Archive
Ireland's archival collections are now available online
Launch of www.iar.ie
A new website launched today, www.iar.ie will for the first time enable Ireland’s archival collections to be searched online. The website includes records of current and defunct government and local government agencies, individuals, landed estates, clubs, societies, trade unions, religious organisations, cultural and political organisations etc.
Speaking about the website, Brian McGee, archivist at the Cork City and County Archives said, “This website is an important step in making Ireland’s unique records more widely available in Ireland and internationally. The success of the site depends on its use by archivists and other contributors. We would like to see as many people using the site as possible and hope to have collections from up to 30 repositories featured on the site by the close of 2011”.
The website was funded by the Heritage Council. Speaking about the project, Heritage Council Chief Executive Michael Starrett said, “the IAR website marks a major step forward in making our archival legacy both more visible and accessible. The Heritage Council is delighted to have partnered with the ARA Ireland, the representative body for professional Archivists, in achieving this long held goal.”
The collections now available online consist of both original and unique records and documents in a variety of forms including textual, visual, cartographic, aural, and electronic. The collections include records of Cork City and County Archives, Donegal County Archives, Fingal County Archives, Galway County Council Archives, Guinness Archives, Irish Film Archive, Louth County Archives Service, NUI Galway John Hardiman Library Archives, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, University College Cork Boole Library Archives, and Waterford County Archives Service.
Previous to the launch of this new website researcher’s whether professional academics, local historians or genealogists would have had to contact each repository separately to find out details of their archival holdings. Now using this website they can enter their search terms on the site and details of where relevant material is preserved will appear. A web link will also be provided to each repository’s web site.
For further details on the development and evolution of the IAR please contact:
Brian McGee,
Archivist,
Cork City and County Archives
T. + 353 21 450 5886
E-mail archivist@corkcity.ie