Strikes cause a stir at Hillery’s inauguration

Fears that angry workers would greet distinguished guests, meant the army was called on for an unusual line of duty, writes Caroline O’Doherty.

OFFICIALS organising the ceremonies for the inauguration of President Patrick Hillery feared the army might have to be drafted in to cater at his reception because of the threatened escalation of strike by employees of the Office of Public Works.

There were concerns that the distinguished guests at the December 3, 1976, function might be greeted at the gates of the Dublin Castle venue by a picket of foremen and supervisors who were striking over pay.

Contingency plans were made but the army said it could only provide 30-40 men at most and only to serve drink. A memo states that there was no question of them serving or supplying food to the estimated 1,600 guests although one official questioned why not if the food was kept to simple canapes and sandwiches.

The same official was not impressed with the army’s query as to whether the men would have to wear civilian attire or their uniforms. “Army uniform would look very clumsy,” he scribbled.

The Taoiseach had approved a tender for the supply of food and drink by the Civil Service Dining Club (CSDC) but only “subject to the omission of the caviar and foie gras” which was on the suggested menu.

But the eventual bill for the function still exceeded the £6,000 sanctioned by Finance Minister Richie Ryan, who had originally been asked, but refused, to sanction expenditure of £8,000.

An invoice was submitted by the CSDC for catering for 1,771 guests at a total cost of £7,367.47 — £3,453.45 for the food, £3,859.02 for the drink and £55 for the flowers.

An explanation was sought by the Department of Finance which noted that the cost of catering for the guests at Cearbhall O’Dalaigh’s inauguration reception just two years earlier was £1.37 per head, but had now risen to £2.20.

The official who had to plead the case with the minister for finance wrote that every effort was made to keep within the sanction of £6,000. “In relation to certain categories of guests, however, it was not possible to curtail the numbers. The personal invitation list of President Hillery, for example, contained approximately 270 guests which represented a substantial increase in this category over 1974.”