Digitising the Conradh na Gaeilge archive

 February 2023, Maeve O' Neill

I was employed at the University of Galway in July 2022 to digitise sections of the archive of Conradh na Gaeilge. Prior to this I worked at the National Library of Ireland (NLI), where I was a digital photographer on the ‘Towards a Republic’ Collection.  

In Galway I work with a range of equipment to digitise the collection. The digital project digitises key documents from the Conradh na Gaeilge campaigns since the 1960s. Themes covered include Irish language television and radio services, the status of Irish as an official EU language, Irish in the education system, language legislation, the Gaeltacht Civil Rights Movement, local governance for the Gaeltacht and Irish speakers in Northern Ireland. When available to a broader public through digitisation, the archive will greatly enrich our understanding of the process of state formation in Ireland and the continuing use of the Irish language throughout the 20th Century.

 

Conradh was established in 1893 to preserve and revive the Irish language, which was near extinction and spoken by only approximately 3% of the Island’s population at the time. This collection encompasses material from its founding in 1893 through to 2018, when the collection was donated to the University of Galway. The Conradh archive is an exciting one, particularly to see the effect that local effort and grassroot activism can have in shaping a country, and seeing how numerous activist groups worked together to, for example, found alternative media outlets and independent schools - sometimes despite the best efforts of government. 

In archivist Niamh Ní Charra’s words:

 ‘Over the course of Conradh na Gailege’s existence its staff were actively involved in promoting and observing    the use of Irish across all aspects of everyday activities, and as such this collection provides an unparalleled insight into linguistic, cultural, social and political aspects of Ireland’s past. [...] In the latter half of the 20th century Conradh na Gaeilge, along with other organisations, was instrumental in community campaigns which led to the creation of Irish language radio and television stations (Raidió na Gaeltachta and TG4 respectively), to the enactment of the Official Languages Act [14 July 2003], and to making Irish an official language of the European Union [1 January 2007]. Campaign material in the collection also includes documents relating to prisoners’ rights and civil rights in Northern Ireland, in particular during the period of the Hunger Strikes [1980-1981].’  

Technical Specifications

 

The majority of the material is digitised on a Plustek OpticBook A300 Plus Photo Scanner, with Irfan Software. The BookEye 5 was on hand for the oldest and most delicate publications. For the photographic and large format material, a Guardian ICAM Floor Standing Modular Copy Stand System is used with studio lighting and a PhaseOne XF 150MP Camera System, Mamiya lenses, and Capture One Pro Software. Each image capture device is set to 600dpi and saved as a 24-bit colour TIFF. File sizes vary based on the size of material, but average at approximately 70MB. Over 44,000 images have been digitised to date. With almost eight months completed of an overall project time of approximately ten months, the digitisation of this part of the archive is 80% complete.

The most delicate material for digitisation are the Oireachtas and Ard Fheis booklets from the late 1800s and up to the 1910s, when the books became more robust. These older documents require careful handling and were digitised slowly to preserve the stability of the book spines and avoid paper tearing. Many, many rusted metal staples had to be painstakingly removed before the pages could be laid on the scanner surface or copystand base.

Material

The material selected for digitisation covers the Oireachtas and Ard Fheis publications, as well as sections from series on Media, Northern Ireland, Campaigns, Education, Comhaltas Uladh, Political Parties, and Language Organisations. Over the decades, Conradh has seen multiple governments come and go, and much correspondence with government officials has been digitised. Most series contain internal reports, press releases, correspondence, minutes, newspaper cuttings, brochures and informal notes, appearing in Irish and English. There is also a range of material from other countries with minority or suppressed languages, including Scots Gaelic, Welsh, and Limburgish.

The physical collection can be accessed by those interested in the Special Collections Reading Room by prior request, and in future the digitised material will be accessible online.

Digital project team

Digitisation: Maeve O Neill

Digital archivists: Catriona Cannon and Aisling Keane

Archivist: Niamh Ní Charra

Project manager: Cillian Joy

Project sponsor: John Walsh

Author

This blog was written by Maeve O Neill, digitisation professional for the Conradh na Gaeilge archive at the University of Galway.

More information

Conradh na Gaeilge archive listing

A more detailed breakdown of the archive series can be accessed here which forms part of the online digital exhibition.

