Public Roadshow rolls into town at Longford Library

Longford County Archives will host a roadshow entitled ‘Finding Longford in the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland’ in Longford library on Thursday, May 1 at 7.30pm.

This is a chance for people with an interest in local history to learn about the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland (VRTI), an exciting new online resource. The roadshow is open to all.

When the Public Record Office of Ireland was destroyed in June 1922, at the beginning of the Civil War, archives stretching back seven centuries were lost.

The VRTI, which was launched in 2022, is an online reconstruction of the office. The project is a collaboration involving historians, archivists, and computer scientists.

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The VRTI is an open-access resource, freely and permanently available online to all those interested in Ireland’s deep history at home and abroad which aims to bring ordinary lives buried in official documents back into the light.

Led by Trinity College Dublin, the project is supported through the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media under Project Ireland 2040.

Longford County Archives is one of about seventy partners in the VRTI from around the world. It has contributed items from its collections including two manuscript books from County Longford Grand Jury, covering the period 1759-1907. In addition, there is a wealth of locally related material available in the treasury.

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The event will include contributions from Dr Ciarán Wallace, Dr Lynn Kilgallon and Dr Brian Gurrin from the treasury team, and from Martin Morris, Archivist in Longford County Council.

Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Mark Casey welcomed the roadshow saying, “Longford County Council commends the great work being carried out by the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland. We are delighted to be a partner in this hugely important project for archives and local history in the county and country.”

Longford County Council Chief Executive Paddy Mahon said, “The Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland is an invaluable resource that brings our shared history to life. For local authorities, it opens up a treasure trove of material that deepens our connection to place, heritage, and identity. It is a powerful tool for education, engagement, and pride in our communities.”

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‘Finding Longford in the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland’ will take place in Longford Library on Thursday, May 1 from 7.30pm to 9pm. Attendance for the roadshow is free but booking is essential.

Enquiries can be made to Longford County Library and Archives on 043 3341124 or by contacting archivist@longfordcoco.ie