Explore Your Archive is an annual campaign that showcases the best of archives and archive services in Ireland and the UK. Please read on for more about EYA and the daily themes, and check back soon for updates on our EYA ambassador for 2023/4, ARA Ireland's launch of the focus week on the 23rd November, and all the events as they come in.
ARA Ireland's EYA ambassador for 2023/4 Clodagh Finn. Photo (c) Marc O'Sullivan, and taken at the RIA
In addition, Adam Girard, digital archivist at the ITMA, will introduce attendees to the current and exciting work taking place at ITMA. This work focuses on two large-scale projects aimed at increasing ITMA’s in-house digitisation capacity. Topics covered will include the challenges of designing a digitisation studio for early audio formats, the design of preservation-grade digital storage infrastructure to keep newly digitised materials safe, as well as ongoing projects designed to make much of this material available to the public. The launch is free to attend but places are limited so please register here.
The campaign aims to open up the phenomenal archival collections held by organisations – public and private – whatever their size and scale, and wherever they are.
Throughout the week archives across the country will showcase their collections online, to help the public discover a piece of Irish history and culture. We will be updating the EYA and Featured pages as submissions come in, so please make sure to check back regularly. Submissions can be made directly to the Campaigns and Communications officer Niamh Ní Charra at niamhnicharra@gmail.com.
For ARA Ireland's customisable EYA poster please click here, and for our EYA logo please click here.
Launch of the Conradh na Gaeilge Digital Collection at Oireachtas na Gaeilge
University of Galway has unveiled a milestone for its Archives and Special Collections with the unveiling of about 60,000 digitised images from the Conradh na Gaeilge archive. Following an 18-month digitisation project, the collection has been made openly available online, offering a window to momentous episodes in Irish history and the work, campaigning and activism of Conradh. Event Link
Exhibition: The Great Industrial Exhibition of 1853
In 1853 the Royal Irish Academy contributed artefacts to one of the largest ever international events of the nineteenth-century – the Great Industrial Exhibition – which took place from 12 May until the 31st of October 1853 on the grounds of Leinster House, the headquarters of the Royal Dublin Society. This year marks 170 years since the exhibition, which welcomed over a million visitors to see highlights of Irish industry and craft. A substantial number of objects from the Royal Irish Academy Museum (now held in the National Museum of Ireland) were exhibited as part of the Great Industrial Exhibition including the twelfth century Cross of Cong, one of the greatest examples of Irish art, and the Tara Brooch. RIA worked with colleagues from the RDS Library & Archive on an exhibition to tell the story of the Great Industrial Exhibition which will be on display in the Meeting Room of the Royal Irish Academy in November and December. Event Link
Exhibition “On An Equal Footing – Ireland at the League of Nations”, UNHQ, New York
In what is the final flagship event for the Irish Government’s Decade of Centenaries 2012-2023 programme, a major exhibition which marks the first time Ireland was recognised as a new nation on the world stage at the UN Headquarters in New York goes on display. Event link
PRONI Libraries Tour - various locations
PRONI is taking some of its most interesting records on the road, visiting Derry Central Library on 21st November and Enniskillen Library on 14th December, with further visits, including to Lurgan Library, planned for the New Year. The initiative, which has been organised in partnership with Libraries NI, will see historical documents specific to the region put on display at each local library.
PRONI staff will be available on the day to help visitors uncover details of their family tree, delve into the history of the local area, and answer questions about the vast array of records held by the PRONI.
No booking required.
Book launch and second release of MSPC material
Launch of the Military Service Pensions Project’s third and latest publication, A Very Hard Struggle – Lives in the Military Service Pensions Collection. The book, edited by Anne Dolan and Catriona Crowe will be launched by Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin.
Military Service Pensions Project 15th release of pension files - some 2200 records relating to 863 individuals will enter the public domain. This is the second release of MSPC material this year. Event Link
Online talk - Getting Started with Family History Research
The ideal place to start your family history research.
This short introductory talk is aimed at anyone starting out their family history research . The talk will provide an overview of the National Library of Ireland’s family history service, and how to use the Library’s website to research your family history. It will focus on the tools available including how to download family history worksheets you can use to build your family tree. The talk will conclude with an introduction to the Library’s Catholic parish registers website and how to browse baptism, marriage and death records online. Event Link
The East Donegal Border Petition and the Derry-Donegal Milk War, 1934-8
PRONI is delighted to invite you to a presentation by Dr Samuel Beckton to mark the launch of his book, ‘The East Donegal Border Petition and the Derry-Donegal Milk War, 1934-8’.
