Margaret Thatcher’s moods, Garret FitzGerald’s outburst – a diplomat looks back
Late British diplomat David Goodall recalls the creation of the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement
John Bowman: 1989 a calm year in Anglo-Irish relations
State Papers: Haughey and Thatcher only held one hour of discussions in the year
Declassified files help to correct ‘distorting’ narrative of Thatcher’s memoirs
Analysis: Records suggest she was irascible on Ireland, shallow and very often uncertain on detail
Thatcher furious with Haughey over failure to extradite ‘mad priest’ over IRA claims
Taoiseach complained of PM’s ‘constant bickering’ after Fr Patrick Ryan arrest
1988: A year of constant bickering between Haughey and Thatcher
State papers show the taoiseach and the British PM 'at loggerheads' over the IRA
Margaret Thatcher doubted Irish resolve to combat terrorism
Files from 1988 show prime minister was angry at Garda and Haughey response to IRA
John Bowman: How Irish diplomats ‘dined for Ireland’
State Papers: 1987 files describe mission to promote Anglo-Irish Agreement
References to security situation in North deleted from ‘wartime emergency plan’
Taoiseach’s department argued sensitive issues should be dealt with by a cabinet committee
Kennedy’s inquiries about cabinet committee in North caused alarm
‘It is important we press to have questions disallowed wherever possible,’ official advised
Haughey’s foot-dragging on extradition angered British
Fianna Fáil leader told Northern secretary party ‘going berserk’ over UK co-operation
Haughey told Thatcher that Ireland was financially ‘up against the wall’
State Papers 1987: Then taoiseach jokingly asked for loan of ‘£2bn or so’ from British PM
‘Tough nuts’ Haughey and Thatcher get reacquainted as London says it’s business as usual
The nightmare for any Irish government was the extradition of an innocent citizen who would be wrongly jailed
Thatcher was a chameleon on Ireland even after Anglo-Irish Agreement
State Papers 1986: the year after agreement was signed relations remained complex
Peter Barry: the man who helped cajole the Iron Lady into Anglo-Irish Agreement
Business success of the Barry’s Tea owner was secondary to his political impact
Diarmaid Ferriter: Brexit may bring North and South closer
Younger unionists keen to stay in EU may feel less trenchant about their unionism
State Papers: Row over registration of Irish emblems
‘Who’s Who in Ireland’ had harp design as‘an exact reproduction of the official crest’
Charles Haughey ‘distrusted’ Department of Foreign Affairs
State papers reveal partition of Ireland was ‘at the heart of contemporary politics’ in 1988
State Papers: ‘What would you do if Dundalk were bombed?’
State Papers 1985: Taoiseach’s view sought just weeks after Anglo-Irish Agreement
Keeping the lady onside for the Anglo-Irish Agreement
State Papers 1985: Taoiseach careful to keep Margaret Thatcher engaged during talks
New Ireland Forum helped begin process of changing hearts and minds
Shift in nationalist demands allowed forum to become launchpad for lobbying
Pragmatism wins out ahead of conviction
While Margaret Thatcher was unionist at heart, the situation in the North wasnot working. In Garret FitzGerald she found a leader to reach agreement with
The real deal that changed the game
Thirty years ago on Sunday November 15th, FitzGerald and Thatcher sealed deal at a press conference at which everything was sweetness and light . . .
Anglo-Irish Agreement: How the deal was done
Against all the odds, the agreement showed that politics could actually work in the North
Officials influenced Thatcher on Anglo-Irish Agreement
Former prime minister felt motherly towards Garret Fitzgerald, biography reveals
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