Notes of talks between republicans and the British government in the 1970s are among documents presented by Republican Sinn Féin president Ruairí Ó Brádaigh to the library of NUI Galway.
Records of discussions between republicans and loyalists in 1976 on a possible joint request to Britain to withdraw from Northern Ireland are also included in the papers presented to the James Hardiman library in NUI Galway yesterday on an extended loan.
The documents were described as "very significant" by Prof Robert White, dean of liberal arts at Indiana University-Purdue University, who has written a biography of Ó Brádaigh and spoke at the presentation.
"The highly detailed nature of the notes kept by Mr Ó Brádaigh reflects a broad sweep of events during this crucial period in Northern Ireland's history," he said.
The papers range from historical documents, including a copy of the IRA constitution as agreed in 1932, to statements by Sinn Féin and the IRA during 1956-62 - when there was tension between the two wings of the republican movement - and Mr Ó Brádaigh's account of the 1974 Feakle talks. Mr Ó Brádaigh was formerly president of Sinn Féin and also IRA chief of staff.
Notes of 1976 meetings between Mr Ó Brádaigh, Joe Cahill and two representatives of the Ulster Loyalist Central Co-Ordinating Committee are included. The aim was to try to accommodate loyalist proposals for independence.
