Redefining the Irish Presidency: The Politics of a ‘Non-political’ Office, 1973–1990

Abstract

This article examines the presidencies of Erskine Childers, Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh and Patrick Hillery during the period 1973–1990. Each of the presidential terms is examined in terms of the background of the incumbent, the circumstances of his nomination as president and his role in office. Commencing with the election of Erskine Childers, the role assumed a higher public profile, with national engagements and international travel, and this activity has become a defining feature of all subsequent presidencies. Nonetheless, each of the presidents covered in this article adopted a narrow interpretation of the role, sought to avoid conflict with the government of the day and was strongly guided by governmental definition of the role and its powers. Moreover, during the term of the Fine Gael–Labour coalition led by Liam Cosgrave (1973–1977) evidence was found of uncomfortable cohabitation between presidents and an administration from different political traditions, leading in one case to a presidential resignation, although cohabitation appears not to have been an issue during the later coalition led by Garret FitzGerald.

Keywords:

• Childers
• Ó Dálaigh
• Hillery
• Ireland
• president
• head of state

Notes

National Archives of Ireland (NAI), Office of the President, PRES 10564 2005/7/570.

NAI, 2000/6/659 D/T 9361O, Childers memo. 26 August 1969.

NAI 2004/27/5, Details on Childers's inauguration plans.

NAI, 2004/27/5, Text of Childers's inauguration address.

NAI 2005/24/01, Organisation of state visit to Belgium, May 1974.

NAI 2005/160/38, Council of State dinner.

NAI 2004/25/48, Cosgrave to Lynch, 21 November 1974.

University College Dublin Archives (UCDA), Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh papers, P51/216 4–5.

UCDA, P51/216 171–172, 182, Notes prepared by Ó Dálaigh.

UCDA P51/216 12–13, Notes prepared by Ó Dálaigh.

UCDA P51/217 23, Ó Dálaigh papers: ‘The Last Days of a President’.

UCDA P51/217 26, Ó Dálaigh papers: ‘The Last Days of a President’.

UCDA P51/217 23, Ó Dálaigh papers: ‘The Last Days of a President’.

UCDA P51/211 23, Ó Dálaigh papers: ‘The Last Days of a President’.

UCDA P51/217 45, Ó Dálaigh papers: ‘The Last Days of a President’.

UCDA P51/217 45, Ó Dálaigh papers: ‘The Last Days of a President’.

UCDA P51/217 176, Ó Dálaigh papers: ‘The Last Days of a President’.

UCDA P51/217 59, Ó Dálaigh papers: ‘The Last Days of a President’.

UCDA P51/217 61, Ó Dálaigh papers: ‘The Last Days of a President’.

UCDA, P51/217 84, Ó Dálaigh papers: ‘The Last Days of a President’.

UCDA P51/209 9, Notes prepared by Ó Dálaigh.

UCDA, Patrick Hillery papers P205/145, Áras an Uachtaráin telephone log record, 27 January 1982.