Roadshow Roundup
This page highlights our Virtual Treasury Roadshows. Since we began our Roadshow initiative in 2023 we have enjoyed travelling to 7 county or city libraries, across the island of Ireland. The Roadshows are about bringing the Virtual Treasury to the public in their own locality. We show records from our collections which relate to the particular region, and give useful tips on using the Virtual Treasury for local historians, family historians, school pupils and anyone interested in learning about Ireland's past.
Watch out for our next Roadshow – we could be coming to a library near you!
When the time comes, a link to the detals and tickets will be made available here.
Longford
On Thursday 1 May 2025, Longford County Library and Archives hosted the Virtual Treasury Roadshow — exploring the history of Longford and its people through the lens of collections within the VRTI.
The event was fully booked and took place at 7:30pm in Longford Library, Town Centre. After an introduction from Cllr Seamus Butler, Cathaoirleach of Longford Municipal District, the audience heard from:
- Martin Morris – Archivist, Longford County Archives: Resources in Longford County Archives
- Lynn Kilgallon – Virtual Record Treasury Research Fellow: Ireland’s public records: destruction and recovery; and Medieval Longford records in the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland
- Brian Gurrin – Virtual Record Treasury Research Fellow: Longford Census Records in the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland
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- St. Mel’s Cathedral, Longford
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- Setting up for the event in Longford Library
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- Longford County Archivist Martin Morris presenting on local records in Longford County Archives
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- Dr Lynn Kilgallon presenting to the audience
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- Dr Brian Gurrin explaining where census fragments survive across Ireland
Hero Image: “Longford Main Street” Courtesy of the Lawrence Collection, National Library of Ireland (L_CAB_08257).
Carlow
On Thursday 27 February 2025, Carlow Libraries and Carlow County Archives hosted the Virtual Treasury Roadshow — exploring the history of Carlow and its people through the lens of collections within the VRTI.
The event was fully booked and took place at 6:30pm in Carlow Library, Tullow Street. After an introduction from Carlow Executive Librian John O’Gorman, the audience heard from:
- Louise Kennedy – Archivist, Carlow County Archives: Resources in Carlow County Archives
- Christopher Power – Local Studies Librarian, Carlow County Library: Carlow Local studies collections
- Ciarán Wallace – Deputy Director, Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland: Ireland’s public records: destruction and recovery
- Lynn Kilgallon – Virtual Record Treasury Research Fellow: Medieval Carlow records in the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland
- Brian Gurrin – Virtual Record Treasury Research Fellow: Carlow Census Records in the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland
VRTI Deputy Director Dr Ciarán Wallace introducing the Carlow audience to the VRTI project.
VRTI Research Fellow in Medieval History | Humanities Lead for Knowledge Graph for Irish History Dr Lynn Kilgallon addressing the audience in Carlow.
VRTI Census Specialist Dr Brian Gurrin addressing the audience in Carlow.
Hero Image: Courtesy of the Lawrence Collection, National Library of Ireland (L_ROY_07514).
Waterford
On Wednesday 13 November 2024, Waterford City and County Libraries and Waterford City and County Archives hosted the Virtual Treasury Roadshow — exploring the history of Waterford and its people through the lens of collections within the VRTI.
The VRTI team pictured with Waterford Mayor Jason Murphy, Joanne Rothwell (Archivist, Waterford City and County Archives), Lorraine Boyle (Local Studies Librarian, Waterford Libraries), and Sinéad O’Higgins (Acting Senior Executive Librarian, Waterford Libraries). Photo courtesy of Davi Matheson/Dgmphotographic.com.
The event was fully booked and took place at 6pm in Waterford Central Library, Lady Lane. After an introduction from Waterford Mayor Jason Murphy, the audience heard from:
- Joanne Rothwell – Archivist, Waterford City and County Archives: Resources in Waterford City and County Archives
- Ciarán Wallace – Deputy Director, Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland: Ireland’s public records: destruction and recovery
- Lynn Kilgallon – Virtual Record Treasury Research Fellow: Medieval Waterford records in the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland
- Brian Gurrin – Virtual Record Treasury Research Fellow: Waterford Census Records in the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland
- Lorraine Boyle – Local Studies Librarian, Waterford Libraries: Local studies collections in Waterford City and County Libraries
Dr Ciarán Wallace (Deputy Director, VRTI) presents on the Four Courts Fire of 1922. Photo courtesy of Davi Matheson/Dgmphotographic.com.
