Finder and Keeper
The archives of UCD hold an impressive collection of documents: the records and writings of some of Ireland’s most influential thinkers and politicians. While recently-appointed Director of Archives Acquisitions, Professor Ronan Fanning seeks to grow the collection, its daily care is
entrusted to Principal Archivist Seamus Helferty. Bridget Hourican dons her white gloves for a tour.

On June 10 2009, Newman House hosted a solemn ceremony: the handing over to the UCD Archives of the records and papers of the recently defunct political party, the Progressive Democrats. The four original founding members of the PDs – Mary Harney, Des O’Malley, Michael McDowell and Paul Mackay – were present at the ceremony when the papers, in 150 boxes, were turned over to Ronan Fanning, Professor Emeritus of Modern History and recently-appointed Director of Archives Acquisitions. Behind the dignified ceremony there was a lot of quiet satisfaction. A few months earlier, UCD had overcome the challenge by the University of Limerick, the other contender for the papers, after both universities were invited to make separate submissions to the Progressive Democrats executive. The National Library also emerged as a late contender, but Fanning was helped in making the winning case by the strength of UCD’s archival holdings: these include the papers of, among others, Eamon de Valera, Garret FitzGerald, Kevin O’Higgins, Sean MacEntee, Conor Cruise O’Brien, Frank Aiken, Todd Andrews and TK Whitaker, as well as Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil party papers. The PD papers will be in good company.

YOU CAN READ THE REST OF THIS STORY IN THE 2009/2010 ISSUE OF UCD Connections Magazine, OUT NOW
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