Blogs relating to the work of archivist Niamh Ní Charra in processing this archive can be accessed here:

Blog 1 Conradh na Gaeilge archive - First step

Blog 2 Appraising the Archive

Blog 3 Conradh na Gaeilge Phase Two

Blog 4 Conradh na Gaeilge Digitial Exhibition

Blog 5 Conradh na Gaeilge Archive catalogued

   

Leagan Gaeilge

Digitiú chartlann Chonradh na Gaeilge

 Feabhra 2023, Maeve O' Neill

Fostaíodh in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe mé i mí Iúil 2022 chun codanna de chartlann Chonradh na Gaeilge a dhigitiú. D'oibrigh mé roimhe seo i Leabharlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann (NLI), áit a raibh mé i mo ghrianghrafadóir digiteach don Bhailiúchán ‘Towards a Republic’.  

Bíonn raon trealaimh á úsáid agam i nGaillimh chun an bailiúchán a dhigitiú. Déanann an tionscadal digiteach príomhcháipéisí ó fheachtais Chonradh na Gaeilge ó na 1960idí i leith a dhigitiú. I measc théamaí an bhailiúcháin tá seirbhísí teilifíse agus raidió Gaeilge, stádas na Gaeilge mar theanga oifigiúil de chuid an AE, an Ghaeilge sa chóras oideachais, reachtaíocht teanga, Gluaiseacht Chearta Sibhialta na Gaeltachta, rialachas áitiúil don Ghaeltacht mar aon le cainteoirí Gaeilge i dTuaisceart Éireann. Ach leagan digiteach den chartlann a bheith ar fáil don phobal níos leithne, cuirfear go mór lenár dtuiscint ar an bpróiseas trínar cuireadh stát na hÉireann ar bun, agus ar úsáid leanúnach na Gaeilge i rith an fhichiú haois.

 

Bunaíodh Conradh na Gaeilge in 1893 chun an Ghaeilge a chaomhnú agus a athbheochan. Bhí an chuma ar an nGaeilge an uair sin gur ar an dé deiridh a bhí sí, agus gan ach tuairim is 3% de dhaonra na tíre á labhairt ag an am. Cuimsítear leis an mbailiúchán seo ábhar ó bhliain a bhunaithe in 1893 síos go dtí 2018, nuair a bronnadh an bailiúchán ar Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Cartlann ríspéisiúil is ea cartlann an Chonartha, agus díol spéise ar leith is ea a éifeachtaí is a bhí feachtais áitiúla agus gníomhaíochas an phobail chun an tír a athrú chun feabhais. Ábhar suntais chomh maith is ea an chaoi ar oibrigh grúpaí gníomhaithe éagsúla le chéile chun, mar shampla, nuachtáin agus scoileanna neamhspleácha a bhunú – uaireanta in ainneoin an rialtas a bheith go mór ina n-aghaidh. 

Seo mar a labhair an cartlannaí, Niamh Ní Charra,  maidir leis sin:

 ‘Ón uair a bunaíodh é, chuir Conradh na Gaeilge chuige úsáid na Gaeilge a chur chun cinn i ngach gné de ghnáthimeachtaí an tsaoil, agus faireachán a dhéanamh ar an úsáid sin. Tugann an cnuasach seo léargas faoi leith, mar sin, ar ghnéithe teangeolaíocha, cultúrtha, sóisialta agus polaitiúla den saol in Éirinn san am a caitheadh. [...] Bhí ról ríthábhachtach ag Conradh na Gaeilge, in éineacht le heagraíochtaí eile, sa dara leath den fhichiú haois sna feachtais phobail a raibh sé de thoradh orthu gur bunaíodh stáisiúin raidió agus teilifíse Gaeilge (Raidió na Gaeltachta agus TG4), gur achtaíodh Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla [14 Iúil 2003], agus gur bhain an Ghaeilge amach stádas mar theanga oifigiúil de chuid an Aontais Eorpaigh [1 Eanáir 2007]. Áirítear le hábhar feachtais an bhailiúcháin chomh maith cáipéisí a bhaineann le cearta príosúnach agus cearta sibhialta i dTuaisceart Éireann, go háirithe le linn thréimhse na Stailceanna Ocrais [1980-1981].’  

