De Valera's son 'bombarded by virgins' over condoms plan

Major Vivion de Valera, son of Eamon de Valera, complained about being bombarded by virgins over the condoms controversy 30 years ago, state papers reveal.

The former TD and newspaper chief was contacted by then Taoiseach Jack Lynch after ignoring a constituent who wanted to complain about plans to partially legalise contraceptives.

The woman, who signed herself as (Miss) Moira Harte, of Phibsboro, north Dublin, wrote to Mr Lynch insisting she could not be expected to vote the Fianna Fáil politician back into power over the snub.

The Taoiseach replied that he would bring the matter to the attention of her TD, who was also managing editor of the now defunct Irish Press at the time.

Major de Valera, the eldest child of the former Taoiseach and President Eamon de Valera, wrote back to his party leader Mr Lynch with a curt response.

“I am being bombarded with all sorts of well meaning, but ill informed representations on contraception, very largely from virgins of both sexes, whether by design or default,” he said.

The letter is among a packed dossier of correspondence from 1978 kept by the Department of the Taoiseach and released into the National Archives this week under the 30-year rule.

It gives a flavour of the heightened and passionate feelings aroused by the proposals to allow married couples to legally use condoms at the time.

One opponent of the Contraceptives Bill, apparently misinformed, was a nun from the Convent of Mercy in Burnley, Lancashire, England.

“A friend of mine tells me that the Irish government are about to legislate on contraception and divorce – for the sake of National Unity!” she wrote to the Taoiseach.

“In God’s name have thou nothing to do with these pagan practices!” Mr Lynch replied to assure her there were no plans to introduce divorce and that his government was acting against existing laws which were “not effective enough to prevent contraceptives getting into the hands of young single persons.” A “widow and mother” from Listowel, in Co Kerry, sided with the Government’s stance and praised them for trying to block unmarried lovers getting their hands on condoms.

“I have questioned many women, married and single on this matter and this is their answer: Do we want to create a society of hoors and bastards,” she wrote.

“This free use of contraception is condemned by our emigrants who know the consequences in England and America.” Another woman from Dublin, who signed herself off as “An Old Lady of over Sixty”, warned Mr Lynch he could not practise as a Catholic if the legislation was passed.

“Our country is denuded of people enough, you want to make it worse,” she said.