Explore Your Archive 2021

EYA 2021

EYA 2021 Ambassador journalist and broadcaster, Flor MacCarthy

To watch Flor’s speech at ARA Ireland’s launch, 18th November 2021 click here.

To listen to Communications and Campaigns Officer Niamh Ní Charra’s interview with Ryan Tubridy to promote the 2021 campaign click here.

EYA 2021 EVENTS

EYA daily themes have been announced! Get planning and then get ready to get sharing on social media during the campaign launch week.

Cork City and County Archives

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.

Thursday 18th November

NUI,Galway

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 

Offaly Archives

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. 

Monday 22nd November

Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI)

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.

Tuesday 23rd November

PRONI

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.

PRONI

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 National Archives Lecture Series

‘The Irish Revolution and the making of a new world order: what the archives tell us’

Event: Online, 6pm

The National Archives is delighted to host the third online talk in our commemorative lecture series for autumn-winter 2021

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.

PRONI

Making the Future On Screen: A Film Festival

Event: The Strand Cinema, 7pm-9pm

Changing the Narrative‘Changing the Narrative’ (60 minutes) comprises of five shorts made by local women celebrating their roles in rural South Armagh and the rich traditions, stunning landscape, and heritage in the area.• Voices of Gullion – An exploration of language, song tradition and South Armagh’s stunning landscape.• The Threads That Bind Us – An Insight into the rich tradition of lace-making and the pieces that bind women together across generations.• Breaking The Mould – Meet some of the women and girls involved in a variety of sports, such as camogie, netball, hill walking and football.• Women in Farming – Three farmers from different generations discuss the past, present and future of farming.• ROGHA – Meet ROGHA, a collective of hand crafters and artists whose work is inspired by the unique heritage and majesty of the Ring of Gullion. From the Mournes to the RockiesFrom the Mournes to the Rockies: A Fantastic Journey (26 mins) provides an insight into the life of Catherine O’Hare Schubert and her incredible overland journey to the goldfields of British Columbia whilst pregnant, with three children by her side. Catherine left Rathfriland at the age of 16 in 1851 to try her luck in the New World. After living in the United States for a number of years, she joined her husband Augustus and a group of 150 men in the famous 1862 overland journey to the goldfields. Made by members of the Rathfriland & District Regeneration Co and the Rathfriland Historical Society, the film celebrates her life and her tireless campaign for education for the young. The Female EyeA series of nine shorts made by a group of women based in Co. Donegal who learned how to film and edit using their own smartphones and each created a one-minute short film on a subject of their choice, including family stories, farming, nature, and domestic violence. The workshops were delivered in partnership with the NCCWN-Donegal Women’s Network. For more information or to register, click here.

Wednesday 24th November

PRONI

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.

PRONI

Making the Future On Screen: A Film Festival

Event: The Strand Cinema, 7pm-9.30pm

Everyday is a School Day A series of 10 short films made by a group with varying degrees of sight loss during the Lockdown.• The Road to the Waterfront Hall (8min) – Mark McShane recalls the experience of getting a Law Degree from the Open University.• The School with the Pool (3min) – Stephen Strong explores the history of Finaghy Primary School, one of the first schools to have a swimming pool in Northern Ireland.• Widening My Horizons (12min) – Liam Clarke shares his experience of travelling abroad and shows how history and culture can be important forms of education.• Happy Memories of My Life in Downpatrick (13min) – Jacqueline McCammon explores the history and heritage of Downpatrick and shares happy memories of her life there.• The Wee School at Crane Hill: A Kitchen Table Interview (16min) – Patricia Mcknight interviews her family about their experience of education and Knocknagor Primary School, Co. Tyrone.• The Day Candy Came to School (13min) – Carol Bennett explores the history and shares some memories of King’s Park Primary School in Newtownabbey.• Harding Remembered (17min) – Olive Rodgers shares some memories of her time at Harding Memorial Primary School in East Belfast.• The Influence of Art (18min) – Jim Tate recalls how his working-class background and art have influenced his lifelong learning journey.• Ryan’s Reviews of the Belfast Shipyard (18min) – Ryan McCartney presents the result of his research about Belfast’s shipyard history.• Days of Abbey Past (12min) – Anthony McKeown documents his family’s experience of attending St Colman’s Abbey Primary School in Newry. For more information or to register, click here.

Irish Traditional Music Archive

Drawing From the Well

Featuring singer Lisa O’Neill who gives a presentation on “Arthur Griffith – A Balad History of Ireland”

Thursday 25th November

Property Registration Authority of Ireland

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.

PRONI

In their own words: children of Victorian Belfast

Event: Online 2pm-3pm

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.

PRONI

Making the Future On Screen: A Film Festival

Event: The Strand Cinema, 7pm-8.30pm

Short films made by young filmmakers inspired by our archives, covering themes such as women’s history, conflict, old professions and television archives. Women in the Archives – Four women from our archives are brought back to life: Ottilie Patterson, Constance Markievicz, Marjorie Lyle and Eva Chichester.Suffrage in Belfast – A compilation of shorts exploring people’s different reactions to the suffrage movement in Belfast.Women in Armagh Gaol – two shorts exploring the history of Armagh Gaol:A Day in the Life: The Misunderstood – Journalist Sarah Michaelson speaks to two former prisoners to find out more about what life was like in Armagh Gaol.Teachers in Prison – Two teachers arrive for another day in the classroom, but one of the students is missing. What happened to Jennifer?Women of the Flight of the Earls – The Flight of the Earls saw earls Hugh O’Neill, Rory O’Donnell and over 90 people leave Ireland for mainland Europe to look for help against the English. Among those who left, 17 passengers were women. They were wives, daughters, sisters, and servants. Made by 20 pupils from St Joseph’s N.S. and St Garvan’s N.S. Donegal, these four short films explore some of their incredible stories. Youtubers – Watch what happens when a group of young YouTubers react and reimagine the UTV archives.Tik Tokers – Watch what happens when young Tiktokers bring old professions from our archives to lifeThe Horror! – A series of four one-minute horror shorts made at the Ulster Folk Park Museum.

For more information and to register, please click here.

Friday 26th November

PRONI

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.

Saturday 27th November

NUI Galway

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.

November (All Month)

NUI Galway

Event: Exhibition, Archives and Special Collections of the James Hardiman Library

 All Aboard!A display of items from the Archives and Special Collections of the James Hardiman Library to celebrate the coming of the railway to Galway in 1851, 170 years this year. The printed items include books used by the railway companies to encourage tourists to visit the West as well as some recent volumes illustrating the history of Irish railways and the fascination they hold for researchers. Archival material is included from the Midland and Great Western Railway of Ireland, Galway General Omnibus Company, the Galway to Clifden Railway Company and the Portumna to  Parsonstown Railway Company. For information contact Marie.boran@nuigalway.ie or Kieran.hoare@nuigakway.ie