Sonraíochtaí Teicniúla

 

Déantar formhór an ábhair a dhigitiú le bogearraí Irfan ar Scanóir Grianghraf Plustek OpticBook A300 Plus. Bhí an scanóir leabhar BookEye 5 ar fáil do na foilseacháin is sine agus is íogaire. Maidir leis an ábhar grianghrafadóireachta agus ábhar i bhformáid mhór, úsáidtear Córas Seastán Cóipeála Modúlach Saorsheasaimh ICAM Guardian le soilsiú stiúideo agus Córas Ceamara 150MP PhaseOne XF 150MP, lionsaí Mamiya, agus bogearraí Capture One Pro. Déantar gach gléas gabhála íomhá a shocrú do 600dpi agus sábháiltear gach íomhá mar chomhad daite TIFF 24-giotán. Athraíonn méideanna comhad de réir mhéid an ábhair atá i gceist, ach isteach is amach le 70MB a bhíonn i gceist go hiondúil. Rinneadh breis agus 44,000 íomhá a dhigitiú go dtí seo. Tá beagnach ocht mí den deich mí, nó mar sin, a leagadh amach don tionscadal caite anois agus tá 80% den digitiú a bhí le déanamh ar an sciar seo den chartlann déanta.

 Is é an t-ábhar is íogaire atá le digitiú leabhráin an Oireachtais, agus na hArd-Fheise, ó dheireadh an naóú céad déag suas go dtí na 1910idí, nuair a chuaigh na leabhair i dtéagar. Ní mór na cáipéisí níos sine sin a láimhseáil go cúramach, agus rinneadh iad a dhigitiú go mall chun cobhsaíocht na ndromanna a chaomhnú agus chun nach stróicfear na bileoga. Bhí líon mór stáplaí miotail meirgeacha le baint as go cúramach sula bhféadfaí na leathanaigh a leagan ar dhromchla an scanóra nó ar an seastán cóipe.

Ábhar

Is iad na hábhair a roghnaíodh le haghaidh a ndigitithe foilseacháin an Oireachtais agus na hArd-Fheise, chomh maith le míreanna ó shraitheanna ar na Meáin Chumarsáide, Tuaisceart Éireann, Feachtais, Oideachas, Comhaltas Uladh, Páirtithe Polaitiúla agus Eagraíochtaí Teanga. Is iomaí rialtais a tháinig i gcumhacht sa tréimhse atá i gceist, agus tá digitiú déanta ar go leor den chomhfhreagras a bhí ag Conradh na Gaeilge le hoifigigh rialtais. I measc na hábhair a bhíonn sa chuid is mó de na sraitheanna tá tuarascálacha inmheánacha, preasráitis, comhfhreagras, miontuairiscí, gearrthóga nuachtáin, bróisiúir agus nótaí neamhfhoirmiúla, i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla. Tá raon ábhar ann freisin ó thíortha eile ina bhfuil mionteangacha nó teangacha faoi chois, agus san áireamh leis sin tá Gaeilge na hAlban, Breatnais agus Liombuirgis.

Is féidir leo siúd ar spéis leo é rochtain a fháil ar an mbailiúchán fisiciúil i Seomra Léitheoireachta na mBailiúchán Speisialta ach iarratas a dhéanamh roimh ré, agus beidh fáil ar an ábhar digitithe ar líne amach anseo.

 

 

Foireann an Tionscadail Dhigitigh

Digitiú: Maeve O Neill

Cartlannaithe digiteacha: Catriona Cannon agus Aisling Keane

Cartlannaí: Niamh Ní Charra

Bainisteoir Tionscadail: Cillian Joy

Urra an Tionscadail: John Walsh

Údar

Is í Maeve O Neill a scríobh an blag seo, arb í an gairmí digitithe do chartlann Chonradh na Gaeilge in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe í.

Tuilleadh eolais

Catalóg chartlann Chonradh na Gaeilge 

Is féidir miondealú níos mionsonraithe den tsraith cartlainne a fháil ar an leathanach gréasáin seo a leanas ar cuid den taispeántasdigiteach ar líne é. 

Is féidir teacht ar bhlaganna a bhaineann leis an obair a rinne an cartlannaí Niamh Ní Charra chun an chartlann seo á phróiseáil anseo:

Blag 1 Cartlann Chonradh na Gaeilge - Chéad Chéim

Blag 2 Cartlann Chonradh na Gaeilge - An Chartlann a Mheas

Blag 3 Cartlann Chonradh na Gaeilge - Céim 2

Blag 4 Cartlann Chonradh na Gaeilge - Taispeántas Digiteach Seolta

Blag 5 Catalógú déanta ar chartlann Chonradh na Gaeilge

English Version

 

 

The Archaeology of St. Brigid - From the Rynne Archive

 

Pamphlet published by John Ryan S.J.,
1978, Etienne Rynne Archive.

