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

 

 

An ceathrú tráinse d’ábhar Chonradh na Gaeilge eisithe.

 

Bliain dheacair agus aisteach ab ea an bhliain 2020 mar gheall ar phaindéaim Covid-19, agus cuireadh isteach go mór ar an ngnáthshaol. Ní haon ionadh é a rá, ar an drochuair, gur cuireadh isteach ar an obair leanúnach phróiseála ar bhailiúchán Chonradh na Gaeilge. Níorbh fhéidir rochtain a fháil ar na cartlanna ar feadh thréimhse 7 mí chun leanúint leis an obair dhúshlánach chatalógaithe.

Fuarthas rochtain arís ó mhí Lúnasa go Deaireadh Fómhair na bliana seo agus tá áthas orm a bheith in ann thuairisciú go bhfuil an chéad tráinse eile d'ábhar eisithe. Cúig sraith atá i gceist leis an tráinse seo: G60/3 Coistí; G60/13 Ard Fheis; G60/15 Seachtain na Gaeilge; G60/19 Nua-Litríocht, Filíocht agus Scríbhneoirí na Gaeilge agus G60/21 Ábhar a bhaineann le Ceol, Amhráin agus Rince.

Baineann sraith na gCoistí le hobair coistí agus fochoistí éagsúla de chuid Chonradh na Gaeilge agus áirítear léi an Coiste Gnó; an Coiste Airgid; Coiste na bPáistí; Coiste na Féile; an Coiste Um Bhailiú Airgid; an Fochoiste Oideachais; an Fochoiste Gaeltachta; an Fochoiste Oiliúna agus na Fochoistí Craolacháin agus Meán, agus is miontuairiscí agus comhfhreagras atá iontu den chuid is mó.

Cuimsíonn sraith na hArd Fheise ábhar a bhaineann le hArd Fheis bhliantúil Chonradh na Gaeilge. Cuimsíonn sraith Sheachtain na Gaeilge ábhar a bhaineann le féile bhliantúil Ghaeilge an Chonartha a reáchtáiltear i mí an Mhárta. Áorítear leis an dá shraith seo miontuairiscí agus comhfhreagras, aithisc thosaigh, cláir agus ábhar poiblíochta.

Áirítear leis an tsraith Nua-Litríocht, Filíocht agus Scríbhneoirí dréachtscripteanna agus aistí, beathaisnéisí agus scéalta báis, míreanna a bhaineann le comórtais agus duaiseanna, cáipéisí a bhaineann le féilte agus seoltaí leabhar agus ábhar a bhaineann le hiriseoireacht na Gaeilge.

Áirítear leis an tsraith dheiridh san eisiúint seo, Ábhar a bhaineann le Ceol, Amhráin agus Rince bileoga ceoil ginearálta, bileoga ceoil an Oireachtais, cláir, grianghraif, póstaeir agus comhfhreagras. Áirítear leis na bileoga ceoil "Go Mairidh Ár nGaedhilg Slán", ar píosa é a cumadh go speisialta don chéad Oireachtas i mBaile Átha Cliath in 1897.

Díreach faoi bhun 70 bosca atá i gceist leis an eisiúint is deireacaí seo, agus fágann sé gur 240 líon na mboscaí atá eisithe chun dáta. Tá rochtain orthu seo agus ar aon ábhar eile, áfach, faoi réir ag na srianta reatha atá i bhfeidhm ag an rialtas, ar féidir léamh fúthu anseo.

Leanfar leis an obair ar an mbailiúchán iontach seo má ligeann srianta an rialtais dúinn déanamh amhlaidh agus tá súil againn nach mbeidh tréimhse ama chomh fada sin i gceist sula bhfógrófar go bhfuil ábhar eile le heisiúint. Tuilleadh eolas anseo ar a bhfuil ar fáil.

Idir an dá linn, fanaigí slán, fanaigí sábháilte agus beirigí bua,

Niamh

English Version:

Blog 5: Fourth Tranche of Conradh na Gaeilge Material Released.

Naisc eile:

Blag 1: Cartlann Chonradh na Gaeilge - An Chéad Chéim

Blag 2: Cartlann Chonradh na Gaeilge - An Chartlann a Mheas

Blag 3: Cartlann Chonradh na Gaeilge - Chéim 2: An Chóiriú

Blag 4: Cartlann Chonradh na Gaeilge - Taispeántas Digiteach Seolta

An Taispeántas Digiteach

Fourth Tranche of Conradh na Gaeilge material released

2020 has been undoubtedly a strange and difficult year for everyone with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the worldwide heartache and disruption it has caused. It will come as no surprise therefore to state that this has also unfortunately affected the ongoing work of processing the Conradh na Gaeilge collection. Access to the archives to continue the painstaking work of cataloging the collection was not possible for a 7 month period.

