Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland

Ireland, 1485-1798: colonial laboratory?

Neil Johnston, head of early modern records at The National Archives (UK), examines how Ireland was used as a colonial laboratory by the English Crown and its servants. His talk will explore how, from the 1530s onward, religious reforms fractured a centuries-old political settlement. These reforms undermined traditional Irish rule in favour of English-born governors and officials, culminating in the explosive tensions of the 16th and 17th centuries.

Join Neil to understand how the imposition of reform was resisted, how English rule was consolidated across Ireland, and how these methods were subsequently used across the emerging British empire

This talk showcases the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland, an international digital humanities project that aims to reconstruct the lost state collection of Ireland following the destruction of the Public Record Office of Ireland in 1922.

Image credit: The National Archives MPF 1 335 (2)


What’s Online is a series of events delivered by TNA (UK)’s experts and special guests. This webinar will be presented on Vimeo. You do not need a Vimeo account to join an event, and can join from your browser from a laptop or mobile device. However, for the best experience we recommend using either a laptop or desktop computer.

You will receive a reminder email, including a link to join in advance of the event. For more information on attending a Vimeo event, please visit https://help.vimeo.com/hc/en-us/articles/12426085581073-How-to-watch-a-live-event-on-Vimeo

Talks are available to watch on catch-up for a limited period of 48 hours only.

Date and time
Friday, 26 September 2025, 2:00 PM

Location
Online via Vimeo,
Please click button below

Book now