In November 1934, 7,368 Protestants in east Donegal signed a Unionist petition to the British and Northern Irish governments requesting to transfer their region to Northern Ireland. This was a reaction to policies made in the Irish Free State by Fianna Fáil during the 1930s that resulted in the Economic War. News of this event spread to numerous newspapers across the British and Irish Isles, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Southern Rhodesia through Irish diasporas across the British empire. This was an exceptional event of southern Unionism in post-partition Ireland, displaying an element of defiance in their development of living in the Irish Free State. The work analyses the roots of the petition and those who organised the document. What were the terms of the petition? What did the petition manage to achieve and fail to resolve? How did it lead to a Derry–Donegal Milk War, which lasted three years? Event link
Seminar – “If you want to understand today you have to search yesterday”, Chester Beatty
The Library Association of Ireland Rare Books and the LAI Genealogy and Local Studies Groups look forward to welcoming you to this joint seminar "If you want to understand today you have to search yesterday: genealogical & local studies materials in Irish Special Collections & Archives."
Advance registration is required for this event which will be held at Chester Beatty in Dublin. Event Link
The Many Lives of Medieval Manuscripts Symposium
The Many Lives of Medieval Manuscripts Symposium - led by the Manuscripts & Archives section of Trinity College Library to showcase a recent haul of digitised treasures from the medieval collection. Event Link
Getting Started Workshop - Using Online Resources
Are you thinking of starting your family history, or local history research? This workshop has been designed to help you get started online from the comfort of your own home through PRONI's own online services and other online resources. It is also a chance for you to ask your questions directly to PRONI staff!
This workshop will be delivered online via Zoom, links will be issued one hour in advance.
Launch of “The Diaries of Kathleen Lynn: A Life Revealed Through Personal Writing”, Harriett Wheelock, Dr Mary McAuliffe
The diaries of Dr Kathleen Lynn, 1916-1955, cover her involvement in the 1916 Rising, the War of Independence, the Civil War, and the formative three and a half decades of the Irish Free State. They demonstrate the revolutionary, socialist and feminist fervour of a radical revolutionary woman, what motivated her and the work she did for women, workers, and Ireland. The diaries, held in the archives of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI), reveal the often-difficult road that radical political women forged in the new Irish Free State, which viewed women through the constraining lens of marriage, motherhood, and domesticity.
Central to the diaries is Lynn's vital work in St Ultan's Hospital for Sick Infants which she co-founded in 1919. Her diaries demonstrate vividly the number of women who led advances in medical care in the first decades of the State alongside Lynn. The diaries also record her family and personal relationships, especially her lifelong relationship with fellow suffragist, revolutionary and social campaigner, Madeline ffrench-Mullen.
More info here.
An Evening of Carols and Readings from the Archives
Join us at PRONI for an evening of music, history and celebration! Belfast-based chamber choir, Cantiunculae, will be performing Christmas carols interspersed with nine readings from festive PRONI documents, including some which have been selected as part of PRONI’s 100 Treasures to celebrate our centenary.
Drawing From The Well Concert Tour
ITMA presents an evening of traditional music, song and dance in the company of four of Ireland’s leading contemporary traditional artists. These artists have engaged with ITMA’s flagship series Drawing from the Well, an initiative which connects artists with archival materials to inspire new art. Event Link
Seminar Her-ALD: Her Archives, Literature, Documents
This one-day seminar aims to enhance the visibility of Irish women scientists, scholars, authors and others by bringing together archival practitioners, librarians, historians and other stakeholders to discover, discuss and disseminate women's archival collections. The seminar, HER-ald: Her archives, literature, documents, will take place in the Royal Irish Academy on Thursday 14 December 2023. This date also marks the 105th anniversary of Irish women over the age of 30 exercising their right to vote in a general election for the first time. This event is kindly supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media and Mná 100.
ARA Ireland's Communications and Campaigns Officer Niamh Ní Charra and EYA ambassador for 2023/24 Clodagh Finn. Photo (c) Marc O'Sullivan and taken at the RIA
Explore Your Archive is an annual campaign that showcases the best of archives and archive services in Ireland and the UK. Please read on for more about EYA, for updates on our EYA ambassador for 2022/3, ARA Ireland's launch of the focus week on the 24th November, daily themes for social media, and all the events as they come in.
The Department for Communities is delivering an exhibition event in the PRONI Building, Belfast in celebration of the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The exhibition will be launched at the PRONI building, Titanic Quarter, Belfast, on Monday 28 November 2022 at 12pm. Michaela Hollywood, the respected disability rights advocate, will deliver a keynote speech sharing her experiences of living with a disability.