The Feast day of Saint Brigid falls on the first of February. Also known as Lá Fhéile Bríde, and also going back to the Pagan feast of Imbolc, marking the arrival of Spring, the story of Brigid marks an important point in the annual calendar. Within the archive of archaeologist Etienne Rynne is a file of research dedicated to the archaeology, heritage, and sites related to the life and story of Brigid both within Ireland and internationally.

Rynne read widely on the subject of Brigid’s life, and on the Pre-Christian and later Christian history of the life of the saint. Newspaper cuttings of articles, letters to the press debating aspects of Brigid’s life and activities are documented, as are excerpts of scholarly articles. Rynne’s own manuscript research is wide ranging and detailed. Rynne kept a detailed series of notes and writings on a batch on index cards, charting pieces of information on Brigid’s life, her birth, sites associated with her in Ireland, such as wells and churches, miracles, sacred objects, and legacies of Brigid’s story in Irish life today.

Some of those index cards note points including: “Brigid – Irish Goddess – Rivers – the Brighid in Ireland, the Braint in Wales, the Brent in England”; links to Goddess Minerva – both had a perpetual fire”.

The index cards note details of local and regional records and stories of Brigid, from a visit made to St. Mel in Co. Longford and where it is said he heard the confession of Brigid. Also listed are sites of interest outside of Ireland – including at Glastonbury in Somerset, England, where it is said Brigid visited in 488 and apparently gifted a bell to the Abbey in Glastonbury.

Notes by Etienne Rynne on St. Brigid in Glastonbury
and in Bruges.

Another note card by Rynne discusses St. Brigid’s Mantle in Bruges, Belgium, where a cloak she once wore is said to have been in the possession of Gunelda, sister of Harold, last of the Anglo-Saxon Kings (who was killed at the Battle of Hastings in 1066). When she fled to Belgium among the valuables she had was Brigid’s cloak which was later willed to the Cathedral in Bruges. A case of mistaken identity is also noted within Rynne’s research as he mentioned a “little church in Brittany” where the Pastor replaced “an old badly deteriorated statue of St. Brigid of Kildare with a nice new one that turned out to be St. Bridget of Sweden instead!”

For more on the Rynne Family Archive, including the archaeological papers of Etienne Rynne, the full catalogue is searchable online here.

The Archaeology of St. Brigid as compiled
by Etienne Rynne

A Christmas Archive Miscellany - Festive Acts and Writings

Christmas has inspired many personal stories and writings for so many of Ireland's writers. From playwrights to novelists, the story of Christmas and what it means, in comedy and tragedy, for many have found readers and audiences over many decades. A selection of such Christmas-themed writings can be found within various collections among University of Galway Library Archives.

Draft of story, Christmas, by John McGahern

The novelist and short-story writer John McGahern explored this particular time of year in one of his short stories. How that story even came to be is a story in itself. Christmas is the story of the young boy deposited to a family at Christmas time from an orphanage. He rejects a gift he is given, that of a toy aeroplane and this act forms the 

focus of McGahern's attention in the drafting of the story. The McGahern Archive contains numerous drafts of the story which was first published in the Irish Press in 1968. Numerous titles range from Santa Claus, A Gift for Himself, The Aeroplane, before finally being published as Christmas in the volume of short stories Nightlines in 1970.

Draft of story, Christmas, by John McGahern

The opening line of many of the drafts begin with "The thaw overhead in the bear branches had stopped the evening we filled the load for Mrs. Grey". This would imply that winter has passed and Christmas is over. Yet the published story opens with a different scene, one of a young boy being boarded onto a train, described as a "ward of State" and being sent to live with 'Moran' for the Christmas period. Moran is a recurring name within McGahern's work, also being the family name within his 1991 novel Amongst Women. The novel itself was nearly called The Morans, only to be changed very close to publication.

Given so much effort of redrafting, editing and re-titling of the story is evident with McGahern's papers, it is clear this particular story meant quite a deal for the writer in the late 1960s. The variances in handwriting styles also show the revisions were carried out over a number of years, as McGahern's hand changed over the years.

Cover of A Christmas Carol, Lyric Theatre Archive, 1981

Another traditional Christmas tale is that of the Dickens classic A Christmas Carol. In 1980, the Lyric theatre in Belfast staged a version by John Boyd. Boyd was a prolific playwright during the previous decade of the 1970s, writing some of the most important plays regarding the ongoing conflict in Northern Ireland with works such as The Flats in 1972 also presented by the Lyric Theatre. In his introduction to the play, Boyd writes of Dickens' story being linked to the plight of everyday life in Belfast at the time. The Lyric theatre founding director, Mary O'Malley, was so enthused with Christmas-themed drama that one of the very first productions by the Lyric players was a version of The Nativity, by Lady Augusta Gregory in November 1950. The script of this had to be procured from the Gate Theatre, Dublin, as seen in the letter here.

