THIS POLITICALLY-MINDED Donegal lad must be happy enough with the current government if his allegiances still lie the same way.

Young Vincent from Ballyshannon put pen to paper in May 1984 congratulating Garret FitzGerald on his job as Taoiseach. FitzGerald became Taoiseach for the second time in 1982, taking over from Fianna Fáil’s Charlie Haughey.

National Archives National Archives

The letter, found in government documents released under the 30 year rule by the National Archives details how Vincent pledged to ‘always vote Fine Gael when I grow up’ and how he hoped FitzGerald would be Taoiseach:

… for another few years, because I don’t like the way Charlie is doing it.

(He must have been disappointed when Haughey once again returned as Taoiseach in 1987.)

The letter reads:

Dear Garret,

I hope you and your wife are getting on well and congratulations on comeing taoiseacht. And I think you are making a very good job in it. Mammy and Daddy always vote Fine Gael and when I grown up I will always vote Fine Geal to. I hope you are taoiseacht for a nother few years because I don’t like the way Charlie is doing it. 

Yours faithfully, 

Vincent 

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See National Archives, reference 2016/51/698