Following this will be an opportunity to view the exhibition and engage with fellow attendees - refreshments will be provided.
The PRONI building is fully accessible and a portable Changing Places facility will be available at the location all day Monday 28 November. A quiet room is also available onsite. For those who wish to view the launch taking place on 28 November but are unable to attend, a live feed will be available from 12 pm to 1 pm via the PRONI Facebook page.
Register here.
Launch of the archive and online digital exhibition of Pan Pan Theatre Company
Event: Symposium (2pm-5pm) and launch (5pm-6pm), The Bridge Room, Hardiman Building
Online event: Edward Bunting Digital Harp Collection - Claire O’Donnell
In 2016 Music Network gathered ten of Ireland's leading harpers in the studio of the Irish Traditional Music Archive to record tunes collected by Edward Bunting (1773–1843) and published in his 1797 "A General Collection of the Ancient Music of Ireland [Volume 1]". These recordings, and the printed volume were to become the source of inspiration for a commission awarded to internationally acclaimed artist Aideen Barry by ITMA and Music Network in 2020. Oblivion / Seachmalltacht / ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᑦ, a multimedia installation opened on Friday 16 September 2022 at the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris, having premiered at Limerick City Gallery of Art in December 2021.
ITMA and Music Network are now delighted to share the original 2016 sounds recordings made by Laoise Kelly, Eilís Lavelle, Máire Ní Chathasaigh, Anne-Marie O'Farrell, Mary Louise O'Donnell, Teresa O'Donnell, Úna Ní Fhlannagáin, Dianne Marshall, Tríona Marshall, and Claire O'Donnell. They were originally recorded in the ITMA Studio in 2016 by sound engineer Donncha Moynihan (The Rise Studio).
The tunes will be shared in batches following the printed order in the 1797 publication. Each recording below is accompanied by a link to an interactive score and staff notation so you can also learn the tune. December's addition will be from Claire O'Donnell. For more information see here.
Join PRONI and the LGBT NI Heritage Project this Explore Your Archives Week for a screening of a new short documentary, The Troubles I’ve Seen, which captures the shared experiences and stories of the local LGBT Community.
Directed by Conan McIvor, this emotive and often funny doc hears from those who experienced and were involved in the beginning of the LGBT movement in Northern Ireland, discussing how their pride and fearlessness helped them overcome the shame and harassment levelled at them by elements of society. With contributions from activists such as Jeffrey Dudgeon, Doug Sobey, Paula Keenan and more, The Troubles I’ve Seen explores the start of the Gay Liberation movement, the establishment of Cara-Friend and the deep sense of community and support that was forged by campaigning in the face of AIDS, legal restrictions, and Northern Ireland’s anarchial political situation.
This screening will be accompanied by a document display that reflects on a number of the films themes and will be followed by a panel discussion about the film and the issues it raises.
Register here.
Online event: Saoithe - in-depth conversation with Matt Molloy
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The Cult of St Edmund in Ireland by Dr Francis Young
The Ulster Society of Irish Historical Studies and the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland would be delighted to invite you to a presentation by Dr Francis Young.
In contrast to the popularity of Irish saints in England and beyond, few English saints achieved cults of any significance in medieval Ireland. Among the exceptions were St Thomas Becket, St Wulfstan of Worcester and St Edmund, King and Martyr. The cult of St Edmund had particular significance for Dublin and for the De Burgh dynasty, which patronised an important monastery dedicated to St Edmund at Athassel in Co. Tipperary. This talk explores the evidence for the cult of St Edmund in Ireland and the way in which it became a focus of 'English' identity among the 'Old English' gaelicised families of late medieval Ireland.
Francis Young is a UK-based historian specialising in the history of religion and belief. He is the author, editor or co-author of 18 books. He is interested in how history illuminates the nature of belief and in the intersections between religion, folklore, magic and other forms of supernatural belief. His books have dealt with early modern Catholicism, the history of exorcism, medieval monasticism, folklore, the cult of saints, the history of magic and witchcraft, and Baltic paganism. He is also a professional indexer and a translator specialising in medieval and early modern Latin.
This is an online event hosted via Zoom. The link will be made available 1 hour before the event starts. Register here.
