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Gaelic League
Reference Code: UGA G60
Publication Status: Draft
Level of Description: Collection
Extent and Medium: 605 boxes (+3 map drawers)
Repository: University of Galway Archives
Archival History: Conradh na Gaeilge was founded on 31st July 1893 to promote the Irish language in Ireland and abroad and followed a period of Irish language revival which included an address given by Douglas Hyde in 1892; “The Necessity for De-Anglicising Ireland”. Hyde cofounded the organisation alongside Eoin MacNeill, Eugene Growney, Thomas O’Neill Russell and others and became its first president. Originally intended to be an apolitical organisation, many of its members became involved in Nationalism and it was through the League that many future political leaders and rebels first met. In 1915 Conradh na Gaeilge committed itself to the national movement, at which point Hyde resigned as president feeling that the Irish language should be above politics. Most of the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation were members. The League’s first newspaper “An Claidheamh Soluis” [The Sword of Light] included Patrick Pearse and Eoin MacNeill among its editors. Conradh na Gaeilge’s motto was “Sinn Féin, Sinn Féin amháin” [ourselves, ourselves alone]. After the foundation of the Irish Free State, the organisation had a less prominent role since the Irish language was made compulsory in state-funded schools. However from the 1970s onwards Conradh na Gaeilge was prominently involved in various campaigns involving civil rights, prisoners’ rights, and language rights, the setting up of Irish language television and radio, the enactment of the Official Languages Act [14 July 2003], the establishment of the Irish language as an official language of the European Union [1 January 2007] and the representation of the needs of the Gaeltacht community including the establishment of Údarás na Gaeltachta (1980) and the creation of the position An Coimisinéir Teanga [The Languages Commissioner/ 2003]. In 2008 Conradh na Gaeilge adopted a new constitution reverting to its pre 1915 non-political stance restating its aim as that of an Irish-speaking Ireland and dropping any reference to Irish freedom. Fuarthas Cartlann Chonradh na Gaeilge ó Phríomhoifig Chonradh na Gaeilge i mí Iúil 2018, agus bhí sealbhúchán eile ann ina dhiaidh sin i mí Bealtaine 2019. ***** The Conradh na Gaeilge Archive was acquired from Conradh na Gaeilge Head Office in July 2018, with a subsequent accession in May 2019.
Scope and Content: Conradh na Gaeilge [The Gaelic League] is an organisation which was founded in 1893 to promote the Irish language in Ireland and abroad and the collection encompasses material from this period through to 2018 when it was accessioned. The main body of material comprises records generated by Conradh na Gaeilge headquarters, although it also includes material returned to them by various branches in Ireland and abroad, most notably the London branch. Following on from several 19th century organisations promoting the Gaelic Revival, Conradh na Gaeilge became the main organisation to spearhead the Irish language revival. Its existence has subsequently coincided and overlapped with the revolutionary years leading up to and including the War of Independence, The Civil War and the foundation of the Irish Free State, the early years of the Republic, the turbulent period known as the Troubles which saw human rights issues and political strife come to the fore in Northern Ireland, through to the emergence of a relatively prosperous state. As such the material gives a unique insight into the last 125 years or more of the history of the island of Ireland, with many of its members prominent and active in a wider context. Over the course of its existence, staff were actively involved in promoting and observing the use of Irish across all aspects of everyday activities, and as such the collection includes material relating to the running of classes and events including the annual Seachtain na Gaeilge campaign and Oireachtas competitions. It also includes material relating to Irish language publications, to correspondence with businesses, Government departments, and members of the general public, and to research carried out on minority languages elsewhere. A significant portion of material covers several language rights and fundraising campaigns. In the latter half of the 20th century Conradh na Gaeilge, along with other organisations, was instrumental in community campaigns which led to the creation of Irish language radio and television stations (Raidió na Gaeltachta and TG4 respectively), to the enactment of the Official Languages Act [14 July 2003], and to making Irish an official language of the European Union [1 January 2007]. Campaign material in the collection also includes documents relating to prisoners’ rights and civil rights in Northern Ireland, in particular during the period of the Hunger Strikes [1980-1981]. Tag / Ref: G60
