Survey of religious archives in Ireland

Abstract

The archives of religious organisations are some of the most significant, contested and least accessible repositories in Ireland. The decreasing size of the country’s Roman Catholic religious congregations and the reorganisation of dioceses means that these archives also represent some of the island’s most endangered collections. Aiming to address the need for more transparency about these repositories and to raise awareness of their vulnerability, this research presents the findings of a survey of Irish religious archives that was carried out in the Spring/Summer of 2022. Divided into four sections, the findings provide quantitative data about a range of subjects, such as the content of repositories, the training level of staff, and the distribution of their work. In addition, the paper presents qualitative information about what it is like to work in a religious archive, what people in these roles find difficult or interesting, and what meaning they, and the organisations they work for, attach to their records. The paper brings into relief the significance that many of those working in religious archives attach to the provision of access and the barriers to this process, such as resourcing and organisational culture. Drawing on international comparators, the paper highlights some of the central challenges facing contemporary religious archives in Ireland. It also highlights the need for a concerted effort to realise the opportunities that exist to preserve and increase access to these resources.