Dr Lynn Kilgallon (VRTI Research Fellow in Medieval History | Humanities Lead for Knowledge Graph for Irish History) presents on medieval resources in the VRTI. Photo courtesy of Davi Matheson/Dgmphotographic.com.
Dr Brian Gurrin (Research Fellow in Census and Population Records, VRTI) presents on surviving census records from Waterford. Photo courtesy of Davi Matheson/Dgmphotographic.com.
Hero Image: Courtesy of the L. Brown Collection.
Cork
On 21 September 2024, Cork City Library hosted the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland in the City Library on Grand Parade in Cork for a special event: Finding Cork in the Virtual Record Treasury.
Deputy Director Dr Ciarán Wallace addressing a packed audience.
Dr Lynn Kilgallon displaying a beautiful Irish Historic Towns Atlas map of medieval Cork City.
The two sessions were fully booked out and the audience heard presentations from Helen McGonagle, Local Studies Librarian at Cork City Library, Dr Ciarán Wallace, Deputy Director of the VRTI, Dr Lynn Kilgallon, VRTI Research Fellow in Medieval History, Brian Gurrin, VRTI Research Fellow and Census Specialist, and Brian McGee, Senior Archivist at Cork City and County Archives.
Dr Brian Gurrin dissecting some census fragments.
Brian McGee of Cork City and County Archives presenting on the many resources accessible in the Archives.
The Lord Mayor of Cork Dan Boyle gave opening remarks during the first session.
Lord Mayor Dan Boyle alongside VRTI Deputy Director Ciarán Wallace and Cork City Librarian David O’Brien
Hero image: Cork Grand Parade in 1948. Source: Wikimedia Commons
City of Derry
Image above courtesy of David Dickson.
On Wednesday 19 June 2024, Dr Ciarán Wallace (Deputy Academic Director and Public Engagement Lead, VRTI) and Dr Timothy Murtagh (VRTI Research Fellow in Archival Discovery at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland) gave a series of lectures at the Guildhall, Derry. Alongside Stephen Scarth (Head of Public Services, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland), topics discussed ranged from State Records 1760–1830 and the history of collecting archives at PRONI.
Dr. Ciarán Wallace: “Ireland’s public records: destruction and recovery,” speaking at ‘Recovered from the Flames: Reconstructing the lost records of 1922’ in Derry’s Guildhall. Photo courtesy of Derry City & Strabane District Council.
Dr Timothy Murtagh: Rumour, Riot and Rebellion: the state records 1760-1830 speaking in the Derry’s Guildhall. Photo courtesy of Derry City & Strabane District Council.
Stephen Scarth, Head of Public Services, PRONI, presenting “PRONI: A century of collecting archives, 1924-2024” in Derry’s Guildhall. Photo courtesy of Ciarán Wallace.
Mayor Lilian Seenoi Barr also joined the event and made some remarks.
Mayor Lillian Seenoi-Barr addressing the attendees at Wednesday’s ‘Recovered from the Flames: Reconstructing the lost records of 1922’ in the city’s Guildhall. Photo courtesy of Derry City & Strabane District Council.
Mayo
On 13 April 2024, the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life hosted the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland in Turlough Park House, Castlebar for a special event: Finding Mayo in the Virtual Record Treasury.
Dympna Joyce of the Mayo Genealogy Group presenting on the group’s recent projects. Photo courtesy of Jean-Philippe SanGiovanni.
Dr Brian Gurrin address a packed audience about census returns from County Mayo. Photo courtesy of Dylan O’Neill.
The event was fully booked out and the audience heard presentations from Dympna Joyce of the Mayo Genealogy Group, Dr Ciarán Wallace, Deputy Director of the VRTI, Dr Lynn Kilgallon, VRTI Research Fellow in Medieval History, and Dr Brian Gurrin, VRTI Research Fellow and Census Specialist.
Dr Lynn Kilgallon begins her presentation on Mayo Medieval Records in the VRTI. Photo courtesy of Dylan O’Neill.
Dr Ciarán Wallace addressing the audience. Photo courtesy of Katie Leach.
Photo courtesy of Dylan O’Neill.
Donegal
On 22 November 2023, Donegal County Council and Donegal Library Services hosted the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland in Central Library, Letterkenny for a special event: “Finding Donegal in the Virtual Record Treasury.”