System of Arrangement: The material comprises approximately 125 years of material spanning the period from 1893 to the acquisition of the collection by NUIG in 2018. During this period Conradh headquarters moved six times, and had 32 presidents covering 35 terms. Material was stored in several locations including offsite storage, and had no discernible arrangement. As a result an arrangement was imposed on the collection. This comprises three main sections totalling 45 series. The first section (series 1 – 13) covers the organisation itself and its structure and includes annual reports, policy documents, employee files, administration material, finance material, publications, Ard Fheis [annual congress] minutes, PR and material from various branches and committees. The second series (series 14 – 21) relates to Arts and Culture in general and includes the annual Oireachtas competition, festivals both in Ireland and abroad, music, sport, drama and literature. The final section (series 22 - 45) broadly relates to research including the papers of Donncha Ó Súilleabháin and Giolla Críost Ó Broin and material relating to Patrick Pearse, Northern Ireland, politics, Government departments, businesses and the Bertie Troy collection*. It also contains an extensive series relating to various campaigns involving the organisation. While this collection spans several decades from the foundation of the organisation in 1893 to the acquisition of the collection in 2018, there are notable gaps in the collection. Firstly the material which has been received is from the headquarters of the organisation. It can be safely assumed that much material still rests with the individual branches, and families of former members. In addition a donation of papers by Conradh na Gaeilge was made to the National Library at some stage in the 1940s. It is possible that some of that material is duplicated here. Language: the material in this collection is predominantly in Irish, but also includes material in English including press releases, newspaper cuttings and correspondence. Irish language material consists of both pre and post standardisation of the language (1950s) and many variations of spelling exist throughout as a result. For the purposes of consistency modern spelling is used with older versions also listed where necessary (eg Connradh na Gaedhilge [Conradh na Gaeilge]). A small proportion of material in several other languages was gathered by the organisation for research purposes into the treatment, use and perception of minority languages and their communities. *In February 2018 Conradh na Gaeilge was approached by Roger Troy who had papers including correspondence between an tAthair Peadar [Ua Laoghaire / Fr Peter O’Leary] and Eoin MacNeill among others, which he wished to donate to Conradh na Gaeilge on the proviso the collection be named after his uncle, Bertie.
Conditions Governing Access: The material in this collection will be released in tranches due to the size of the collection. Released material is available to all bona fide researchers and subject to the conditions of access governing the consultation of archival material at the James Hardiman Library. No material may be reproduced from this collection without the written permission of the Library. The most appropriate form of reference is title of item: date of item: reference number (G60/...), James Hardiman Archives, NUI Galway. Open
Existence and Location of Originals: Bá 96, Seomra Stórais Dearg; Tarraiceáin Mhapa Chonradh na Gaeilge (1-3), Seomra Stórais Glas; / Red Store Room Bay 96 - 112 and Green Store Room Map Drawers CnaG 1-3
Dates:
Publication Status: Draft
Level of Description: Collection
Extent and Medium: 605 boxes (+3 map drawers)
Repository: University of Galway Archives
Archival History: Conradh na Gaeilge was founded on 31st July 1893 to promote the Irish language in Ireland and abroad and followed a period of Irish language revival which included an address given by Douglas Hyde in 1892; “The Necessity for De-Anglicising Ireland”. Hyde cofounded the organisation alongside Eoin MacNeill, Eugene Growney, Thomas O’Neill Russell and others and became its first president. Originally intended to be an apolitical organisation, many of its members became involved in Nationalism and it was through the League that many future political leaders and rebels first met. In 1915 Conradh na Gaeilge committed itself to the national movement, at which point Hyde resigned as president feeling that the Irish language should be above politics. Most of the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation were members. The League’s first newspaper “An Claidheamh Soluis” [The Sword of Light] included Patrick Pearse and Eoin MacNeill among its editors. Conradh na Gaeilge’s motto was “Sinn Féin, Sinn Féin amháin” [ourselves, ourselves alone]. After the foundation of the Irish Free State, the organisation had a less prominent role since the Irish language was made compulsory in state-funded schools. However from the 1970s onwards Conradh na Gaeilge was prominently involved in various campaigns involving civil rights, prisoners’ rights, and language rights, the setting up of Irish language television and radio, the enactment of the Official Languages Act [14 July 2003], the establishment of the Irish language as an official language of the European Union [1 January 2007] and the representation of the needs of the Gaeltacht community including the establishment of Údarás na Gaeltachta (1980) and the creation of the position An Coimisinéir Teanga [The Languages Commissioner/ 2003]. In 2008 Conradh na Gaeilge adopted a new constitution reverting to its pre 1915 non-political stance restating its aim as that of an Irish-speaking Ireland and dropping any reference to Irish freedom. Fuarthas Cartlann Chonradh na Gaeilge ó Phríomhoifig Chonradh na Gaeilge i mí Iúil 2018, agus bhí sealbhúchán eile ann ina dhiaidh sin i mí Bealtaine 2019. ***** The Conradh na Gaeilge Archive was acquired from Conradh na Gaeilge Head Office in July 2018, with a subsequent accession in May 2019.
