NAI Records on CAIN
Launch Event - 1 February 2018

Additional batch of records on Anglo Irish relations added to CAIN site

There was an event in Dublin on Thursday 1st February 2018 to mark the launch of a new batch of previously secret records related to anglo-Irish relations. The event was organised by staff from the National Archives, Ireland (NAI) together with staff from CAIN, and it was hosted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) at Iveagh House, headquarters of DFAT. Around 25 people attended the launch which was addressed by: Mr Niall Burgess, Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT); Mr John McDonough, Director of National Archives, Ireland; and Dr Brendan Lynn, Deputy Director of CAIN.

Mr Niall Burgess, Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The work on the new batch of records was carried out as part of an on-going partnership involving the National Archives and Ulster University. Funding for this work was proivded by the Reconciliation Fund within the DFAT.

Mr John McDonough, Director of National Archives, Ireland

Amongst other topics, the newly released material charts: the 1981 Republican Hunger Strike; the fallout from the Falkland Island crisis of 1982; the New Ireland Forum 1983-84; as well as developments which culminated with the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in November 1985. The items selected have been drawn from material which has been released under the 30-year rule but, until now, has not been available on-line.

Dr Brendan Lynn, Deputy Director of CAIN

Notes

The new online archive can be accessed at: http://cain.ulster.ac.uk/nai/.

The CAIN website provides an extensive range of information and source material on the conflict and politics of Northern Ireland from 1968 to the present day. The site is used by a worldwide audience and has received over 21 million visits.

CAIN is based at Ulster University, within INCORE and the School of Criminology, Politics and Social Policy:
(https://www.ulster.ac.uk/faculties/social-sciences/schools/criminology-politics-and-social-policy ).

CAIN is also a component part of ARK (Access Research Knowledge; http://www.ark.ac.uk/) a resource providing access to social and political material on Northern Ireland that informs social and political debate in the region and raises the profile of social science research. ARK is based within the Ulster University and Queen’s University, Belfast.

The National Archives, Ireland occupies a key position in the cultural and intellectual life of the nation, holding the records of the modern Irish State which document its historical evolution and the creation of its national identity. In keeping with its Mission Statement, the National Archives, Ireland secures the preservation of records relating to Ireland which warrant preservation as archives and ensure that appropriate arrangements are made for public access to archives.