President Michael D. Higgins Presidential Archive and Book Collection

Receiving the prestigious Michael D. Higgins Archive and Book Collection is both an honour and a moment of great significance for the University of Galway Library.  This collection offers a remarkable insight into the life and work of Ireland’s ninth President, spanning two full presidential terms.  The archive includes a rich array of material, from meticulously edited speech drafts bearing his handwritten annotations to his personal correspondence, consisting of letters, emails and copy replies, all arranged alphabetically by correspondent and reflects the written dialogue he had with a wide and diverse network of individuals over his two terms as President. The collection also includes press cuttings, documenting media coverage of his two terms of office. With over 75 archival boxes spanning his first term and more than 150 boxes expected in total, the collection promises to be a vital resource for scholars, historians, and the public alike once it has been catalogued by Archivist, Kieran Hoare.

 

As well as his archive collection, the President is in the process of transferring his book collection to the University.  Special Collections Librarian, Marie Boran, notes that this book collection includes titles acquired by the President for his own personal research, including heavily annotated volumes which informed his thinking during his time as a lecturer at the University through to his Presidency. It also includes many presented to him from a wide range of sources while undertaking local, national and international engagements. Many of the volumes are personally inscribed by the author or donor, with some of them marking historic events attended by the President. 

We are very fortunate to have two other notable Presidential archives in the University Library, papers of former President, Mary Robinson, as well as several collections relating to  Dubhghlas de Híde, the first President of Ireland, including the remarkable Irish manuscript collection, Lámhscríbhinní de hÍde, which he bequeathed to the Library on his death in 1949. 

The appearance of President Michael D. Higgins across so many of our collections and the contents of his own archive and book collection, document and illuminates one man’s political journey, his cultural contribution to Irish life and society both as an artist and as a champion of arts, culture and language, as well as his impact as a civic leader in Ireland.  Together they form a compelling narrative of leadership, intellectual rigour, scholarship, cultural stewardship, and visionary public service and will enable interdisciplinary study across sociology, politics, history, literature and human rights.

 

Once catalogued, both the archive and book collection will be accessible for research by members of the public in the Library’s Archives and Special Collections Reading Room. The archive being transferred to the University of Galway represent the personal papers of the President during his time in office, as is the case with the Presidential Series in the University’s Mary Robinson Collection. The official records of President Higgins’ terms of office will remain with the State and be transferred to the National Archives.

Today marks a truly special occasion for our Library and University and we are very grateful to President Michael D. Higgins for entrusting his Archive and Book collection to us.

 

100 years of College Drama Society

The college annuals of University College Galway are an indispensable record of student life and activity on campus. With updates on study and academic courses, sporting life, achievements of students and academics, contributions to social and cultural life and general news of interest for and by students it is an insight into what being student in Galway was like over 100 years ago.

In an issue for 1914 the Dramatic Society documents the activities of the first year in existence of the UCG Dramatic Society. According to the notes:

"The first year of this society has been very successful, notwithstanding some "excursions and alarums". There was first of all the question whether we were a college society at all, which was pursued by some so far that one night of rehearsal we found ourselves faced with an order by a college official that we are not to be allowed into the Aula Maxima".

UCG Drama Society, 1914

Thankfully things did improve for the society as it is noted how "Twelfth Night" was to be the first production:

"Rehearsals were frequent, but though they take up much time, they were essential and often good fun as well. The actors were all enthusiastic and painstaking, and from the beginning each did his or her best to make the play a success, and a success it was."

A tribute to the success of the play was noted as being the attendance of the President of UCG on the night of the play (December 16^th):

"This tribute of loyalty and respect, not to say affection, acted as a message of encouragement and a stimulus to the actors and made manifest that this was truly "a college night", and such a one as it is hoped will be frequent in the future."

To view the 1914, and other editions of the historic College annuals visit the Archives and Special Collections Reading Room.

UCG Drama Society, 1915, seated at Aula Maxima