PD archive at UCD cannot be accessed by researchers

Researchers are unable to access the archives of the Progressive Democrats at University College Dublin (UCD), six years after they were donated.

A UCD spokesman said, “The university is unable to grant individual access to the Progressive Democrats papers, which were placed in the care of our archives, until the collection is fully catalogued.”

When it was handed over in June 2009, UCD said the entire collection would be fully catalogued before being made available to researchers and the public. It said it would take two years.

The reason for the delay is “a lack of resources”, the UCD spokesman said.

The archives include documents, photographs and other visual materials covering the history, foundation, administration and operations of the party.

The party, founded in 1985 by Des O’Malley, wound up in 2008 after it was reduced to just two TDs in the 2007 general election.

UCD archives specialise in private paper collections associated with the history and development of modern Ireland.

They include the papers of Irish public figures such as TDs and the judiciary, presidents and EU commissioners.