Unconfined joy among some of Charlie Haughey’s most fervent supporters when returned as taoiseach in 1987
Attempt to upgrade diplomatic representation in Tehran in exchange for help in securing release ‘cynical and disquieting’
Introduction of rod licence in 1989 sparked protests from local fishermen
Mother who strangled baby and woman who poisoned neighbour moved in with religious orders after their sentences were commuted, files from 1943 show
Cabinet called for inquiry after members of Sinn Féin invited by Labour MPs were ‘left unattended for some time’
Taoiseach Charles Haughey received some novel advice from members of the public on how to end the Troubles
Labour leader also said he broke off talks with Fianna Fáil in 1994 because he could not trust them, new files reveal
British government papers show concerns over ‘hiding-behind-potted-plants scenario’
State papers
Government resisted pressure to settle debts after learning gardaí had paid British travel agency
Navy, Air Corps and locals on standby to reach taoiseach in event of emergency on Inishvickillane, which had no telephone contact with mainland
RUC decision to allow parade through nationalist area in July 1996 led to widespread disturbance across Northern Ireland
Cardinal Cahal Daly said Sinn Féin leader not aware attack was being planned, account of meeting shows
Peter Brooke also told Irish diplomat that North had ‘negligible strategic value’ to London
Sinn Féin website gave details of British military deployment in the North in 1996
Former Northern Ireland secretary highly critical of Thatcher and unionists
The shooting dead of an IRA volunteer by British troops in 1990 further strained relations between security forces and the nationalist community
IRA resumes murders after 18-month ceasefire breaks down, Orange march at Drumcree triggers widespread violence and all-party talks begin with Sinn Féin excluded
Majority relate to 1996 with a small number covering earlier years
Colourful Cork councillor Bernie Murphy’s visit, which made front-page headlines in the US, caused great embarrassment to Irish diplomats
Briefing for visit of Crown Prince Abdullah also advised covering wine bottles with ‘veil’
Junior British soldiers planned holiday camp on island in 1964 but cancelled after protests
Deaths in landmine explosion believed to be act of revenge for Lebanese explosives expert abducted by Israelis, documents show
Sample list of alleged informers killed between 1978 and 1994 contained in newly-released records
Department of Foreign Affairs chief of protocol said ‘standard of service was not adequate for a meeting of this type’
Frequent bomb attacks on the railway line during the Troubles caused severe damage and disrupted services
British failed to implement promised reforms of force despite numerous murder and serious criminal convictions
Government and public condemnation forced rugby body to apologise and vow never to play in the country while apartheid laws remained
Department expressed fears over use of private facilities for European Council meetings
Northern Ireland Railways service was held up before bomb exploded in Lurgan
Former minister believed facility could ‘jeopardise’ Irish trade with Arab states
State papers: Handwritten note says playwright’s tomb was ‘in a mess’ and suggests Irish stonemasons be sent to clean it
State papers: Charles Haughey had to intervene in row after Duke of Leinster requested 16th-century stone table be given to county council
State papers: American embassy diplomat raised concerns after top-level meetings between taoiseach Charles Haughey and USSR president Mikhail Gorbachev
State papers: Official compared how British prime minister had ‘grabbed her handbag and stormed out’ of meeting with Belgian leader
State papers: Document reveals officials were also worried about British prime minister’s tendency to ‘go over the top’ on other issues
State papers: Michael Collins’s associate Harry Boland received jewels as collateral for government’s loan of $20,000 to Russia
State Papers: Haughey and Thatcher only held one hour of discussions in the year
State papers: Only a fraction of documents released this year due to staff shortages and lack of storage space
State papers: Paddy Joe Hill wrote to taoiseach pleading with him to take their case to European Court of Human Rights
Release of Guildford Four, fall of Berlin Wall and Ireland qualifying for World Cup for the first time among highlights
Prime minister’s remarks in private meeting with Charles Haughey reveal British antipathy to Europe that would eventually lead to Brexit
British prime minister feared an enlarged Germany would become too powerful
Despite public histrionic denouncements, North’s first minister advocated getting ‘as much as possible out of the cow’
State papers: The six Irishmen were jailed for life in 1975 after being wrongfully convicted of the murders of 21 people in IRA bomb attacks on two pubs
State papers: Concerns raised weeks before murder of Northern Irish solicitor Pat Finucane
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![Then Labour leader and tánaiste Dick Spring avoided the initial handshake with Gerry Adams on the steps of Government Buildings [on September 6th, 1994] because “it was not my scene”. Photograph: Joe St Leger](/polopoly_fs/1.4120704.1577537574!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_300_160/image.jpg "Then Labour leader and tánaiste Dick Spring avoided the initial handshake with Gerry Adams on the steps of Government Buildings [on September 6th, 1994] because “it was not my scene”. Photograph: Joe St Leger")
