“A lack of precision means a lack of protection.”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
- #trusted-source
- #www.theguardian.com
- #corroborated
Figure timeline
Mary Robinson
Mary Therese Winifred Robinson is an Irish politician who served as the president of Ireland from December 1990 to September 1997. She was the country's first female president. Robinson had previously served as a senator in Seanad Éireann from 1969 to 1989, and as a councillor on Dublin Corporation from 1979 to 1983. Although she had been briefly affiliated with the Labour Party during her time as…
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
politics · President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997 · politician · jurist · university teacher · barrister · also Mary Robinson, Máire Bean Mhic Róibín, Mary Bourke, Mary Therese Winifred Robinson, Mary Therese Winifred Bourke, Maire Bean Mhic Roibin
Born 21 May 1944 · Q188214
67 published statements · 0 followers
See & hear
Photos & media
10 photos · 1 audio
Listen
Mary Robinson - Desert Island Discs - 28 July 2013
Media from Wikimedia Commons, hotlinked at the source under its own licence — see each file for author and terms.
Live now
In the news
Pulling headlines from trusted outlets — this usually takes a few seconds
Checking the wires…
Feed scan
These are live links, not archived citations — they only join the timeline once a collect run verifies and archives them.
Live pulse
Recent highlights
Most recent outstanding titles, awards, and quotes
- Quote
- Quote
2026· 9 entries
“If I had been hard-pressed, I would have stayed, [but] there seems to have been strong resistance from just one country.”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
- #trusted-source
- #www.theguardian.com
- #corroborated
“We should all salute the courage the Holy Father has shown on climate change when too many secular leaders have spurned their responsibilities.”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
“unconscionable that one of the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters would simply walk away from its responsibility to people both at home and abroad.”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
“played into the hands of religious conservatives”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
Legacy obituary: Mary Louise Robinson Obituary (2026) - Muskegon Heights, MI - Toombs by Crystal Funeral Service
- #news
- #headline
Shelby Star: Mary Robinson Obituary Aug 9, 2026
- #news
- #headline
Newstalk: Mary Robinson: Palestine’s disappearance “happening on Europe’s watch”
- #news
- #headline
Awarded Honourable Member of the European Order of Merit (2026).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
2025· 1 entry
CounterPunch: Mary Robinson and Elders: Where Are the Young Leaders in Today’s Progressive Movement?
- #news
- #headline
2020· 1 entry
Led an independent probe of a report that cleared Akinwumi Adesina, the president of the African Development Bank, of wrongdoing
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2019· 1 entry
Robinson announced that she believes in making tackling climate change a personal issue in our lives and for this reason she has stopped eating meat in favour of a more eco-friendly pescetarian diet
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2017· 1 entry
Awarded honorary doctor of the University of Miami (2017).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
2016· 1 entry
At the One Young World summit, Robinson began to become vocal about her efforts to eat less meat and encouraged others to either do the same or adopt some type of entirely vegetarian diet in order to help fight climate c
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2015· 1 entry
Awarded Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (2015).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
2012· 1 entry
Won Livingstone Medal (2012).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #trophy
- #achievement
2009· 4 entries
Awarded Global Economy Prize (2009).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Won Presidential Medal of Freedom presented by Barack Obama (2009).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #trophy
- #achievement
Was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour awarded by the US
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Bath, at the 1100th anniversary celebration of the Diocese of Bath and Wells, where she gave a lecture entitled "Realising rights: the role of r
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2006· 1 entry
Awarded Princess of Asturias Award for Social Sciences (2006).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
2005· 2 entries
Awarded honorary doctorate presented by The Open University (2005).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded Honorary doctorate from university of Florence (2005).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
2004· 2 entries
Awarded Ambassador of Conscience Award (2004).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Was awarded an honorary degree by McGill University
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2003· 3 entries
Awarded Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, 1st class (2003).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Won Otto Hahn Peace Medal (2003).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #trophy
- #achievement
Awarded Grotius Lectures (2003).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
2002· 4 entries
Awarded Sonning Prize (2002).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded Sydney Peace Prize (2002).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded honorary doctor from the NOVA University Lisbon (2002).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
After sustained pressure from the United States led her to declare she was no longer able to continue her work
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2001· 2 entries
Won Albert Medal (2001).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #trophy
- #achievement
Chaired the Asia Regional Preparatory Meeting for the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and related intolerances, which was held in Tehran, Iran
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2000· 2 entries
Awarded Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize (2000).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded Indira Gandhi Peace Prize (2000).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
1999· 2 entries
Awarded J. William Fulbright Prize (1999).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded Erasmus Prize (1999).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
1998· 2 entries
Won Four Freedoms Award – Freedom Medal (1998).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #trophy
- #achievement
(the first holder of the office to do so) and criticised Ireland's immigration policy and the use of capital punishment in the United States
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1997· 3 entries
Awarded North–South Prize (1997).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded James Parks Morton Interfaith Award (1997).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Career landmark: United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (1997–2002).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1996· 2 entries
Awarded honorary doctor of the University of Rennes 2 (1996).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Also signed the legalisation of divorce into law
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1993· 2 entries
Won New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993 (1993).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #trophy
- #achievement
The legalisation of contraception and divorce, enabling women to sit on juries and securing the right to legal aid in civil legal cases in Ireland
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1992· 2 entries
Awarded honorary doctorate from University of Montpellier-I (1992).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Robinson travelled to Somalia, which at the time was struck by famine
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1991· 2 entries
Robinson was prevented from leaving the country by Charles Haughey's government
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
And in 2001, Robinson was awarded honorary doctorates by Brown University, University of Cambridge, University of Liverpool and Lisbon Nova University
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1990· 1 entry
Career landmark: president of Ireland (1990–1997).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1987· 1 entry
Career landmark: senator of Ireland (1987–1989).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1983· 1 entry
Career landmark: senator of Ireland (1983–1987).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1982· 3 entries
Career landmark: senator of Ireland (1982–1982).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
By the opposition Fianna Fáil to pressure President Hillery into refusing a parliamentary dissolution to Garret FitzGerald, the Taoiseach at the time; Hillery had resolutely rejected the pressure
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Seemed to imply that he could be instructed by Haughey in his duties, and that electing Lenihan was in effect empowering the controversial Haughey
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1981· 1 entry
Career landmark: senator of Ireland (1981–1982).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1977· 1 entry
Career landmark: senator of Ireland (1977–1981).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1973· 1 entry
Career landmark: senator of Ireland (1973–1977).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1970· 1 entry
Married Nicholas Robinson, with whom she had a relationship since they were law students and who was then practising as a solicitor
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1969· 3 entries
Career landmark: senator of Ireland (1969–1973).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
To mark the fiftieth anniversary of the foundation of Dáil Éireann
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Aged 25, Bourke was appointed Reid Professor of Criminal Law at Trinity College
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1967· 1 entry
Advocated removing the prohibition of divorce from the Irish Constitution, eliminating the ban on the use of contraceptives, and decriminalizing homosexuality and suicide
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1944· 2 entries
Born 1944-05-21.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #birth
Is the daughter of two medical doctors
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event