Online event: Cullinane Archive Collection - video from Stephanie SK Marbach
Online Workshop: Getting Started at PRONI, 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Online event: Ceol Journal – digital publishing of out-of-print journal
ITMA has been enabled, courtesy of the Breathnach family, to republish Breandán Breathnach’s 1963–86 periodical Ceol: A Journal of Irish Music on its website for public access. Its eight volumes will appear over four months, two per month, with the second installment coming out on the 6th of December. The copyright of Ceol remains with the Breathnach family, and the Irish Traditional Music Archive is greatly obliged to Dr Síghle Bhreathnach-Lynch, Niamh Bhreathnach, Fionnuala Bhreathnach, and Éadaoin Bhreathnach for granting it permission to republish the run of Ceol on its website for free public access. It remembers the late Eibhlín Bhreathnach and Mrs Lena Bhreathnach who with them facilitated the donation of Breandán’s personal collection in 1987 as the foundation collection of ITMA, and it is certain that Breandán, always keen to use the latest technology, would approve of this spreading of the gospel.
In keeping with the periodical nature of Ceol, the eight volumes of the journal will be reproduced here in facsimile at intervals in four monthly tranches, each of two volumes. Text is also machine-readable. Readers are invited to enter the compelling world of Irish traditional music as seen by Ceol, its editor and its many contributors in the formative period, beginning sixty years ago, during which much of the now familiar landscape of Irish traditional music took shape. More information here.
For all of ITMA's Explore Your Archive events check out their EYA 2022 landing page here.
As the Decade of Centenaries (1913-1923) in Ireland draws to a close, The Irish Society for Archives will host a free online retrospective seminar on Tuesday 6 December from 6-7:30pm via Zoom.
The Decade of Commemoration: Sources & Legacies draws together a number of Archivists and Librarians who have been actively engaged in new and recent projects working with records, collections, and archives from the years comprising the Decade of Commemorations in Ireland. As we reach the latter stages of the Decade, it is timely to reflect on how archival projects, new records access, digitisation, exhibitions, community engagement and cultural events have opened up a new archival window into a time of revolution, tragedy, partition, and the establishment of the new Irish Free State.
Featuring lightning talks from Niamh Brennan (Donegal County Archives), Marian Thérèse Keyes (dlr Libraries, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown), Kate Manning (UCD Archives) and Emma Horgan (UCC Library), this webinar will reflect on recent archival projects as well as the legacies and sources of the Decade of Commemoration.
Further details and registration at this link
EYA 2021 Ambassador journalist and broadcaster, Flor MacCarthy
EYA daily themes have been announced! Get planning and then get ready to get sharing on social media during the campaign launch week.
On 15 November 2021, the Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Colm Kelleher, launched our historical exhibition at the City and County Archives, ‘Tadhg Barry (1880-1921), Rebel and Revolutionary’. Barry was a key figure in Cork’s War of Independence story.
Born and raised on Blarney Street, Cork, Barry, a well known journalist, served alongside Tomas McCurtain and Terence MacSwiney in the First Cork Brigade of the Irish Volunteers, and as a Councillor on Cork Corporation. Tragically, Barry was one of the last prominent republicans to be killed by Crown forces, before the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 1921. His funeral on 20 November was one of the largest ever seen in Cork, attendees including General Michael Collins, who left the Treaty negotiations in London to honour his fallen comrade. On the centenary of Barry’s death, our exhibition seeks to mark his life and to raise awareness of his enormous contribution to the story of Cork in the tumultuous 1912-21 period.
Expertly curated by historian Dr. Luke Dineen, the exhibition places Tadhg’s life in context, with themes about the many areas of Cork life in which he was centrally involved: Home Rule politics; the creation of the Irish Volunteers; Republican politics and armed struggle; the labour and trade union movements; local government; journalism and literature; and Gaelic games and cultural activism. A number of original letters, documents and artefacts relating to Barry are also on display, including items provided by the Barry family, and items from the Cork Archives and Cork Public Museum collections.
This exhibition forms part of Cork City Council’s 1920-1923 Commemoration programme, sponsored jointly with the Department of Tourism and Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media.
The exhibition will run at Cork City and County Archives from Tuesday 16 November 2021 until April 2022. Public access is by appointment, subject to public health guidance. Small groups are also welcome by prior arrangement.
Venue: online, 9.30am to 6pm
NUI Galway Hardiman Library Archives and Irish Centre for Human Rights are delighted to invite you to a one-day international online conference on: Archives and Human Rights: Memory, Truth-Telling and Institutional Records
The purpose of the conference is to examine key current issues regarding the ethical, legal and proper professional management of records and archives relating to institutionalisation and family separation in Ireland. Its aim is to facilitate greater public awareness of: the relevance of records access and preservation to truth-telling and transitional justice; the existing gaps in legislation, policy and practice; and human rights-based approaches to records management and archiving that might be drawn upon by civil society, records holders and policy-makers.
