Remarks during a visit to the National Archives
1 November 2012
Minister, Mr Justice Charleton, Acting Director, members of the National Archives Advisory Council, ladies and gentlemen:
Cuireann sé áthas orm a bheith sa Chartlann Náisiúnta anseo inniu agus ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an mBreitheamh Onórach Peter Charleton as a chuireadh agus libhse ar fad as bhur gcaoinfháilte.
[I am delighted to be here in the National Archives today and would like to thank the Honourable Justice Mr Peter Charleton, for his invitation and all of you for that very kind welcome.]
I have a great personal interest in the National Archives. As Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht in the early 1990s, the Archives were an important part of my remit. Their vital statutory role is perfectly summed up in their stated mission which is:
“To secure the preservation of records relating to Ireland which warrant preservation as archives, and to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made for public access to archives”.
The imperative is not only to preserve but to provide access. The establishment of a national archive is a key element in any democratic society, ensuring that important records of decisions and actions by the state are not only preserved but become the property of all of our citizens and are made easily accessible to all of those citizens.
The establishment and maintenance of a national archive also provides an essential resource for those who wish to engage with our shared past; to fully understand our complex history; and to gain an appreciation of the consequences, for both our present and our future, of considerations, decisions and actions that occurred in that past.
The late Tony Judt, the great historian and political commentator has spoken of the importance, in any given society, of supplying ‘the dimension of knowledge and narrative without which we cannot be a civic whole’. Historians have often lamented the consequences of the destruction of the Custom House in 1921 and its negative impact on their ability to construct an historical narrative.
The National Archives plays a vital role in safeguarding and protecting a clear and reliable narrative of our nation; one which allows us to view our past in a way that is truthful and honest; and which prevents us from idealizing that past and failing to learn from our complex history as we seek to craft our shared future.We are entering a decade of commemoration; a time when we must consider the duties of memory and take close account of the ethics of memory. It is also a time when we must acknowledge the various narratives of the past – in all their plurality and diversity – as we construct our complex history. Such a faithful accounting of our past will create a helpful context for better mutual understanding and a more empathetic society. It is only by gaining a complete and balanced view of our shared past, through the exploration of the different but interconnecting experiences and individual voices that comprise our historical narrative, that we can engage in a genuine search for the truth.
The Archives are, of course, an organization with their own interesting history, their own ongoing and developing story. While the National Archives was established just twenty four years ago, they are a natural evolution of the State Paper Office and the Public Record Office of Ireland. The birth of the Archives can, therefore, be traced back to the early 18th century and its life story takes us through an Ireland suffering under Penal Law, to an Ireland devastated by the Great Famine and onward to the creation of an Irish Free State.
Sa lá inniu léiríonn na cleachtais sa Chartlann Náisiúnta féin mar atá náisiún domhandaithe ag feidhmiú taobh istigh de dhomhan atá ag éirí níos idirnasctha agus níos idirnasctha. Tá an Chartlann tar éis glacadh go díograiseach le fiche bliain anuas leis an méadú mear ar dhul chun cinn teicneolaíochta, agus tá sí de shíor ag iarraidh teacht i dtír ar an réabhlóid dhigiteach le taifid agus doiciméid a chur ar fáil níos éasca ná riamh dár saoránaigh.
[Today the practices within the National Archive itself bear witness to a globalised nation operating within an increasingly interconnected world. The rapid rate of technological advancement that we have witnessed in the past two decades has been enthusiastically embraced by the Archives, who consistently take advantage of the digital revolution to make records and documents ever more accessible to our citizens.]
When I was Minister with responsibility for the National Archives, the means of facilitating the public to access archives were considerably different from what pertains today. It is true that many people still visit this beautiful Reading Room every day for research purposes, but the wonderful technological advances made by the National Archives in the intervening period now mean that it is possible for much of the priceless material held here to be accessed online.
The online 1901 and 1911 Census material, an enormously successful initiative, and the 1921 Treaty Exhibition, are but two of the many online databases and resources that stand as a testament to how the National Archives continue to explore new and innovative ways to share our national story. In fact, the online census project led to a collaboration with Tourism Ireland to develop and encourage genealogical tourism to our country. That is an impressive example of the spirit of partnership that is so evident in the work that is carried out within the National Archive and of your understanding that history and heritage should not be residual, marginal or tangential to our public life.
Another example is the key role that the National Archives has played in the very valuable collaboration with the Royal Irish Academy and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that has resulted in the Documents in Irish Foreign Policy series. In a relatively short period of time, this project has established its international credentials as one of the best publications of diplomatic documents in the world. Catriona Crowe, who is one of the editors of the series, deserves particular recognition in this regard.
Today has been, indeed, a most interesting experience and a very reassuring one as I witness first-hand the ongoing and important role the National Archives play in maintaining, protecting and preserving our national narrative. There is no doubt that much has been achieved here in the past two decades, but of course there is always more to be done, new challenges to face – particularly at a time when resources are so constrained and advocacy in pursuit of your mission may seem an uphill task.
I am nevertheless confident that the Archives will rise to those challenges, continuing to explore new ways to conserve and share our national story, and to capture our past – not only for the sake of understanding our present but also to assist us on the journey to our shared future. I am also confident that you will continue to achieve excellence through the expenditure of enormous expertise, commitment and courage, ensuring that the gifts of history and heritage continue to be relevant and central in our ever changing and evolving society.
I commend all of you for the valuable work you do and I wish you continued success in the future.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.