The Presidents' Letters: An Unexpected History of the Irish State

This book reveals for the first time many of the letters written to and by the Presidents of Ireland over more than eight decades to the present day. Social history, the arts, politics, the Irish language, women in Irish society, Northern Ireland, the Irish diaspora, letters from children, and Ireland's place on the world's stage will all feature. Reproductions of the letters will be accompanied by a small selection of photographs which will bring to life not only the Presidencies but also ras an Uachtar in and those who have lived there and visited.

Never before has Ireland's Presidential correspondence been presented in book form. In our research we have already found letters which would be of enormous appeal to a general Irish readership - many of whom have written letters to their President and who have followed with interest official visits abroad by our Presidents, along with decades of State Visits to Ireland by everyone from Princess Grace of Monaco to Nelson Mandela to Barack Obama.

It will be divided into thematic sections, rather than separate chapters on the individual presidencies. Contributions in the form of one-page chapter introductions will give a brief context to the correspondence. Contributors include:

David McCullagh Rory Montgomery Martina Devlin

Catriona CroweSamantha Barry Joseph O'Connor

Harry McGeeLise HandJustine McCarthyPaul Rouse

Terri Kearney