For free registration and further information click here
Event: Official opening of Offaly Archives by Minister of State for Heritage, Malcolm Noonan, T.D. with Virginia Teehan, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council.
Offaly Archives is delighted to welcome Minister of State for Heritage, Malcolm Noonan, T.D. with Virginia Teehan, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council to officially open its new archives building in Tullamore. Built in 2019 by Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society to archival standards, the new building now houses, in a unique partnership, the archives of Offaly County Council and the archival collections collected over many years by the historical society, and is a testament to the community and voluntary sector's passion to preserve its local history and documentary heritage.
PRONI is holding a ‘Making the Future Take Over’ of EYA week. November marks the close of Making the Future (www.makingthefuture.eu), a collaborative project led by the Nerve Centre, in partnership with PRONI, National Museums NI and the Linen Hall Library, supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). Making the Future has been running for over three years, during which time it has delivered a comprehensive change programme of exhibitions, cultural engagement, creativity and skills development involving more than 5,000 people from across the region and from areas of disadvantage, LGBTQ+, disabled and ethnic minority groups, and victims and survivors.
Making the Future participants have been empowered to interrogate and re-imagine objects, archives and art works from the consortium’s collections through creativity and new digital technologies. Sustained cross-community programmes have explored areas such as Decade of Centenaries, our recent conflict, representation of women and minorities in the archives, and issues around culture and identity today. The project has allowed people to have their voices heard and empowered them to create a powerful vision for future change.
Archiving COVID: Ordinary People and Stay Home Memories
Event: online 1pm
Join PRONI for a presentation exploring the experiences and memories of the COVID-19 pandemic by local people and communities that have been archived at PRONI.
Using material and insights from both our Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times engagement programme from Lockdown 1 (April-June 2020) and the Stay Home Memories project (June 2020 - June 2021), you'll get a glimpse of what we are leaving behind to tell researchers of the future what it was like to live through lockdown! For more information and to register click here.
Researching farming ancestors in PRONI
Event: online 2pm
PRONI is delighted to host a talk by Dr William Roulston, Research Director of Ulster Historical Foundation, to mark his recent publication ‘Researching farming ancestors in PRONI’. For more information and to register click here.
Border Sounds: Immersive VR Experience
Event: In-person, time must be reserved
Book your place to view our immersive new Virtual Reality (VR) film Border Sounds using a full VR headset.
You will have a 20 minute slot to view the 11 minute long film and become fully immersed in the sights and sounds of the Irish Border, as told by people who live there.
This event is an in-person event at PRONI, you must book a time in advance. Click here for more information.
‘The Irish Revolution and the making of a new world order: what the archives tell us’
Event: Online, 6pm
Speakers: Dr Linda Connolly (Professor of Sociology, Maynooth University), Dr Brian Hanley (Assistant Professor in Twentieth Century Irish History, Trinity College Dublin) and Dr Fearghal McGarry (Professor in Modern Irish History, School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics, Queen's University, Belfast). Moderator: Dr Patrick Geoghegan (Professor in Modern History, Trinity College Dublin)
The 20th century was defined by the decline of empire and the emergence of new nations and social and political movements founded on principles of democracy, equality and self-government. Some of the questions arising from this seismic shift in global politics and society will ask what the historical records tell us about the way events occurring in Ireland spoke to the wider dynamics of change that were sweeping the world, from revolutionary struggles to decolonisation and women's suffrage. Also, how did Ireland's new political leadership use news and information to mobilise its population and project Ireland to a global public in the brave new world of mass media?
This roundtable will bring together a distinguished group of academics to discuss what archival records can tell us about the ideas of the men and women who built the Irish nation and how they were shaped by and within the new world that was emerging after the First World War and the Irish revolution
To register, and for more information, click here.
Making the Future On Screen: A Film Festival
Event: The Strand Cinema, 7pm-9pm
Arch'ive Imagined: Artistic Responses to the Archives
Event: Online 2pm-3pm
Explore the many ways people have created artistic work inspired by PRONI's archive material.
In partnership with NI Screen and Seacourt Print Workshop , you'll see examples of art inspired by the archives and hear directly from their creators. For more information and to register, click here.
