LETTERS OF THANKS:THE REPUTATION of Charles Haughey may have been dented in his later years but two bulky files of letters and cards recall just how popular he once was.
The files, from February to December 1980, include birthday cards, thank-you notes and Christmas cards, all praising his performance and encouraging him in his work. They also include thank-you notes from Mr Haughey to people for gifts such as champagne from Cabinteely, sent to mark his first year as taoiseach, and smoked salmon from Cork.
A woman from Mayo told him he was “the world’s finest leader” and a “remarkable” gentleman. “You shine out amongst men. You bring dignity into ever [sic] place you go, so very noticeable in Dublin this week, really a great man amongst men, and women!”
She said it was a great honour to be sitting four seats behind him at Mass in Knock that summer, “particularly when I had picked you as one that would make an excellent leader and there was no word of a leader at that time. I just thought to myself, what a fine, manly man . . . God spare you to this country for many long years.”
Msgr James Horan, who was then promoting his plan for an airport at Knock, told him he was doing “a magnificent job” and, in another letter, said he had “the personality, warmth, flair and above all courage which goes to make an outstanding leader”.
A woman from Dublin addressed her card to “dear Leader” and told Mr Haughey that a nine-day novena was about to start. She said she was doing it “for your guidance, protection and continued success that God may guard and strengthen you for poor Ireland’s sake. We all observe how you spend yourself in her cause.”
She said she worried about his health under such strain but was “certain you will be uplifted and protected. It won’t be for want of backing prayers and affection.”
A letter-writer with a Manchester address congratulated Mr Haughey on Fianna Fáil’s victory in the Donegal byelection and on his stance on a united Ireland.
“And in the event of a united Ireland, it might be as well to inform [Garret] FitzGerald, [Conor Cruise] O’Brien, [Frank] Cluskey and the Paisley crowd, you will make sure they will not be made boat people as much as we would like to see them treated in this fashion – traitors.”
