That might seem an odd question, since the Proclamation of the Irish Republic is probably Ireland’s best-known historical document: and anyway, isn’t there only one? The answer is both yes, and no. Let’s start with the story behind the Proclamation, which is quite well known, but here’s a quick summary: In the years since it … Continue reading Do you have a favourite Proclamation?
This next instalment of our Decade of Centenaries series comes from the unpublished draft of Máire Comerford’s memoirs. Máire Comerford was born on 29 June 1893 in Rathdrum, County Wicklow. She was educated privately at home but with a downturn in the family’s fortune, she was sent to London to receive an education as a … Continue reading My narrative has gone on paper hot from memory
In general, I may say that these part-time collectors have been excellent, because we do our best to pick them carefully. -Seán Ó Súilleabháin, 1950 On walking into the archive of the National Folklore Collection (NFC), you are greeted by walls of numbered manuscripts. To your right are the rolling shelves holding the bright green … Continue reading Part-time Collecting for the Irish Folklore Commission
Amid the stress and worry of the world we now find ourselves living in, the change of pace over the past few months has offered many of us time to think more deeply about our immediate surroundings. Whether small reflections on the pleasure gained from hearing birdsong more clearly, or noticing the small progressive changes … Continue reading The Last Hour of the Night
Our second instalment in the Decade of Centenaries series looks at the papers of Richard Mulcahy; 1916 veteran, I.R.A. Chief of Staff during the War of Independence, Leader of Fine Gael and Minister of a number of government departments. Richard James Mulcahy was born in Waterford and educated by the Christian Brothers both there, and … Continue reading DoC Series:Diaries of Guerrilla Tactics
This post is the first in our Decade of Centenaries Series that will run over the coming years. This series will highlight archival material within the UCD Cultural Heritage Collections that relates to this momentous time in Irish history. Some material will be well known to researchers, academics and the public. But other material will … Continue reading DoC Series: Deaths of Republican Soldiers
With the GAA All Ireland just over and the Rugby World Cup about to start, sport is on our mind! So where will we look to for our next sports kick (excuse the pun!)? But to soccer and our Boys in Green of course! The records of the Football Association of Ireland are housed in … Continue reading A game of two halves
'Walter has been Mother, Father and ideal friend to me. I could not have lived through those days of stress without his unexampled care and princely hospitality.' During the Treaty debates in 1922 these words were spoken by Arthur Griffith to H.E. Kenny about his dear friend, Alderman Walter Leonard Cole. Not long after, on … Continue reading Mother, Father and Ideal Friend
In this age of the digital, online cultural heritage exhibitions help to open up unique and distinct collections to a global and international audience. UCD Archives, not only uses platforms such as Google Arts & Culture Institute, to showcase it's historically rich collections to the world, but also Twitter by creating timelines. These timelines act as … Continue reading The Midst of It All
On 1st September 1864, Roger David Casement was born in Sandycove, Dublin to an Anglo-Irish family. Fifty years later he would be hanged in Pentonville Prison for his part in the 1916 Easter Rising. Casement will not only live in the hearts and minds of the Irish for his part in fighting for their human … Continue reading I die the death I sought…