Making the Future On Screen: A Film Festival
Event: The Strand Cinema, 7pm-9.30pm
Drawing From the Well
Featuring singer Lisa O'Neill who gives a presentation on "Arthur Griffith - A Balad History of Ireland"
Live on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and www.itma.ie at 8.00 pm
Reading the Deeds and Sasines: Irish and Scottish Land Records
Event: Online 11am-12pm
As part of #Explore Your Archive events, Dr. Patrick Walsh and Dr. Andrew Mackillop will give a free online lecture. Drawing on an exploratory research project funded by the Irish Research Council and the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council and conducted in collaboration with the Property Registration Authority of Ireland and the National Records of Scotland, this talk will explore the challenges of using digital humanities approaches to the vast and extraordinarily rich archives of the Irish Registry of Deeds and the Scottish Register of Sasines. The talk will be recorded and published on the Property Registration Authority You-Tube channel. For further information and to book, please see here.
In their own words: children of Victorian Belfast
Event: Online 2pm-3pm
PRONI is delighted to host a talk by Dr Alice Johnson exploring childhood in Victorian Belfast.
This original and lively talk will explore what it was like to grow up in a middle-class family in the dynamic and changing environment of a Victorian Irish industrial city. By delving into a rich archive of childhood sources such as diaries, school-work, and letters, the speaker, Dr Alice Johnson, will uncover the lived experience of middle-class boys and girls based in Belfast, and allow the Victorian children to speak in their own words.
For more information and to register, please click here.
Making the Future On Screen: A Film Festival
Event: The Strand Cinema, 7pm-8.30pm
Event: Online 1pm-3pm
Our Place: An Archive for Everyone
Join for a celebration of stories that have made their way into the archives at PRONI through the Making the Future project.
This session will include performances based on letters from our LGBT stories programme, stories and recipes from Our Food, Our Place and some extra special dancing performances from some of our participants.
Places at PRONI are invite-only, these tickets are for the live-stream via zoom. The zoom link will issue one hour before the event begins. For more information and to register, click here.
Event: Rough Beast - World Premiere, O'Donoghue Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance, 7pm
Galway Music Residency (GMR) in association with Contemporary Music Centre (CMC) presents a multi-artform event marking the 1921 Centenary. The event will feature the World Premiere of Rough Beast, a new work by Irish composer Rhona Clarke for string quartet and soprano, performed by Galway’s ConTempo Quartet and Aisling Kenny. The commission takes inspiration from WB Yeats’ poem The Second Coming. The evening will also include an archive exhibition relating to Yeats, a fascinating perspective on how the political and societal turmoil of the time was reflected in Art and creativity by Dr. Adrian Paterson, as well as dramatic readings from students of Drama and Theatre Studies and an interview with the composer led by Contemporary Music Centre’s Linda O’Shea Farren.
For more information and to register, click here.
Event: Exhibition, Archives and Special Collections of the James Hardiman Library
Online talk: Conservation and Collections Care: Preserving PRONIs Archives
PRONI, 2pm
PRONI’s Head of Conservation, Sarah Graham, will explain the importance of preservation and introduce the role of the conservator, showing examples of interventive treatments which have recently been carried out on collections at PRONI. Register for free here.
Online Lecture: Whose History? The 'Migrated Archive' and Britain's Colonial Past
The Trinity Long Room Hub, Arts and Humanities Research Institute, 7 - 8.15pm
An online lecture as part of the Out of the Ashes Lecture Series, with David M Anderson, Professor of African History Hostory, University of Warwick.
This lecture tells the story of the 'Hanslope Disclosure' and how this so-called 'Migrated Archive' came into being, what happened to it over the years in which it was secretly retained, and how it came to be 'discovered' in the midst of a human rights trial at London's Supreme Court on The Strand. Wjose history is this, and where does such an archive belong? The ansers to these questions reveal much about Britain's unease in dealing with the history of its past empire, and about the culture of secrecy that still infects British public institutions - even those that are supposed to be the guardians of our national heritage. Details here
Online Exhibition Launch: “A Great Reformer”: The Life and Work of Dr Conolly Norman”
RCPI
This online exhibition from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland focuses on the life and career of renowned Irish psychiatrist Dr Conolly Norman. The apparent growth of insanity in 19th century Ireland saw the building of an extensive asylum system. Upon his appointment at the Richmond Asylum in Dublin, Norman began attempting to reform the system and use his experiences to shape the future of psychiatry. The exhibition charts his early life, career and work in the Richmond Asylum, followed by his commemorations and accolades. From an epidemic outbreak in the asylum to his delivery of lectures to psychology students, Norman always tried to progress the study of mental illness. For more information see here.