Scope and Content: Conradh na Gaeilge [The Gaelic League] is an organisation which was founded in 1893 to promote the Irish language in Ireland and abroad and the collection encompasses material from this period through to 2018 when it was accessioned. The main body of material comprises records generated by Conradh na Gaeilge headquarters, although it also includes material returned to them by various branches in Ireland and abroad, most notably the London branch. Following on from several 19th century organisations promoting the Gaelic Revival, Conradh na Gaeilge became the main organisation to spearhead the Irish language revival. Its existence has subsequently coincided and overlapped with the revolutionary years leading up to and including the War of Independence, The Civil War and the foundation of the Irish Free State, the early years of the Republic, the turbulent period known as the Troubles which saw human rights issues and political strife come to the fore in Northern Ireland, through to the emergence of a relatively prosperous state. As such the material gives a unique insight into the last 125 years or more of the history of the island of Ireland, with many of its members prominent and active in a wider context. Over the course of its existence, staff were actively involved in promoting and observing the use of Irish across all aspects of everyday activities, and as such the collection includes material relating to the running of classes and events including the annual Seachtain na Gaeilge campaign and Oireachtas competitions. It also includes material relating to Irish language publications, to correspondence with businesses, Government departments, and members of the general public, and to research carried out on minority languages elsewhere. A significant portion of material covers several language rights and fundraising campaigns. In the latter half of the 20th century Conradh na Gaeilge, along with other organisations, was instrumental in community campaigns which led to the creation of Irish language radio and television stations (Raidió na Gaeltachta and TG4 respectively), to the enactment of the Official Languages Act [14 July 2003], and to making Irish an official language of the European Union [1 January 2007]. Campaign material in the collection also includes documents relating to prisoners’ rights and civil rights in Northern Ireland, in particular during the period of the Hunger Strikes [1980-1981]. Tag / Ref: G60
System of Arrangement: The material comprises approximately 125 years of material spanning the period from 1893 to the acquisition of the collection by NUIG in 2018. During this period Conradh headquarters moved six times, and had 32 presidents covering 35 terms. Material was stored in several locations including offsite storage, and had no discernible arrangement. As a result an arrangement was imposed on the collection. This comprises three main sections totalling 45 series. The first section (series 1 – 13) covers the organisation itself and its structure and includes annual reports, policy documents, employee files, administration material, finance material, publications, Ard Fheis [annual congress] minutes, PR and material from various branches and committees. The second series (series 14 – 21) relates to Arts and Culture in general and includes the annual Oireachtas competition, festivals both in Ireland and abroad, music, sport, drama and literature. The final section (series 22 - 45) broadly relates to research including the papers of Donncha Ó Súilleabháin and Giolla Críost Ó Broin and material relating to Patrick Pearse, Northern Ireland, politics, Government departments, businesses and the Bertie Troy collection*. It also contains an extensive series relating to various campaigns involving the organisation. While this collection spans several decades from the foundation of the organisation in 1893 to the acquisition of the collection in 2018, there are notable gaps in the collection. Firstly the material which has been received is from the headquarters of the organisation. It can be safely assumed that much material still rests with the individual branches, and families of former members. In addition a donation of papers by Conradh na Gaeilge was made to the National Library at some stage in the 1940s. It is possible that some of that material is duplicated here. Language: the material in this collection is predominantly in Irish, but also includes material in English including press releases, newspaper cuttings and correspondence. Irish language material consists of both pre and post standardisation of the language (1950s) and many variations of spelling exist throughout as a result. For the purposes of consistency modern spelling is used with older versions also listed where necessary (eg Connradh na Gaedhilge [Conradh na Gaeilge]). A small proportion of material in several other languages was gathered by the organisation for research purposes into the treatment, use and perception of minority languages and their communities. *In February 2018 Conradh na Gaeilge was approached by Roger Troy who had papers including correspondence between an tAthair Peadar [Ua Laoghaire / Fr Peter O’Leary] and Eoin MacNeill among others, which he wished to donate to Conradh na Gaeilge on the proviso the collection be named after his uncle, Bertie.
Conditions Governing Access: The material in this collection will be released in tranches due to the size of the collection. Released material is available to all bona fide researchers and subject to the conditions of access governing the consultation of archival material at the James Hardiman Library. No material may be reproduced from this collection without the written permission of the Library. The most appropriate form of reference is title of item: date of item: reference number (G60/...), James Hardiman Archives, NUI Galway. Open
Existence and Location of Originals: Bá 96, Seomra Stórais Dearg; Tarraiceáin Mhapa Chonradh na Gaeilge (1-3), Seomra Stórais Glas; / Red Store Room Bay 96 - 112 and Green Store Room Map Drawers CnaG 1-3
Dates:
- [1780]-21/11/2019 (creation)
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