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

 

 

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

Digital Publishing Brownbag Series – Tim Robinson Archive

On Tuesday 1 November, NUI Galway Library will host a lunchtime event focusing on Digital work underway on the Library's Archives.

Our 2nd event in the series will focus on the Archive of Fear na Mapaí, Tim Robinson, which resides here at NUI Galway. This archive documents four decades of Robinson’s pioneering work in Irish landscape, which began in 1972 when he visited the Aran Islands with his wife Máiréad. His 1975 one-inch map of the Aran Islands was the first substantial map of the area to be created since the 6 inch Ordnance Survey map a century before, and its composition brought up several complexities that exist in this unique landscape, from place-names, to the geological, archaeological, and botanical features that are all inherent in the landscape. Beyond the publication of the map, he explored these subjects in a deep-mapping project of Aran, that led to the publication of two books, ‘Stones of Aran: Pilgrimage’ in 1986, and later ‘Stones of Aran: Labyrinth’ in 1995. His work brought him to map and consider the Burren and Connemara landscapes with equal emphasis, and in 1987, Tim and Máiréad won the Ford Ireland Conservation Award. They proceeded in the competition as Ireland’s official entry, and won the European Award in Madrid.

One particularly special element of Robinson’s archive is a meticulously accumulated index of the townlands of Connemara and the Aran Islands, which has inspired the Library’s first steps to a Digital Mapping project, focusing on Robinson’s archive, but with applications to future projects. This will be the focus of our inaugural Brownbag Pitch. As the name suggests, lunch will be provided, and we will take you through the story of the archive, the digital project, and plans for the future, before opening up the floor to some discussion about what parts of the project you consider useful, not useful, and if you think this has applications to your own research.

Everyone is welcome to the pitch, and registration is free, but for catering purposes, we would request that you please register, with details of how to do so at the bottom of this page.

Venue: Room G011, Hardiman Research Building, NUI Galway

Date and Time: Tuesday, 1 November 2016

Programme:

12:00     Lunch will be available from 12 in Room G011

12:30     Dr Nessa Cronin, Lecturer and Co-Director of the MA in Irish Studies, will introduce the work              of Tim Robinson

12:40     Aisling Keane, Digital Archivist at NUI Galway Library, will speak about the archive, its contents,              some examples of items of interest, and the work that has taken place on the archive so far

13:00     Dr Nessa Cronin will return to speak about creative engagement with the archive

13:10     Peter Corrigan, Head of Digital Publishing and Innovation at NUI Galway Library will speak about              the future of the project

13:25     Discussion and exchange of ideas

14:00     Session Ends

If you wish to attend this event please register on Eventbrite 

Digital Seminar Series at the Hardiman Building, Spring 2015

The Digital Scholarship Seminar is a seminar for researchers working in any branch of the arts and humanities who are engaged in the creation and/or exploitation of digital resources in the course of their research. The aims of the seminar are:

Programme for Spring 2015

Tuesday 3 March, 12–2pm, Hardiman Building G010 

Marie Boran (James Hardiman Library, NUI Galway)

The Irish Landed Estates Database: Signpost or Destination?

Niall McSweeney & Aisling Keane (James Hardiman Library, NUI Galway)

Challenges of Applying Metadata to Digital Collections

Thursday 26 March, 5–6pm, Hardiman Building G011

Anthony Mandal (Cardiff University)

Victorian Demons and Electric Imps

Tuesday 14 April (time & venue TBC)

Gabriel Bodard (King’s College London)

Standards for Networking Ancient Prosopographies: Data and Relations in Greco-Roman Names (SNAP:DRGN)

Thursday 30 April, 5–6pm, Hardiman Building G010

Franck Cinato (Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Paris)

Collaborative Digital Editing: Experience from the Liber Glossarum Project

Thursday 28 May, 12–2pm, Hardiman Building G010

Brad Pasanek (University of Virginia)

Poetic Diction: Tokens and Change

Lunchtime seminars are followed by discussion over a light lunch.

Connect  with the Series:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/nuigdss

Mailing list: nuig-dss+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Contact

Pádraic Moran (Classics): padraic.moran@nuigalway.ie

Justin Tonra (English): justin.tonra@nuigalway.ie

Playback: The Abbey Theatre Digital Archive on "Dúiche", TG4

A great piece exploring the riches of the Abbey Theatre Digital Archive at the Hardiman Library, NUI Galway was aired on "Dúiche", programme, TG4 recently. "Duiche" presented by Síle Nic Chonaonaigh, features in-depth interviews with Hardiman Library Archivist Aisling Keane and Marianne Ní Chinnéide, Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance, NUI Galway, showcasing the scale and scope of the digitisation project and also its implications for teaching, research and learning at NUI Galway. With over one million items of multi-format material available at NUI Galway when the project is completed, it comprises one of the world's greatest theatre, literary and social history collections.

You can watch the programme at the following link with the segment on the Abbey Theatre Archive beginning in the second-half of the programme at c. 11.30 minutes in.

http://www.tg4.tv/play.php?pid=3990732475001&title=D%C3%BAiche&series=D%C3%BAiche

For more on the Abbey Theatre Archive at NUI Galway, you can watch the below video:

Digitised Archives at the Hardiman Library

The Hardiman Research Building - Home to Archives and Special Collections

The James Hardiman Library is committed to making material from its archival and printed collections available online.  Digitisation of these unique treasures of the Library's Archival and Special Collections material opens up access to these valuable resources and allows them to be used and enjoyed by all.

