Plans have been unveiled to establish a Mary Robinson Centre in her native town of Ballina.

The centre will be established at the former President’s birthplace in Victoria house, on the banks of the River Moy, and will include both a Visitors Centre and an Academic Research Centre, which will focus on the fields of Human Rights and Women’s Leadership – supported by NUI Galway.

Mrs Robinson has offered to make her complete archive available to the Centre, following approaches by Mayo County Council and the Ballina Town Council.

Mary Robinson’s archive covers her varied career – most notably her Presidency of Ireland, while there is extensive coverage also of her period as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Material of Irish interest also includes files on divorce, family planning, the New Ireland Forum and the Woodquay controversy.

The archive also includes awards, decorations and honorary doctorates granted to Mary Robinson, as well as a library of books and periodicals.

Professor Jim Browne, President of NUI Galway, says the archive is a treasure trove of material for scholars…..