The room was packed and the audience heard presentations from Ciarán Wallace, Deputy Director of the VRTI, Brian Gurrin, VRTI Research Fellow and Census Specialist, Niamh Brennan, Donegal County Archivist, and Una Mathewson, Donegal Local Studies Librarian.
Some relevant Donegal County Archives Resources:
| Time Period | Record of Donegal Local Government |
| 1899–present (partial digitisation) | Donegal County Council |
| 1899–1925 (digitisation near completion) | Rural District Councils |
| 1754–1899 (digitised) | Grand Jury Presentments & Minutes |
| 1890–2014 (partial digitisation) | Town Commissioners/Urban District Councils: Ballyshannon, Bundoran, Buncrana & Letterkenny |
| 1840–1923 (digitised, can be viewed at www.findmypast.ie) | Poor Law Unions (Workhouses) Ballyshannon, Donegal, Dunanaghy, Glenties, Letterkenny, Milford, Inishowen, Stranorlar |
| 19th / Early 20th century (some collections digitised) | Other Private/Public Collections Including Railways, National Schools, Landed Estate Papers, Political Papers, Business & Local History Collections |
The collections which are digitised and freely available can be accessed at: https://www.donegalcoco.ie/culture/archives/ under Digitised Archives. (Note: Poor Law unions: records can be viewed on www.findmypast.ie)
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Donegal County Archives Research is by prior appointment only Contact: Niamh Brennan, Donegal County Archives, Donegal County Council, Three Rivers Centre, Lifford, Co. Donegal Email: archivist@donegalcoco.ie Phone: (074) 91 53900 |
Some relevant Donegal County Library Resources:
| Time Period | Title |
| 1630 (hardcopy, digitisation planned) | Muster Rolls, Co. Donegal |
| 1664-66 (hardcopy, digitisation planned) | Hearth Money Rolls |
| 1768 (hardcopy, digitisation planned) | Register of Deeds in County Donegal |
| 1796 (hardcopy, digitisation planned) | Spinning-wheel Premium Entitlement List (Flax List), County Donegal |
| 1833-35 (Digitised) | First Ordnance Survey Maps of County Donegal |
| 1772 – present (microfilm and Irish Newspaper Archives) | Local newspaper archives |
| 17th – 19th Century (hardcopy) | Rare Books Collection |
| 19th century- present (partial digitisation) | Local History Collections |
The collections which are digitised and freely available can be accessed at: https://www.donegallibrary.ie/localfamilyhistory
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Donegal Studies Department, Central Library, Letterkenny opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 9.30am – 5.30pm Email: umathewson@donegalcoco.ie Phone:(074) 91 24950 |
Here are some images from the Roadshow, where we explored the history of Donegal and its people through a combination of our exciting online resource and the wonderful resources available in the Donegal County Archives and at Central Library, Letterkenny.
VRTI Deputy Director Dr Ciarán Wallace presenting an overview of the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland and its parent project, Beyond 2022.
VRTI Census Specialist Dr Brian Gurrin presenting on Donegal records in the Virtual Record Treasury.
Donegal County Archivist Dr Niamh Brennan presenting on resources in the Donegal County Archives.
Donegal Local Studies Librarian Una Mathewson presenting on local studies resources in the Donegal County Library.
Wicklow
On 15 June 2023, Wicklow County Archives hosted the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland in the Wicklow town library for a special event: “Finding Wicklow in the Virtual Record Treasury.”
The room was packed and the audience heard presentations from Ciarán Wallace, Deputy Director of the VRTI, and Brian Gurrin, VRTI Research Fellow and Census Specialist.
Cllr Tommy Annesley, Cathaoirleach, Wicklow County Council, said: “I look forward to welcoming The Virtual Record Treasury Roadshow to Wicklow, which is the first stop on its national tour. We are very proud that Wicklow County Archives is a participating partner in this important project which has virtually reassembled the Irish archives lost in the fire of the Public Records Office in 1922.”
Ms Emer O’Gorman, Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council added: “The Virtual Record Treasury Roadshow highlights the value of archives to everyone, having reassembled 700 years of Irish archives lost during the Civil War. Indeed, archival sources and especially local authority archives have featured strongly in Decade of Centenaries programmes, which have brought local stories and experiences to life. We are very proud of the collections in our own Wicklow County Archives and look forward to a continuing collaboration between Wicklow and the Virtual Record Treasury project.”
