Galway Advertiser 1990/1990_07_26/GA_26071990_E1_008.pdf 

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The Labour Party's Presidents nominee, Mary Robinson was in Galway last week for the Arts Festival Launch. She gave Judy Murphy her opinions on the President's role, and spoke of her chances of winning the election.

HERE'S TO YOU MRS. ROBINSON!
So far Mary Robinson is the only nominee for the Presidency. They Mayo born bar rister and social rights campaigner, who retired from the Senate last Autumn is pleased about her early selection.
"It gives me a chance to go around the country in a relaxed way, to meet peo ple and discuss their ideas, and what they want for their community." Mary emphasises she wants to see the Presiden cy "given back to the peo ple." "My campaign is twofold - to change peo ple's perception of the job, and to convince them I can make it relevant. "You need to be at least 38 to have voted for a president, because the last election was 17 years ago so it's not surprising there is so much apathy" She was surprised and shocked when Labour nominated her. "I had retired from the Senate last year after 20 years, because I felt it was time to move on. I was in volved with the European Law Centre at Trinity, and was also continuing my own work as a barrister, so I really debated with myself if I would go for it." Mary was worried the office would offer her nothing more than a cosy "non job" which she didn't want.

D O N ' T MISS T H E JAPANESE DOLLS
"The Dolls of Japan" is one of the most unusual and colourful exhibitions in this year's Arts Festival. If you haven't seen it yet, visit the Arts Centre at 47 Dominick St before the festival ends.

"A Voice for People"
"But when I thought about it I realised there is a lot the President can do. My background in Consi titutional Law helped me explore that aspect," she laughs. Mary quotes the Oath of the President which is "to dedicate my abilities to the welfare and services of the people" "The president is the most democratically elected public represen tative in the country, and has a great opportunity to be a voice for people who are involved in social, political and cultural ac tivity." An open presidency is very important, she feels. "I'd like to see the Aras open to people who feel the presidency isn't relevant to them. The office has a moral obligation to help the smaller and weaker sector of society."

M A R Y ROBINSON--wants
ing the contraceptive cam paign." Her parents, who live in Ballina were also initially shocked by her involve ment, but accepted the justice of her cause. She still has strong ties with Mayo, and her father is a semi retired doctor in Ballina.

an open

Presidency

Orusuban (a caretaker) dolls girl looking after her young

created brother.

by modern

craftmen

showing

a

The dolls are part of a of great stability," Tatsuo touring exhibition organis- explains. ed by the Japanese Emb u s y . After Galway it Japanese Festivals goes to Dublin and then leaves Ireland for They developed and Czechoslovakia. became more popular as Tatsuo Kitagawa is the time passed, and this Cultural Attache in the brought about an improve Japanese Embassy. He ment in the materials and worked with Festival Ad techniques used. ministrator, Michael The dolls are used for Diskin, a former embassy many Japanese festivals, employee, to organise this for instance, there a r e showing. Dolls for the Girls Festival "There a r e about 74 and for the Boys Festival. dolls in the collection, but The Girls Festival is only two thirds have come held on March 3rd and on to Galway, because of con that day each family sets fines of space." he says. out an number of dolls for The dolls, made from display, as a sign of their wood, paper, cloth or clay, prayer for the happiness of a r e beautifully designed their young daughters. with astonishing detail, The Boys festival is on and are regarded aa a May 5th and families crsft in J s p m . display warrior dolls and "Dolls were first made offer prayers for healthy in Japan about 3,000 years ago, during the Jomon ^ T h e r e a r e a b o elaborate period, which was a time

famous J a p a n e s e Noh T h e a t r e where actors wear masks and extraor dinary costumes. Others depict the costumes and lifestyles of historical period. They are delightful, with detailed stitching on the costumes, ornate head gear, miniature musical in struments and weapons. There are dolls based on children and their ac tivities, and dolls made us ing traditional Japanese wood turning techniques. "Western people generally don't know much about Japan, and these are a very good way of introducing people to our culture," says Tatsuo. The exhibition is well worth visiting, and if you should miss it in Galway, it will be in Amotta Store, Henry St., from 3rd to 18th of August

Hate Mail
Mary Robinson has a record of caring. In the early '70s she was to the forefront of the Family Planning movement. She has also been President of Cherish, the Unmarried Mothers' Organisation, since its foundation. "From an early time I always had to stand up for things I believed were right. It was one of the reasons I chose law, because I felt it could be used as a forum for social change. This determination did cause problems, and there waa a lot of hate mail dur-

"A Caring Role"
"Women's lives have improved since the worn ens' movement. I see my own 18 year old daughter, who is confident about her life, and what she wants. Unfortunately some things haven't changed, and the percep tion of the working day is still a man's one." Mary has two other children, boys of 16 and nine, and a husband who is extremely supportive. He is a solicitor, and an honorary architect. The

family live in Dublin, but she visits Galway fre quently, as her brother, Henry Burke lives here. Mary is gratified by the broad range of support she has received so far. She says the absence of a huge party machine to organise her campaign may be a problem, but there is great enthusiasm. "A woman president would be a good thing in a number of ways, not least because I see it as a caring presidency. Not only women feel that way, because a lot of men have said the same thing. Now I hope they vote that way," she laughs. In the end Mary Robin son feels people have a choice. "It's a simple one, bet ween a working, relevant president or a retirement post for somebody who has served his time in one of the big political parties."

His Lordship Bishop Earnon Casey has given Dr. Evelyn Tally permis sion for a Foundation Mass to be celebrated annually for 25 years for the repose of the souls of the Wardens of Galway and their Vicars who served Galway from 1484 to 1831. The First Foundation Mass will be concelebrated in the Cathedral on August 8th at 11 a.m. by Fr. Bernard Lavin of the Westminster Diocese. Fr. Lavin is a direct descendant of one of the most famous of the Wardens, Valentine Bodkin. Assisting him will be Canon Desmond Car roll, S t Joseph's, and Fr. Martin Coen, CraughwelL whose definitive study "The Wardenship of Galway" was published in 1S84