Barack Obama, will be the most heavily protected US president in history when he comes to Ireland on Monday, in contrast to a visit nearly 50 years ago, says TP O’Mahony

WHILE at the National Archives previewing the State papers, which were officially released yesterday, I happened to be sitting beside Prof Ronan Fanning when I came across a letter written to him by the Irish ambassador to the US in 1977.

ALONG with the State Papers released annually under the 30-year rule, other documents that should have been opened in previous years have also just been released.