Scene from the Nativity by Lady Gregory, Lyric Theatre Archive, 1950

Letter from Gate Theatre sending script of The Nativity to the Lyric Theatre
Lyric Theatre Archive.

At the Gate Theatre itself, the theatre staged a revival production of Micheál MacLiammóir's Christmas play, Home for Christmas or A Grand Tour. First staged in 1950, in the original programme note, reproduced in the 1976 revival programme, MacLiammóir recounts how he was prompted to write the play by Orsen Wells about an prosperous English family touring across Africa and Europe at a time of Victorian empire and exploration. MacLiammór took that advice but set the story among an wealthy Irish family who are returning from world travels to Ireland for Christmas.

Winter Solstice and Newgrange - Images from the Etienne Rynne Archive

 

Entrance of Newgrange passage tomb - Rynne Archive

The Winter solstice took place this week and included an annual gathering of people at the historic site of Newgrange in Co. Meath, to witness the sunrise and illumination of the inner chamber on the shortest day of the year, 21^st December.

Within the archive of archaeologist Etienne Rynne at University of Galway Library Archives are a number of records including photographs, postcard images, some dating from the 1950s, and later research files by Rynne into the history, archaeology, and culture of the site at Newgrange. Etienne Rynne (1932–2012) took up work as a lecturer in Archaeology at then University College Galway in 1967, having previously worked at the National Museum of Ireland. Rynne retired as Professor of Celtic Archaeology at UCG in 1998 after thirty-one years. 

Rynne's archive holds a wealth of material about many of Ireland's greatest archaeological sites and objects, including Newgrange. His research files include studies and analysis of the carved symbols and artworks on numerous stones around the entranceway of the passage tomb on the site. The images show the layout and condition of the site at the mid-point of the 20^th century but also interestingly show the appeal and interest, nationally and internationally, about the site and its symbolism, as its image, such as the famous carved stones at the entranceway to the tomb, were used and reproduced on postcards which were available for purchase at the time of the 1950s.

Material relating to Newgrange Passage Tomb - Rynne Archive

An internationally renowned UNESCO world heritage site, the Brú na Bóinne complex, including Newgrange, and the solstice lighting of the inner chamber of the passage grave, is a spectacle to behold and the Rynne archive provides new insights into archaeological record of Newgrange.

The wider Etienne Rynne archive (and Rynne family archive, comprising of records of other members and branches of the Rynne family) is a hugely detailed archive of Irish archaeological sites and objects, and a record of a life’s research into Ireland’s early history and the discovery, recovery, and care of its archaeological heritage through the twentieth century.

Postcard with image taken at Newgrange - Rynne Archive

The full Rynne Archive catalogue is available to searchonline here.

Pan Pan Theatre Company - Archive Launch and Digital Exhibition.

 

Pan Pan Theatre Company Archive and Digital Exhibition Launch

29^th November 2022

Location: ‘The Bridge Room’, Hardiman Building, University of Galway 

2pm Welcome and Introductions:

Barry Houlihan, Archivist, Library Archives.

John Cox, University Librarian

 

2.15 - 3.15pm: Panel 1: ‘A Theatre of Ideas’ - Pan Pan and Contemporary Irish Drama

Ian Walsh - Out of the dark: Pan Pan’s Staging of Beckett’s Radio Plays, All that Fall and Embers.

Charlotte McIvor: ""Pan Pan's Conceptual Theatre of Rigour and International Lineages of Resonance."

Emer McHugh: ‘Playing [with] Shakespeare, Playing the Dane’.

Chair: Finian O’Gorman

 

3.15pm - 4pm: Pan Pan and the Archive - "Noise and People, People and Noise"

               Barry Houlihan

               Aafke Van Pelt 

Break: 4pm – 4.15pm          

4.15 - 5pm Gavin Quinn and Aedín Cosgrove in conversation, moderated by Patrick Lonergan

 

5pm Launch of Pan Pan Archive and Digital Exhibition

Welcome and Introductions: Dan Carey, Director, Moore Institute.

Launched by Willie White, Artistic Director, Dublin Theatre Festival. 

Refreshments provided. 

Andrew Bennett and Judith Roddy, in Everyone is King Lear in Their Own Home,
Pan Pan Theatre Company, 2012. Photograph (c) Ros Kavanagh.

