UCD LIBRARY CULTURAL HERITAGE COLLECTIONS
Welcome to the UCD Library Cultural Heritage Collections blog. Discover and explore the historical treasures housed within our Archives, Special Collections, National Folklore Collection and Digital Library
As part of the unique relationship between UCD and the Irish Franciscans (UCD-OFM Partnership), UCD Archives curates many elements of the Franciscan manuscript patrimony. This process began with the transfer of the immensely significant collections of non-Franciscan private paper collections in 1997, including the papers of Eamon de Valera, Kathleen OโConnell, Seรกn MacEoin, George Gavan …
Continue reading "17th Century Irish Franciscan Manuscript Transferred to UCD Archives"
There is nothing quite like an old photograph, personal correspondence, or tangible artifact to get secondary students excited about learning history. It is easy for students to understand the human dimensions and historical significance of past events when they interact with sources of this nature. Unfortunately, primary source material is not always so exciting. Notable …
Continue reading "From Archive to Classroom: Creating a Workbook on the Downing Street Declaration"
UCD Archive's first post of 2026 concerns one of its small collections: a letter from Alice Hillstead Muลกek, Hradec Krรกlovรฉ, Czechoslovakia, to J. Grierson, 1 Herbert Street, Dublin. Daniel Samek has written an interesting article on Czech-Irish cultural contacts in the first half of the 20th century that began with a visit by British and …
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Following the Easter Rising in 1916, รamon de Valera was imprisoned first, in Mountjoy jail and then, following the commutation of his death sentence, in four English prisons โ Dartmoor, Lewes, Maidstone, and Pentonville. He was released under the general amnesty in 1917. Among his papers are a series of Christmas cards sent to him …
Continue reading "Nodlaig Shona Duit: Christmas Cards from 1916"
A notable aspect of private paper collections, is how a person features as a thread that runs through the tapestry of a collection. We have explored this before in our post about the death of W.B. Yeats, although here it may be more intentional, as some of the correspondentsโ thoughts about Macnamara are being sought …
A visit to the National Folklore Collection isnโt quite like a visit to other libraries or archives. As you enter, the door creaking gently behind you, youโre met with a certain feeling of history and possibility. Itโs a feeling that you canโt quite put your finger on, but a distinct one nonetheless. Once inside youโre …
Continue reading "‘Stories through art: The Eviction by Lady Elizabeth Butler’ย "
In part one of this post, we looked at a file in Josephine McNeillโs papers concerning her husband, James McNeill, governor-general of the Irish Free State. The office of governor-general was viewed with suspicion by many as a symbol of continued British involvement in Irish affairs, and it was disliked and downgraded in importance by …
Continue reading "โA considered policyโ: the Governor General and รamon de Valera (Part 2)"
The largely ceremonial role of governor-general in the Irish Free State (1922โ1963) was to act as the official representative of the Crown. The office was viewed negatively by many as a symbol of continued British involvement in Irish affairs. Timothy Healy (1855โ1931) held the role from 1922โ1928, James McNeill (1869โ1938) from 1928โ1932, and Domhnall Ua …
Continue reading "โA considered policyโ: the Governor General and รamon de Valera (ย Part 1)"
The section of the catalogue of Eamon de Valeraโs extensive papers, covering his time as President of the Executive Council and his first period as Taoiseach (1932โ1948), includes material on negotiations with the UK; the drafting, publication and approval of the 1937 Constitution; the Emergency; and Irish neutrality. Among this rich documentation, is a file …
The Easter Cycle comprises a period of fasting, purification and spiritual renewal which culminates in joyful celebration of Christโs Resurrection. In this short post it is only possible to sketch a very brief outline of some of the popular customs and practices which characterise the Easter observances in Irish tradition, which were, in the main, …
Continue reading "โMac na hรige Slรกn!โ The Easter Cycle in Irish Folk Tradition"