From August to October of this year, access was again thankfully possible and I am happy to report that the next tranche of material has now been released. This tranche comprises of five series: G60/3 Committees; G60/13 Ard Fheis; G60/15 Seachtain na Gaeilge; G60/19 Modern Irish Language Literature, Poetry and Writers and G60/21 Music, Song and Dance Material.

The Committees Series relates to the work of various committees and subcommittees of Conradh na Gaeilge including the National Executive; Finance committee; Children's committee; Festival committee; Fundraising committee; Education subcommittee; Gaeltacht subcommittee; Training subcommittee and the Broadcasting and Media subcommittees, and consists mainly of minutes and correspondence.

The Ard Fheis series covers material relating to Conradh na Gaeilge's annual congress. The Seachtain na Gaeilge series covers material relating to Conradh's Irish language festival which takes place annually in March. Both series include minutes, correspondence, opening  addresses, programmes and promotional material.

   

The Modern Irish language Literature, Poetry and Writers series includes draft scripts and essays, biographies and obituaries, items relating to competitions and awards, documents relating to book festivals and launches and material relating to Irish language journalism.

The final series in this release, Music, Song and Dance Material, includes general sheet music, Oireachtas sheet music, programmes, photographs, posters and correspondence.

This latest release comprises of just under 70 boxes of material and brings to 240 the total number of boxes released to date. Access to these and any other material is dependent on current government restrictions however, which can be viewed here.

Government restrictions permitting, the work processing this amazing collection continues and it is hoped that news of further releases will not be as long in coming! To see what is currently available, check the archives catalogue here.

In the meantime, stay safe and take care,

Niamh 

Leagan Gaeilge

Blag 5: An ceathrú tráinse d'ábhar Chonradh na Gaeilge eisithe

Other links:

Blog 1: The Conradh na Gaeilge Archive - The First Step

Blog 2: The Conradh na Gaeilge Archive - Appraising the Archive

Blog 3: The Conradh na Gaeilge Archive - Phase 2: The Arrangement

Blog 4: Conradh na Gaeilge: Digital Exhibition Launched

Conradh na Gaeilge Digital Exhibition

Cartlann Chonradh na Gaeilge - Taispeántas Digiteach Seolta

                                     

An mhí seo caite seoladh miontaispeántas digiteach de Chartlann Chonradh na Gaeilge, ina raibh níos mó ná 40 íomhá ón mbailiúchán ar taispeáint, mar chuid d’imeachtaí Sheachtain na Gaeilge. Maith mar a tharla, bhí an obair ionann is críochnaithe sular tugadh ordú dianghlasála de bharr COVID-19, agus bhíomar in ann an taispeántas iontach seo a sheoladh go cianda Lá Fhéile Pádraig, lá deiridh an fheachtais bhliantúil. I mblaganna roimhe seo (féach na naisc thíos) rinne mé cur síos ar an obair a bhíonn ar bun sa chúlra sula gcuirtear bailiúchán ar fáil don phobal, ar na cúraimí a chaithfidh cartlannaí a chur i gcrích agus ar na cinntí a chaithfear a ghlacadh. Fógraíodh freisin go gcuirfí ábhar ar fáil don phobal diaidh ar ndiaidh, in ionad fanacht go mbeadh an bailiúchán uile próiseáilte go hiomlán, de bharr ollmhéid an bhailiúcháin iontaigh seo. Mar sin de, dearadh an taispeántas nua seo le feidhm an-tábhachtach eile a chur i gcrích - tugann sé comhthéacs don úsáideoir, rud a bhfuil tábhacht nach beag leis nuair atá rochtain á soláthar de réir a chéile ar an mbonn seo.