Pan Pan Theatre Company Archive and Digital Exhibition launched at University of Galway Library

The archive of the award-winning Pan Pan Theatre Company has been donated to the University of Galway Library Archives. Established in 1993 by Gavin Quinn and Aedín Cosgrove, Pan Pan Theatre Company have established international recognition as one of Ireland’s premiere theatre companies, touring throughout Ireland, Europe, the United States and from China to New Zealand. The archive is fully catalogued and available to researchers at University of Galway Library. A new digital online exhibition will share the Pan Pan archive with a global audience.

The Pan Pan archive consists of annotated scripts, production notebooks, photographs, designs, programmes, posters, and a vast collection of digital show recordings, spanning more than fifty boxes of materials from the last thirty years. The papers document the early years and development of the company led by Quinn and Cosgrove, who have directed and designed the majority of Pan Pan productions. Pan Pan were established in 1993 as “Ireland’s first deaf ensemble”. Pan Pan produced work for and with deaf practitioners and audiences, creating a new space of accessibility for Irish theatre in the mid- and late-1990s. New original works by Pan Pan at this time Tailors Requiem (1996), Cartoon (1998), and Standoffish (2000).

In later years Pan Pan adapted Irish and European classics in new and innovate productions. Oedipus Loves You by Simon Doyle and Gavin Quinn (2006), which starred Ruth Negga, toured to international acclaim. The Crumb Trail by Gina Moxley (20009) revisited the form of the fairy tale for a modern technology-driven society. Pan Pan engaged with the works of Samuel Beckett and William Shakespeare across a number of productions. Pan Pan produced Beckett’s radio plays, All That Fall in 2011, and Embers in 2013, and also Beckett’s Quad (2013) and Endgame (2019). Shakespeare’s works were explored in Mac-beth 7 (2004) and The Rehearsal: Playing the Dane (2010), a reworking of Hamlet. In 2006, Pan Pan staged an all-Chinese cast production of J.M. Synge’s The Playboy of the Western World in Shanghai, translated into Mandarin, setting the production in a contemporary hairdresser’s salon.

Pan Pan are today producing new works and regularly touring nationally and internationally. The recipients of many international awards as well as Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards, the Pan Pan archive documents a company that has always sought to innovate, reinterpret, and connect Irish theatre and culture to the worldwide audience.

Dr. Barry Houlihan, Archivist, University of Galway, commented that “working on the Pan Pan archive and cataloguing its vast array of materials is a reminder of the immense contribution that Pan Pan have made to contemporary Irish drama in Ireland and internationally. The archive will be in an immersive and fascinating resource for anyone interesting in the company and modern Irish theatre and culture.”

Gavin Quinn and Aedín Cosgrove, co-founders of Pan Pan Theatre Company added: “It's an amazing opportunity that University of Galway has given Pan Pan to make our work available in this archive, we are blown away by the dedication and curatorial excellence of the Archive team. We are delighted that our little contribution to the theatre scene in Ireland will be preserved."

Dr. Charlotte McIvor, Head of Drama, Theatre, and Performance at University of Galway commented: “The acquisition of the Pan Pan archive gives us another opportunity to bring together history and practice in our Drama and Theatre Studies classrooms and across the School of English and Creative Arts.  Pan Pan have always been at the vanguard of moving Irish theatre forward as a landscape since their founding, and we are now delighted to be partnering with them to bring the transformative story of their history and their future directly to our students.”

The Pan Pan archive digital exhibition, curated by Aafke Van Pelt with Eimhin Joyce and Barry Houlihan, includes over four hundred digital objects from across the Pan Pan archive, all freely accessible online via the University of Galway Library Digital Repository.

John Cox, University Librarian, University of Galway adds that, “We are delighted to have secured the archive of such an innovative company as Pan Pan. This archive is a tremendous collection in its own right and complements our archival coverage of other Irish theatre companies, including the digitised archives of the Abbey and Gate Theatres and others in paper format such as those of the Druid, Lyric and Taibhdhearc.”

The Pan Pan archive and digital exhibition will be launched at an event in University of Galway by Willie White, Director of the Dublin Theatre Festival on 29^th November. All are welcome to attend.

 

Link to Digital Exhibition: https://exhibitions.library.nuigalway.ie/s/panpan/page/introduction

Video message from His Excellency, Adriaan Palm, Dutch Ambassador to Ireland on the occasion of the launch of the Pan Pan Theatre Archive and Digital Exhibition. 

