Rare archival collections go online

A new website will for the first time enable dozens of rare archival collections to be searched online.

The Irish Archives Resource website - iar.ie - contains an unusual array of material from current and defunct government agencies, landed estates and societies as well as records from various political and religious organisations, some of which date back to the 17th century.

Up to now, researchers or interested members of the public had been obliged to contact each repository separately to find out details of its archival holdings.

The new website allows users to enter search terms on the site and access details of where relevant material is preserved and where possible, link directly to the repository's website.

Information from 16 prominent archival repositories has so far been uploaded onto the site, including the Boole Library at University College Cork which contains a number of landed estate papers, including records from the Bantry Estate, famed for its prestigious art collection.

The website also provides access points to records from Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and local government files from Dublin, Cork and Donegal.

Users can search the business records of the Guinness and Murphy's breweries, dating back to the early 1800s.

A number of local archives, such as the registration records of the Cork City workhouse which may be of use to genealogists, have had their material included in the database.

"In Ireland, each repository is a little universe unto itself and the upkeep of catalogues vary significantly but the capability to search across all the repositories and to hone in on different types of material has not been available before now," said Brian McGee, archivist at the Cork City and county archives.

"The website is an important step in making Ireland's unique records more widely available in Ireland and internationally."

Michael Starrett of the Heritage Council, which part-funded the project, said: "The website marks a major step forward in making our archival legacy both more visible and accessible."