Online talk: A Beginners Guide to using DNA for Family History
PRONI, 2pm
Come and learn about the types of DNA test that are available, how they can help you and what you can achieve. Register for free here.
Online talk: Putting You in The Picture: An Introduction to the UTV Archive
PRONI, 2pm
This session introduces some of the gems that have been unearthed from the vault so far and highlights how they are being used with a range of groups and organisations across Northern Ireland through outreach activity. Register for free here.
Online talk: Researching Presbyterians in Ireland
PRONI, 2pm
This presentation by author Dr William Roulston will outline the range of records relating to the various strands of Presbyterians in Ireland over the last four centuries. Register for free here.
Webinar: Exploring Lands Indexes (1708-1946)
Registry of Deeds, 3pm-4.15pm
Booking: https://rodlandindexes.
The Lands Indexes at the Registry of Deeds consist of over 1400 handwritten books organised by county, and then townland or street. They provide a finding aid for every deed registered between 1708-1946 at the Registry of Deeds.
For our Explore Your Archive webinar, we will be joined by three different researchers who will outline how they have used the Land Indexes in their work. Rob Goodbody will discuss how he has utilised the Registry of Deeds as a source for researching historic buildings, local history and his contributions to the Irish Historic Towns Atlas series. Una Palic will describe her work tracing landownership in the barony of Demifore, Co. Meath from 1708-1830s. Dr. Conchubhar O Crualaoich will demonstrate how the Registry of Deeds records have been an indispensable source for his work as a Placenames Officer in researching townlands for the Placenames Commission.
The seminar will consist of 3 x 15 minute papers followed by Q & A session with the speakers. It will highlight the richness of the Registry of Deeds Land Indexes as historical sources, aswell as providing searching tips for those who wish to undertake their own research.
Online talk: The Dead of the Revolution
PRONI, 2pm
This Presentation by Eunan O’Halpin which explore the recently published The Dead of The Revolution which aspires to be the Lost Lives of the period from April 1916 to December 1921, identifying a total of 2850 deaths arising from Irish political violence. Register for free here.
The campaign aims to open up the phenomenal archival collections held by organisations – public and private – whatever their size and scale, and wherever they are.
Explore Your Archive 2020 launch week will run from 21st to 29th November. Throughout the week archives across the country will showcase their collections online, to help the public discover a piece of Irish history and culture. Watch this space for news relating to the 2020 campaign and follow us on social media to learn more.
EYA daily themes have been announced! Get planning and then get ready to get sharing during EYA 2020!
21/11 Communication
22/11 Home
23/11 Plans
24/11 Education
25/11 Labels
26/11 Science
27/11 Celebration
28/11 Health
29/11 Light
"Celebrating Siobhán McKenna Symposium"
National University of Ireland, Galway
O'Donoghue Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance, 9.45am-4pm
Following the launch of the Siobhán McKenna archive at 10am, this day long symposium celebrates the life and work of McKenna, and includes panel discussions with current practitioners "Women Theatre Makers Now!" , conversations with Lelia Doolan and historian Dr Magaret McCurtain "Remembering Siobhán", an interview with Garry Hynes "Working with Siobhán" and a keynote lecture from Dr Lionel Pilkington "Siobhán McKenna: Acting and Activism". It conclused with a devised performance in Irish based on the archive, performed by students of the BA in Drama, Theatre and Performance. Click here for more information and to register.
Derry City and Strabane: "Exploring Archive & Genealogy Collections"
Alley Theatre, Strabane, 2pm-6pm
The Archive & Genealogy service is responsible for the preservation, interpretation and creation of access to the civic records of the Council and its predecessor, the Londonderry Corporation. Click here for more information.
PRONI Workshop: "Getting Started"
Public Records Office, Northern Ireland (PRONI), 11am-1pm
Are you interested in local and family history? Why not come along to a practical workshop at PRONI to discover the essential skills required to begin your search at PRONI. More information available here.
PRONI Workshop: "Online resources for family and local history"
Public Records Office, Northern Ireland (PRONI), 11am-1pm
Come along to a workshop at PRONI to find out more and improve your IT skills. More information available here.
"Taster Talks on Oral history"
Dublin City Library & Archive, 138-144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, 6-8pm
Each year, Dublin City Archives offers the Lord Mayor's Certificate in Oral History, which has been taught since 2013. As part of Explore Your Archive festival 2019, previous graduates will give short presentations on their projects for the course. Topics include: 14 Henrietta St Tenement Memories project; 1916 Remembered; using Oral Histories to inform Local Studies - case-study for Stillorgan and Chapelizod; family stories and oral history. Come along for an evening of storytelling!