Léargas ar Úna Ní Fhaircheallaigh (1874–1951)

Mar chuid den bhailiúcháin leabhar a bhronn Conradh na Gaeilge ar Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, tá roinnt foilseacháin ó pheann Úna Ní Fhaircheallaigh, scoláire agus ollamh ar fáil i Leabharlann Shéamais Uí Argadáin, (Bailiúcháin Speisíalta).

 

(English version below)

 

Luathshaol agus oideachas

Rugadh agus tógadh Úna Ní Fhaircheallaigh in aice le Achadh an Iúir i gContae an Chabháin. Tar éis seal le Eoin Mac Néill mar múinteoir Gaeilge aici,  bhain sí céim amach i gColáiste Ollscoile Bhaile Átha Cliath (An Ollscoil Ríoga), (BA 1899, MA 1900). Tuairim an ama chéanna, chaith sí téarma i bPáras ag staidéar faoi Henri D’Arbois de Jubainville, ollamh le Cheiltis sa Collège de France.

 

Oileáin Árann

Thug sí cuairt ar Oileáin Árann don chéad uair sa bhliain 1898 agus d’fhan sí ar Inis Meáin i dteach an iascaire (Páidín Mac Dhonnchadha) a bhí fágtha ag Synge díreach roimpi. Lean sí ar aghaidh ina dhiadh sin ag tabhairt cuairte ar an oileán chuile bhliain agus i mí Lúnasa 1899 bhunaigh sí ‘Craobh na mBan’ de Chonradh na Gaeilge, bliain tar éis bhunadh Chraobh na bhFear den Chonartha in Inis Mór agus Inis Meáin. Choinnigh sí dialann taistil agus i 1902 foilsíodh 'Smuainte ar Árainn' ag Conradh na Gaeilge, cáipéis luachmhar shóisialta agus chultúrtha, ina bhfuil grianghrafanna comhaimseartha ar fáil inti. Foilsíodh eagrán nua dhá-theangach: Smaointe ar Árainn ag an Dr Ríona Nic Congáil sa bhliain 2010.

Conradh na Gaeilge agus cúrsaí foilseachán

Bhí baint mhór ag an triúr: Úna Uí Fhaircheallaigh, Máire Ní Chinnéide agus Máire de Buitléir, le forbairt Chonradh na Gaeilge mar ghníomhaithe teanga. Foilsíodh a húrscéilín Grádh agus Crádh i 1901 agus deirtear gurb í an chéad banúrscéalaí ag scríobh sa Ghaeilge. Le cois sin bhi sí ina stiúrthóir leis an chlódóir gaelach: An Cló-Chumann Teoranta. Chuir sí in eagar Filidheacht Sheagháin Uí Neachtain, an t-aon saothar amháin léinn dá cuid, a foilsíodh i 1911. Rugadh an file agus scoláire Seaghán Ó Neachtain c.1640 i bparóiste an Droma, Co. Ros Comáin ach chaith sé an chuid is mó dá shaol i mBaile Átha Cliath i gceantar Shráid Thomáis.

 

Gairm acadúil

Chabhraigh sí le Cumann Céimithe na mBan agus Ábhair Chéimithe a bhunú in éineacht le Máire Ní Aodáin agus throid siad ar son comhdheise agus cothramaíochta do mhná san ollscolaíocht. Ceapadh Úna ina léachtóir le Nua-Ghaeilge nuair a bunaíodh Ollscoil na hÉireann i 1909 agus ceapadh ina hOllamh le Nua-Ghaeilge í, tar éis imeacht Dubhghlas de hÍde ar scor i 1932.

 

Coláistí Samhraidh agus imeachtaí eile

Bhí sí i lár an aonaigh maidir le h-imeachtaí cultúrtha eile freisin. Mar shampla, sa bhliain 1914 bhí páirt lárnach aici nuair a bunaíodh An Cumann Camógaíochta in Ollscoil na hÉireann, Baile Átha Cliath. D’iarr sí ar a cara, Edward Gibson, Lord Ashbourne (deartháir Violet), corn a bhronnadh don chomórtas camogaíochta tríu léibhéal: An Corn Ashbourne. B'í an ceathrú uachtarán ar Chumann Camógaíochta na hÉireann. Deirtear go raibh  sí ar cheann de na gníomhaígh teanga ba dúthrachtaí ag an am sin. Bhí sí ina cathaoirleach ar Chomhchoiste na gColáistí Samhraidh agus baint aici le bunú agus réachtáil na gcoláistí samhraidh i gCloich Chionnaola; i dTuar Mhic Éadaigh agus Coláiste Laighean. 