Comhthéacs:

Nuair atá ábhar ó bhailiúchán cartlainne á scrúdú, tá sé ríthábhachtach go dtuigeann an t-úsáideoir comhthéacs an ábhair sin. Mar shampla: Cén chaoi a mbaineann an t-ábhar seo leis an mbailiúchán trí chéile? Cén chaoi a mbaineann sé le hábhair eile sa bhailiúchán? Cuidíonn an taispeántas seo leis an úsáideoir teacht ar fhreagraí na gceisteanna sin. Ar an gcéad dul síos, ar an leathanach baile tugtar eolas cúlra faoin eagraíocht féin, faoin tréimhse ama a gclúdaítear sa bhailiúchán, faoin dóigh agus faoin tráth ar bailíodh an t-ábhar seo agus ar tugadh do OÉG é.

Ar an dara leathanach den taispeántas ar líne ("Leagan amach"), tugtar mioneolas ar an dóigh a leagtar an bailiúchán amach, ar an gcúis ar grúpáladh ábhair áirithe le chéile, agus ar an gcúis ar glacadh cinntí áirithe. Nuair atá leagan amach bailiúcháin á shocrú, bíonn an cartlannaí i gcónaí ag smaoineamh ar cé chomh hinaimsithe a bheidh ábhar an bhailiúcháin agus cé chomh furasta agus a bheidh sé ag úsáideoir an bailiúchán a leanúint. (Déantar cur síos ar chuid den phróiseas cinnteoireachta sin anseo).

Ar deireadh ar an leathanach “Na sraitheanna”, tá 45 íomhá le feiceáil, tagraíonn gach íomhá do shraith ar leith, agus tá cur síos ar an tsraith chéanna ceangailte le gach íomhá. Faoi láthair tá 13 shraith ar oscailt don phobal, mar a luadh cheana, agus sna cásanna seo tá naisc chuig catalóg na cartlainne le fáil sa chur síos. Tá an-tairbhe ag baint le bheith in ann cur síos ar gach aon cheann de na 45 sraith a fheiceáil (ní hamháin na cinn atá inrochtana), agus ciallaíonn sé go dtuigeann an t-úsáideoir an comhthéacs lena mbaineann an t-ábhar atá curtha ar fáil, agus eolas aige/aice ar céard le bheith ag súil leis ó ábhair a chuirfear ar fáil amach anseo.

An chaoi leis an Taispeántas Digiteach a leanúint:

Fiú má thugann an t-úsáideoir sracfhéachaint bheag ar an taispeántas seo, ar a laghad, gheobhaidh sé/sí léargas ar obair Chonradh na Gaeilge mar eagraíocht agus ar an ábhar a tugadh do OÉG. Is pléisiúr ann féin é dul trí na 45 íomhá atá ar fáil ar an leathanach “Na sraitheanna”. Le tairbhe cheart a bhaint as an taispeántas seo, áfach, moltar don úsáideoir tuiscint cheart a fháil ar an dóigh chun an chatalóg chartlainne a leanúint. Is trí thástáil agus trí earráid a dhéanamh is fearr a gheofar an t-eolas seo, ach tá iarracht mhór déanta agamsa anseo le cur síos a dhéanamh ar an bpróiseas féin.

Nuair a chliceálann úsáideoir ar cheann ar bith de na 45 íomhá a bhaineann le sraitheanna aonair, tugtar chuig bosca dialóige iad ina bhfuil leagan níos mó den íomhá ar chlé, agus cur síos dátheangach ar an tsraith féin ar dheis.

Faoi bhun an téacs sin tá deilbhín beag den íomhá chéanna le feiceáil, agus nasc taobh leis nó faoina bhun (féach íomhá). Más mór agus más fada an téacs, seans go mbeidh ort scrollú síos leis na deilbhíní seo a aimsiú.

Trí chliceáil ar an deilbhín nó ar an nasc osclaítear leathanach nua mar a dtugtar ní hamháin an cur síos, ach meiteashonraí eile amhail eolas faoin bhfoilsitheoir, teideal na sraithe, aitheantóir uathúil agus, i gcás gur cuireadh an tsraith ar fáil don phobal, nasc chuig catalóg na cartlainne (is féidir teacht air seo sa réimse “relation”). (Arís eile, beidh ort scrollú síos an leathanach le teacht ar an eolas uile seo.)

Tugtar leagan níos mó den íomhá freisin agus is féidir tuilleadh scrúdú a dhéanamh air sin trí zúmáil isteach.

An chaoi le Catalóg na Cartlainne a úsáid:

CALM a thugtar ar an mbunachar cartlainne a mbaintear úsáid as in OÉG agus is anseo atá gach ábhar atá catalógaithe inár gcartlanna le fáil. Nuair a dhéanann úsáideoir cliceáil ar aon cheann de na naisc ar an leathanach “sraitheanna” de chuid thaispeántas digiteach Chonradh na Gaeilge, ní hamháin go dtugtar chuig an mbunachar cartlainne é/í, ach tugtar chuig suíomh ar leith é/í freisin – an iontráil chatalóige don tsraith sin.