By using leading technologies and expertise, digitisation is providing a preserved record of old and fragile material, thus ensuring that these resources will survive and remain accessible for scholars for long into the future. Allied to this, the digitisation of material will allow unprecedented access to material by scholars not just here on campus at the Hardiman Library but to a national and international audience, creating a global network of students and scholars of all interests and disciplines. 

Reading room for Archives and Special Collections

An overview and links to a selection of our online digital exhibitions including material from the Brendan Duddy Archive, the Huston family Archive, the Ritchie-Pickow photographic archive, the Historic University Calendars and many other collections are available here: 
http://www.library.nuigalway.ie/digitisedarchives/

For a guide to some of the digitised archival and special collections material at the Hardiman Library browse and read our online guide, with other examples of some of this material available here: http://archives.library.nuigalway.ie/Guide/

Also you can view the following information videos on the Abbey Theatre Digitisation Project and also the ongoing digitisation of the Chartlann Éamoin de Buitléar/Éamon de Buitléar Archive , two of the major digitisation projects currently ongoing at the Hardiman Library and in association with our archive and digitisation partners.

'A Digital Journey Through Irish Theatre History'

'Cartlann Éamoin de Buitléar'

O'Connell Bridge, Dublin, 1950s - Ritchie/Pickow Archive

This wonderful image of a crowded O'Connell Bridge in Dublin is part of the Ritchie-Pickow photographic archive at the James Hardiman Library, NUI Galway. The image dates to the early 1950's and is a clear scene of a bright morning on Dublin's busy main thoroughfare.

Jean Ritchie, singer, folklorist and dulcimer player was born on 8 December 1922 in Viper, Kentucky. She was the youngest of a family of 14 children, known as .The Singing Ritchies. Jean graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1946 and taught for a time. In 1952 she was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to enable her to research the origins of her family's songs in Great Britain and Ireland. Her husband George Pickow, a photographer, accompanied her and they spent approximately eighteen months recording folk songs and traditional musicians and taking photographs. The photographs include photographs of many well-known uileann pipe players, for example Seamus Ennis, Michael Reagh, the McPeake trio, Leo Rowsome; vocalists, including Elizabeth Croinin, Sarah Makem and Mary Toner and story tellers, such as Patcheen Faherty from the Aran Islands.

As well as assisting his wife in her research George Pickow also used the opportunity to do features on aspects of Irish life, Christmas celebrations with straw boys and wren boys, life on the Aran Islands, Dublin scenes, the American Ambassador and his family in Ireland, the story of St Patrick, the development of Dublin Airport, operations of the Garda Síochána at Dublin Castle, and Irish sporting activities, such as road bowling, hurling, coursing, hunting and racing. Photographs were also taken of traditional Irish crafts, for example spinning, weaving, thatching and crios and sliotar making. In a video recording made with George and Jean Pickow in the early 1990s regarding their visits to Ireland, George says that these photographic stories were for the Sunday News  in New York.

The photographic archive is comprised of one hundred and sixty seven sheets of black and white contact prints with corresponding negatives, numbering one thousand eight hundred and eighty seven photographs in total. The majority of the photographs were taken using Kodak safety film and these negatives are unfortunately not numbered so the sequence cannot be followed. The last ten sheets of photographs were taken using Eastman 5 6 super xx safety film and Ilford hypersensitive panchromatic film, these negatives are numbered. There are also one hundred and ninety prints in two sizes, 19x19 cms and 27x27 cms, of which ninety five are mounted.

To see more images from the Ritchie-Pickow Archive click here

Visit the home page of James Hardiman Library Archives at NUI Galway here

 

Éamon de Buitléar - Arts Tonight interview on RTÈ Radio 1

The Arts Tonight program on RTÈ Radio 1 featured a special interview with the wonderful Éamon de Buitléar last night. Hosted by Vincent Woods,  the program uncovers the life, many achievements and archive of Èamon which he has deposited here at the James Hardiman Library at NUI Galway. The archive will comprise one of the largest digital archives of the Library's extensive holdings and will be a vital resource for all researchers of Irish nature, wildlife, music, culture and language.

Here is information on the program and click on the link below to listen back to Vincent Woods in conversation with Èamon de Buitlèar.

Èamon de Buitlèar and Vincent Woods

"Nature has become invisible. People don't see it any more, or hear it. You need to see it, you need to feel it. As human beings, we need it, specially nowadays." The words of filmmaker, broadcaster, writer and conservationist Éamon de Buitléar. On tonight's programme, we visit him at his home in Delgany, Co. Wicklow and step into his remarkable archive of over 2000 audio and film tapes. He has recently donated this archive to NUI Galway and it will soon be delivered there and digitised: not only his hundreds of wildlife films for television such as the series Amuigh Faoin Spéir for which he is probably best known, but also painstakingly catalogued wildlife sounds dating back to the 1950s, early radio recordings from the traditional music revival featuring Séamus Ennis, Sean Ó Riada and others, and his radio and television series for children, Lúidín Mac Lú about a leprechaun and his mouse."

http://www.rte.ie/radio1/artstonight/

To learn more about the Cartlann Éamoin de Buitléar/Éamon de Buitléar Archive, click here

Èamon de Buitlèar at the James Hardiman Library, NUI Galway