Ní beag sin!

 

Spotlight on  Úna Ní Fhaircheallaigh (1874–1951) 

The collection of books recently donated by Conradh na Gaeilge to the University of Galway includes a number of publications by Úna Ní Fhaircheallaigh, academic and writer, which are now available  to researchers in the James Hardiman Library, (Special Collections).

Early life and education

Úna Ní Fhaircheallaigh (Agnes O'Farrelly; nom-de-plume 'Uan Uladh') was born and raised near Virginia  in Co. Cavan. She studied the Irish language first with Eoin Mac Néill  and later graduated from the Royal University of Ireland (BA 1899, MA 1900). During this period she spent a term in Paris studying under Henri D’Arbois de Jubainville, professor of Celtic languages  in the  Collège de France.

Aran Islands

She visited the Aran Islands for the first time in 1898 and she stayed in a fisherman's house (Páidín Mac Dhonnchadha) on Inis Meáin which had  been vacated by Synge just before her arrival. She continued to visit the island every summer and in August 1899 she founded Craobh na mBan (women's branch) of Conradh na Gaeilge following the establishment of the men's branch of Conradh na Gaeilge on Inis Mór and Inis Meáin. She kept a travel diary and in 1902, Smuainte ar Árainn was published by Conradh na Gaeilge, a valuable social and cultural document which includes contemporary photographs. A new bilingual edition: Smaointe ar Árainn was published by Dr Ríona Nic Congáil in 2010.

 

Conradh na Gaeilge and publishing activities

Together with Máire Ní Chinnéide  and Máire de Buitléir, Úna Uí Fhaircheallaigh played a significant part as language activists in the development of Conradh na Gaeilge.  Her short novel, Grádh agus Crádh was published in 1901 resulting in  her being the first Irish language female novelist. In addition, she was a director with the Gaelic printing house: An Cló-Chumann. Her edition of a selection of poetry by Seaghán Ó Neachtain: Filidheacht Sheagháin Uí Neachtain was published in 1911.  The poet and scholar Seaghán Ó Neachtain was born c.1640 in the parish of Drum, Co. Roscommon but he spent most of his adult life living in the Thomas Street area of  Dublin city.

Academic life

A founder member in 1902, along with Mary Hayden, of the Irish Association of Women Graduates and Candidate Graduates, to promote equal opportunity in university education, she gave evidence to the Robertson (1902) and Fry (1906) commissions on Irish university education, arguing successfully for full co-education at University College Dublin. In 1909 Úna Uí Fhaircheallaigh was appointed lecturer in modern Irish upon the establishment of the National University of Ireland. She took over from Douglas Hyde  as Professor of Modern Irish in University College Dublin on his retirement in 1932; she was president of the Irish Federation of University Women (1937–9) and of the National University Women Graduates' Association (NUWGA) (1943–7).

 

Irish summer colleges and other activities 

Úna Uí Fhaircheallaigh poured her energy into many cultural activities. For example, in 1914 she played a central role in the founding of An Cumann Camógaíochta (the Camogie club),  in  University College Dublin. Through her influence, her friend Edward Gibson, Lord Ashbourne (a brother of Violet),  donated a cup for the third level colleges camogie competition established in 1915: the Ashbourne Cup.   She was the fourth president of the Camogie Association of Ireland and one of the most dedicated Irish language activists of her time. She chaired Comhchoiste na gColáistí Samhraidh (Joint committee of the Irish summer colleges) and was involved in the founding and administration of the Irish summer colleges in Cloich Chionnaola;  Tuar Mhic Éadaigh and Coláiste Laighean.

 

Tuilleadh eolais:

McMahon, Timothy G. 'All Creeds and All Classes?? Just Who Made Up the Gaelic League?' Eire-Ireland 37 no3/4 118–68 Fall/Wint 2002

Ní Shéaghdha, Nessa. ‘Irish Scholars and Scribes in Eighteenth-century Dublin’, Eighteenth-century Ireland/Iris an dá chultúr, Vol. 4 (1989), pp 41-54.

Nic Congáil, Ríona, Úna Ní Fhaircheallaigh agus an fhis útóipeach ghaelach, Dublin : Arlen House ; Syracuse, NY : Syracuse University Press, 2010.

Scríofa ag/written by Patricia Moloney, Catalógaí, Bailiúcháin Speisíalta/Cataloguer, Special Collections