Taispeánfar arís an cur síos mar aon le haon eolas nua amhail an raon dátaí, an fhormáid (e.g. páipéar, grianghraif, comhad fuaime) agus an líon (cé mhéad bosca, foshraith, comhad etc.). Mar sin féin, is dócha gurb é an nasc chuig an mbrabhsálaí ordlathais an uirlis is úsáidí atá ar fáil ar an leathanach seo, nasc atá le fáil sa réimse “Ref No”. (San íomhá thíos, tá an cúrsóir ar an nasc seo).

Céard é an Brabhsálaí Ordlathais?

Is é seo ordlathas aon bhailiúcháin agus taispeánann sé sraitheanna, foshraitheanna, comhaid agus ábhar de réir ordlathais ar geall le crann é in ord íslitheach. Sa sampla thuas tá an iontráil chatalóige don 4ú sraith sa bhailiúchán “Craobhacha...” le feiceáil. Trí chliceáil ar an nasc G60/4 sa réimse “Ref No”, tugtar chuig an mbrabhsálaí ordlathais muid, agus ní hamháin go bhfeicfimid mar a bhaineann an tsraith seo le comhthéacs an bhailiúcháin iomláin (tá sé aibhsithe i gcló buí), ach feicfimid freisin na foshraitheanna agus na comhaid atá sa tsraith ar leith seo.

Taispeánann na deilbhíní + agus – ar thaobh clé na sraithe, na foshraithe etc. gur féidir a thuilleadh fairsingithe a dhéanamh [féach na híomhánna].

Is dóigh gurb é an brabhsálaí ordlathais an bealach is fusa leis an mbailiúchán catalógaithe a leanúint. De réir mar a chuirtear tuilleadh tráinsí ar fáil, is amhlaidh a chuirfear na hiontrálacha catalóige a bhaineann leo le bunachar na cartlainne. Cuirfear naisc ón taispeántas digiteach leis seo freisin d’fhonn aird a tharraingt ar na hiontrálacha nua seo.

Mar sin de, ní hamháin gur taispeántas oideachasúil spraíúil é an taispeántas seo as féin, ach is uirlis thábhachtach é freisin le comhthéacs an ábhair agus na sraitheanna i mbailiúchán Chonradh na Gaeilge a thuiscint AGUS mar nasc áisiúil le rochtain a fháil agus cuardach a dhéanamh ar chatalóg chartlainne CALM. De réir mar a dhéantar dul chun cinn ar phróiseáil agus ar chatalógú an bhailiúcháin, is amhlaidh atá an taispeántas seo ina fhráma foirfe tagartha leis na sraitheanna is déanaí a chuardach de réir mar chuirtear ar fáil iad.

Más é go bhfuil an taispeántas á fheiceáil agat den chéad uair, nó más é go bhfuil tú ag seiceáil le fáil amach ar cuireadh sraitheanna ar leith ar fáil, tá súil agam go mbainfidh tú taitneamh as!

Go dtí an chéad uair eile,

Beir bua,

Niamh

English version:

Blog 4: Conradh na Gaeilge Archive: Digital Exhibition Launched

Naisc eile:

An Taispeántas Digiteach

Blag 1: Chartlann Chonradh na Gaeilge - An Chéad Chéim

Blag 2: Chartlann Chonradh na Gaeilge - An Chartlann a Mheas

Blag 3: Chartlann Chonradh na Gaeilge - Chéim 2: An Chóiriú

Conradh na Gaeilge - Digital Exhibition Launched

Last month a mini digital exhibition of the Conradh na Gaeilge Archive, featuring over 40 images taken from the collection, was launched to tie-in with Seachtain na Gaeilge. As luck would have it, work was almost complete before we went into lockdown for Covid-19, and we were able to remotely launch this wonderful exhibition on St. Patrick’s Day, the final day of the annual campaign. In previous blogs (see below for links) I have described the work that goes on behind the scenes before a collection is opened to the public, the processes an archivist needs to carry out and the decisions that need to be made. It was also announced that material would be released to the public in tranches, rather than waiting for the whole collection to be fully processed, due to the vast size of this wonderful collection. This new exhibition is therefore designed to perform another very important function - it gives the user context, something which is of particular importance when access is being rolled out in this gradual manner.