Admission free/all welcome/ beidh tae agus caife ar fáil
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Lunchtime talk: "Cooking the Books"
National Library of Ireland, Dublin 1-1.45pm
Using "WikiTree"
Public Records Office, Northern Ireland (PRONI), 1pm-2pm
Anne Johnston will deliver an introduction to WikiTree, a free genealogy website that maintains over 17 million ancestral profiles. More information available here.
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“From the Cradle to the Grave”: The Work of the Sanitary Officer.
Dungarvan Harbour Sailing Club, Dungarvan, 8pm
A talk by J. Rothwell, Waterford City and County Archivist for Waterford County Museum Society
"A Beginner's guide to using DNA for family history"
Public Records Office, Northern Ireland (PRONI), 1pm-2pm
Martin McDowell will take you on a whirlwind tour through the brave new world of DNA. More information available here.
"Roots: Tracing your Family History"
RCSI, Library Information Point, 1pm
A talk for staff and students with RCSI Archivist Leanne Harrington
"Exploring Land, Mapping and Property Records in Ireland"
Property Registration Authority of Ireland, 2.30pm - 6pm
Launch of New Online Records at PRONI
Public Records Office, Northern Ireland (PRONI), 11am-3pm
The event will feature a series of presentations and demonstrations showcasing digitized records that will be available online. More information available here.
Derry City and Strabane: "Exploring Archive & Genealogy Collections"
Central Libary, Derry, 12pm-4pm
The Archive & Genealogy service is responsible for the preservation, interpretation and creation of access to the civic records of the Council and its predecessor, the Londonderry Corporation. Click here for more information.
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Three month-long exhibitions
Donegal County Archives
Donegal County Archives is celebrating its 20th year in 2019. As part of the celebrations for Explore Your Archive 2019 and for the 20 year anniversary, the Archives Service is touring some of its exhibitions at Co. Donegal’s public service centres and other public spaces.
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"Celebrating 120 Years of the History of Irish Local Government/ Ag ceiliúradh stair Rialtas Áitiúil na hÉireann"
The bi-lingual exhibition curated by the Local Government Archivists and Records Managers explores the history and significance of local democracy in Ireland; it is touring local public service centres and is currently (Nov 2019) in Donegal town Public Service Centre.
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"A Trek through Time: Images from Donegal County Archives/ Turas tríd an stair : Íomhánna as Cartlann Contae Dhún na nGall"
This exhibition focuses on images and stories from Co. Donegal’s history, as reflected in some of its major Archives collections. The exhibition consists of twelve panels: Arts & the Archives; Donegal Grand Jury; The Railways of Co. Donegal; Schools & Schooling in Co. Donegal; The Joseph Murray Collection; The Workhouses of Donegal; The GAA in Co. Donegal; Exotic and Eccentric Donegal; Donegal Archives of Emigration; Maps of Donegal; Elections & the Electorate; Ladies of Donegal. The exhibition is touring the county and is currently in Milford Public Service Centre.
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‘Traditional Boats of Ireland’– The Dónal Mac Polin Collection
Boatbuilder and artist Donal MacPolin donated his entire lifework of beautiful illustrations and drawings, photographs and documentation on traditional boatbuilding, to Donegal County Archives in 2018. The County Museum in Letterkenny is currently displaying the archive of illustrations in its downstairs gallery.
EYA Hashtags have been announced! Get planning and then get ready to get sharing during EYA 2019!
23/11 #SweetArchives
Share something sweet – in taste or temperament – from your collections. And yes! #Archive Cake welcome!!!
24/11 #HairyArchives
Back by (un)popular demand – share something hairy!
25/11 #FriendlyArchives
Are you a friendly neighbourhood archivist? Celebrate friendliness in the sector and in your collections!
26/11 #SurprisingArchives
Share something we wouldn’t expect to see in your collection!
27/11 #ActionArchives
From physical movement to moving image, share action-inspired archives!
28/11 #ArchivesAtSea
If nautical nonsense is something you wish, then share your best sea-worthy archives!
29/11 #MysteriousArchives
Sometimes being an archivist requires some real detective work. Share your most mysterious material!
30/11 #ArchiveVoices
Amplify the many voices present in your archive by sharing examples of language, diverse voices, and sound archives.
01/12 #WildArchives
Share something WILD from your collections!
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Journalist and Presenter Anne Cassin, 2018 EYA Ambassador for ARA Ireland
(Photo Credit: Marc O'Sullivan)