Canonisation gave politicians headaches

MORE THAN 80 prisoners were granted early release for the canonisation of Blessed Oliver Plunkett - but they were the only ones to greet the occasion with unqualified delight.

Preparations - and problems - surrounding the October 1975 event began that March when Archbishop of Armagh, Cardinal Conway, told Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave and President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh he’d be delighted if they would attend the ceremonies in Rome.

The Taoiseach’s advisers went into a spin as the cardinal had “not averted to the requirements of protocol” and it was not clear if he was formally issuing invitations on behalf of the Pope or expressing a personal wish.

There was also the problem of what to do about the President, who had sought permission from the Government to attend. It was feared that if both Taoiseach and President went, it would “create too elaborate and top-heavy a delegation”.

One aide said they might get away with it as it was 700 years since the last Irishman was canonised.

But another warned: “Opinion in the 26 counties would support a strong delegation and criticise one that did not include both [Taoiseach and President]” but “the opinion of Six County Protestants against visiting Rome might be the more aroused by two formal visits than by one.”

Cosgrave planned his own attendance. He wrote to a nun he knew in the Little Company of Mary in Rome asking to stay with the sisters while attending the ceremonies.

He had to cancel this plan because of security concerns. Gardaí rejected a suite in the Irish embassy because it was facing the Spanish embassy, the focus of demonstrations after the execution of guerillas.

Another suite was chosen and security arrangements were put in place including static armed patrols and a 24-hour mobile patrol.

By August, an aide advised Cosgrave it was time to publicly announce the arrangements.

The announcement - that the Taoiseach would be attending, accompanied by the Agriculture and Local Government ministers - led to some debate in the newspapers about whether the President was snubbing the event.

The Áras explained the President could not go without Government approval, which had been sought but not granted, which had the Taoiseach’s advisers in a flap as they sought to dissuade the Aras from responding publicly.

In the end, the President was granted leave to go to Rome, but only for the Holy Year ceremonies in December. Cardinal Conway didn’t go at all as he fell ill and he sent a note to Cosgrave, thanking him for his get well wishes.

There was one last problem. Foreign Affairs had arranged a gift for Pope Paul VI - a bronze cross by Garda Fromal, an Austrian born artist who lived in Ireland from 1953.

The cross was packed and travelled with the delegation but Cosgrave objected to it as the artist “was not Irish and was not even a naturalised Irish citizen”. It was brought back from Rome and a salver of Irish silver, engraved with a portrait of the Saint, was belatedly sent instead.