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| Hot Off The Press - Military Archives | Military Galleries | |
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>>Back to Homepage In the plans for the development of Collins Barracks, Dublin - now under the control of the National Museum of Ireland - there is provision for the relocation to Collins Barracks of the Military Archives currently in Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin. This will make those archives more accessible to the public. They will be adjacent to the military galleries, have increased space and it will be possible to establish links to archives in Northern Ireland and elsewhere in the United Kingdom, Europe, the USA, etc. The Trust is fully supportive of this development of military archives in Collins Barracks. A Logo - full of history...  The logo is the result of research and design by John Murray of the Graphic Design Department in the National Museum of Ireland. Two elements from the iron age are depicted: an iron sword discovered at Lisnacrogher, Co. Antrim,with, on each side, the La Tene motif, taken from a bronze scabbard plate, also from Lisnacrogher. Research Project... The exhibition of artefacts in museums is one way to tell the story of the past. However there is further evidence in the rich archival material, in public and private ownership, located in Ireland and throughout the countries where Irish men and women have given military service. The Trust, in co-operation with Trinity College, Dublin, has initiated a project to develop electronic and print resources to facilitate research by the general public and by specialists in all aspects of Ireland's military heritage from the earliest times to the present day. A Research Officer has been engaged to undertake this project, working in conjunction with Professor Eunan O'Halpin in the Department of Modern History at Trinity College. The American Ireland Fund is providing a grant of US$22,000 to help fund this project. It is hoped to expand the project to various countries in which those soldiers gave their service. Such expansion will require funding and the support of the universities in the countries concerned. >>Back to Homepage |
From its inception the Trust recognises that military museums are one medium through which the story may be told. Despite Ireland's military traditions the Republic of Ireland does not have a dedicated military museum accessible to the public. In contrast there are three such in Northern Ireland, at Armagh, Belfast and Enniskillen. Working with the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin the Trust succeeded in obtaining the co-operation and support of the military museums in Northern Ireland for the plans to develop military galleries within the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks, Dublin. To tell the story of the Irish soldier through these galleries, it is necessary to have a comprehensive range of archives, artefacts and memorabilia, and it is accepted that neither the Museum nor the Defence Forces have sufficient material. In order to identify sources for such material, and in addition to working with the trustees and officials of the military museums in Northern Ireland, liaison has been made through military attaches based in Ireland to establish contacts with military museums abroad, as well as regimental and veteran associations in Ireland (North and South). These new galleries will open in 2003. Their existence will demonstrate to the people of Ireland and the world the beginning of a new all-Ireland approach to the way in which we tell the story of the Irish soldier. >>Back to Homepage Endowment Fund Update In continuing its work in promoting the study of Ireland's military heritage and the story of the Irish soldier, the Trust intends to develop an Your news and views... Let us know if you have any tips or words of advice for our readers. |
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Trust News Issue 1 March 2003