they did it anyway.

# state-papers - Tuesday 30 December, 2014

Could Britain's State Papers give a 'one-sided' view of Anglo-Irish history?
# Legal Adviser
# Legal Adviser

Could Britain's State Papers give a 'one-sided' view of Anglo-Irish history?

Dec 30th 2014, 12:11 PM 8,238 Views 20 Comments

One Fianna Fáil councillor believes so, as the British papers are being released ahead of Irish papers.

British spies had "excellent relations" with gardaí
# Good Mates
# Good Mates

British spies had "excellent relations" with gardaí

Dec 30th 2014, 9:36 AM 13,307 Views 138 Comments

And Irish ministers didn’t know it.

Stop it! RTÉ was told to stop jamming pirate radio stations
# 1984 State Papers
# 1984 State Papers

Stop it! RTÉ was told to stop jamming pirate radio stations

Dec 30th 2014, 8:00 AM 12,931 Views 21 Comments

Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald said the Government were not trying to be “spoil-sports”.

Thirty years ago, a Fine Gael government was worried that Sinn Féin 'could deliver'
# 1984 State Papers
# 1984 State Papers

Thirty years ago, a Fine Gael government was worried that Sinn Féin 'could deliver'

Dec 30th 2014, 7:15 AM 8,733 Views 51 Comments

Foreign Affairs Minister Peter Barry didn’t like that Sinn Féin representatives were being listened to.

# state-papers - Monday 29 December, 2014

Were there nuclear missiles stored in Northern Ireland?
# State Papers
# State Papers

Were there nuclear missiles stored in Northern Ireland?

Dec 29th 2014, 11:00 AM 17,798 Views 44 Comments

That was a big question back in the early 1980s.

This American lady begged the Prime Minister to save the leprechaun
# State Papers
# State Papers

This American lady begged the Prime Minister to save the leprechaun

Dec 29th 2014, 8:45 AM 18,313 Views 20 Comments

“In our hearts we know they are still there.”

# state-papers - Sunday 28 December, 2014

Ads for Transformer toys and Barbie's Star Traveller were a big worry in the 1980s....
# Recession
# Recession

Ads for Transformer toys and Barbie's Star Traveller were a big worry in the 1980s....

Dec 28th 2014, 11:30 AM 15,824 Views 13 Comments

The country was in the midst of a recession with unemployment up to 16.1%.

Water cannons could be "more lethal than plastic bullets". That's what the UK told Ireland...
# 1984 State Papers
# 1984 State Papers

Water cannons could be "more lethal than plastic bullets". That's what the UK told Ireland...

Dec 28th 2014, 10:00 AM 12,977 Views 77 Comments

17 people were killed by either rubber or plastic bullets during The Troubles.

Ireland wanted to sell water to Saudi Arabia for $5 a barrel in the 1980s
# We Have What You Need
# We Have What You Need

Ireland wanted to sell water to Saudi Arabia for $5 a barrel in the 1980s

Dec 28th 2014, 8:45 AM 20,127 Views 107 Comments

There was one problem… Japan also wanted to.

# state-papers - Saturday 27 December, 2014

Thatcher in '84: 'The Irish don't like to move, but they're all terribly happy to move to Britain'
# 1984 State Papers
# 1984 State Papers

Thatcher in '84: 'The Irish don't like to move, but they're all terribly happy to move to Britain'

Dec 27th 2014, 8:17 PM 68,426 Views 163 Comments

The PM’s comments have been revealed in newly released state documents.

"I would have preferred not to have seen Mr Browne at all"
# Interview
# Interview

"I would have preferred not to have seen Mr Browne at all"

Dec 27th 2014, 5:00 PM 29,965 Views 37 Comments

Vincent Browne wanted to interview the Irish Ambassador in 1984 – who wasn’t happy about it.

This man warned that Ireland could end up needing a bailout... 30 years ago
# Dukes Of Hazard
# Dukes Of Hazard

This man warned that Ireland could end up needing a bailout... 30 years ago

Dec 27th 2014, 2:16 PM 19,655 Views 37 Comments

State papers reveal how Alan Dukes warned his cabinet colleagues of the need to cut spending.

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