Context:

When examining an item from an archival collection, it is vital that the user understands its context. For example: How does this item relate to the collection as a whole? How does it relate to other items in the collection? This exhibition aids the user in discovering those answers. Firstly, on the homepage the user is given background information on the organisation itself, the timeframe covered in the collection and the history of how and when this material was gathered and donated to NUIG.

On the second page of the online exhibition ("Arrangement"), a detailed explanation is given on how the collection is arranged, why certain topics were grouped together, and why certain decisions were made. When considering the arrangement of a collection, the archivist is always thinking of how discoverable material in the collection will be and how easy the collection is for the user to navigate. (Some of that decision making process is covered here).

Finally on the page labelled “The series”, 45 images can be seen, each representing an individual series, and each one attached to a description of that series. Currently 13 of these series are open to the public, as mentioned previously, and in these cases the descriptions include links to the archive catalogue. The benefit of being able to see descriptions of all 45 series (and not just those accessible), means the user understands the context within which the released material sits, and knows what to expect from future releases.

How to navigate the Digital Exhibition:

A casual browse of this exhibition will give the user, at the very least, an overview of Conradh na Gaeilge’s work as an organisation and an idea of what has been transferred to NUIG. Trawling through the 45 images available on the “The series” page is a pleasure in itself.

However to fully benefit from this exhibition, gaining a proper understanding of how to use it to navigate to the archival catalogue is recommended. The best way to gain this knowledge is through trial and error, but I have gone some way towards describing the process here.

When a user clicks on any one of the 45 images representing individual series, they are brought to a dialogue window that shows the image in larger detail on the left, and a bilingual description of the series itself on the right.

Under this text a small icon of the same image can be seen, with a link beside or under it (see image). If the text is substantial you may need to scroll down to get to these.

By clicking on either the icon or on the link a new page opens which gives not only the description but other metadata such as publisher information, title of the series, unique identifier and, where the series has been released to the public, a link to the archive catalogue (this can be found in the field “relation”). (Again, you will need to scroll down the page to access all this information).

It also gives a larger version of the image, which, if clicked on, can be further examined including through zooming.

How to use the Archive Catalogue:

The archive database that is used in NUIG is known as CALM and this is where anything in our archives, which has been catalogued, can be found. When a user clicks on any of the links within the “series” page of the Conradh na Gaeilge digital exhibition, they are brought not only to this archival database, but to a specific location – the catalogue entry for that series.

This will again show the description, along with new information such as the date range, the format (eg paper, photographs, audio) and the extent (how many boxes, sub-series, files etc.). However, probably the most useful tool available on this page is the link to the hierarchy browser, which can be found in the “Ref No” field. (In the image below, the cursor is pointing at this link).

What is the Hierarchy Browser?

This is the hierarchy of any collection and shows series, sub-series, files and items in a tree-like hierarchy in descending order. In the example above the catalogue entry for the 4^th series in the collection “Branches...” can be seen. By clicking on the G60/4 link in the “Ref No” field we are brought to the hierarchy browser, and can see not only where this series comes in the context of the overall collection (it is the one highlighted in yellow), but what sub-series and files are in this specific series.

The + and – icons to the left of a series, sub-series etc. show that further expansion is possible [see images].

The hierarchy browser is probably the easiest way to navigate through the catalogued collection. As more tranches are released, their catalogue entries will be added to the archive database. Links from the digital exhibition will also be added to point to these new entries.

This digital exhibition is therefore not only an educational and fun exhibition in its own right, it is also both a key tool to understanding the context of items and series within the Conradh na Gaeilge collection AND a handy link to accessing and exploring the archive catalogue CALM. As progress continues on processing and cataloguing the collection, this exhibition also becomes the perfect reference for exploring the latest series as they are released.

Whether exploring the exhibition for the first time, or checking back to see whether specific series have been released, I hope you enjoy it!

Until next time,

Beir bua,

Niamh 

Irish Version: 

Blag 4: Chartlann Chonradh na Gaeilge - Taispeántas Digiteach Seolta

Other Links:

Conradh na Gaeilge Digital Exhibition

Blog 1: Conradh na Gaeilge Archive - The First Step

Blog 2: Conradh na Gaeilge Archive - Appraising the Archive

Blog 3: Conradh na Gaeilge Archive - Phase 2: The Arrangement