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25th January 2010
Federation of Family History Societies' January 'Ezine' published

The UK Federation of Family History Societies (FFHS) has published theJanuary edition of its Internet magazine, Ezine. It contains an interesting article about early Irish maps.

23rd January 2010
SGNI Calling for PRONI to Rethink 'Move' Closure

The Society of Genealogists Northern Ireland (SGNI) are calling for the Director of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI), Mrs. Aileen McClintock, to think again about the proposed closure of PRONI for up to eight months to allow for the removal of the archives from PRONI's current home to new premises in Belfast'sTitantic Quarter. SGNI says that the move should be managed in a manner which limits disruption to public access to PRONI's unique holdings and which would be more in-keeping with the experience of other national archives in moving records. You can read more about this story here.

11th January 2010
Space Crisis at National Archives of Ireland

Following Fiona Gartland's Irish Times article about the crisis of the lack of storage at the National Archives (NAI), a letter appeared in the same newspaper by well-known professional genealogist Paul Gorry and former President of the Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland (APGI) setting out what needs to be done to secure the future of the NAI.

In his letter Gorry states "The crisis facing the National Archives [has been] highlighted by Fiona Gartland.

"Frances McGee, archives keeper, is quoted as stating there is a chronic lack of space and the warehouse to the rear of the current premises is inadequate for long-term storage of documents.

"In 1922, during the Civil War, almost the entire contents of the Public Record Office of Ireland were incinerated in the siege of the Four Courts. This shameful act of cultural vandalism was perpetrated by the founders of this State. Wittingly or unwittingly, they robbed us of countless unique and irreplaceable records of our heritage.

"We are supposed to have learned our lesson after 1922, but it seems that we have not. In lieu of a civil war, the Government proffers “recession” as an excuse for endangering what has been accumulated in the wake of 1922.

"The National Archives of Ireland has been starved of resources for decades. Evidently the Government has a low opinion of our heritage. Its current plan for the archive is to merge it into the National Library. Far from promoting the interests of the National Archives, such a move would reduce it to a component of the National Library's manuscript department where it would compete with other departments for even more limited funding.

"The National Library's dismantling of the Genealogical Office (a “branch” of the Library, according to the legislation) should give some indication of the fate of the National Archives in that scenario.

"The very idea that the National Archives could be absorbed into, or even merge equally with, the National Library is an affront to what is left of our heritage. Instead of this philistine approach, what the National Archives needs is adequate funding, staffing and premises, the re-appointment of the National Archives Advisory Council and, of course, continued autonomy. Recessions come and go; the stain of cultural vandalism is indelible."

5th January 2010
Space Crisis at National Archives of Ireland

Fiona Gartland, a columnist with The Irish Times, has highlighted the ongoing problem of lack of space at the National Archives (NAI) premises in Bishop Street, Dublin. She said that "Many state papers due to become available to the public [this year] will not be accessible because of storage problems at the National Archives". CIGO has established that previous annual increments sent to NAI have already been stored away in the warehouse to the rear of the main archives building because of a lack of storage. This material too is inaccessible. Even more worrying, the warehouse has problems with both humidity control and its roof which might at any time let in rain water. Gartland quotes archivist and deputy head of NAI Frances Magee saying that "If paper is stored in good condition it will last a very long time. It must not be too warm and relative humidity must be right; it is very important that it is dry. It is very difficult to acheive those conditions if the building is not purpose-built." CIGO knows well that the warehouse is not purpose built, in fact it is a former biscuit factory. Quite rightly Magee says further that "in the long term the only solution is to provide new, purpose-built accommodation for the State's archives somewhere in the city centre". Once again CIGO calls on the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism to heed the call for better premises for this unique national institution before disaster strikes and we see a repeat of the fire of 1922 which destroyed the contents of the Public Record Office of Ireland.

Council of Irish Genealogical Organisations
31a All Saints Road, Raheny, Dublin 5
Telephone: +353 (0)1 4063542
Fax: +353 (0)1 4928645
Email: info@cigo.ie