Limerick now home to country's only collection of unique historical archives

A CULTURAL milestone has been reached in Limerick with the launch of a new Archives and Special Collections service by the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS). 

Based at the TUS Moylish campus in Limerick, this newly unveiled archive will house historical records from the university’s founding institutions, including Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) and sister campus, Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT).

Since TUS attained university status in 2021, its library team has worked to curate, catalogue, digitise and make available its collections through the Digital Repository of Ireland, opening access to students, researchers, and the wider public.

The official launch on Thursday, May 15, marked the arrival of significant cultural assets into the public domain. Among the standout collections are: The Brendan O’Brien and Pat Burke Collections, highlighting the All-Ireland Drama Festival, now the RTE All-Ireland Drama Festival.

The Shannon Estuary Report Collection, a donation from renowned environmental scientist Jack O’Sullivan. 

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Speaking at the launch, Professor Vincent Cunnane, President of TUS, said: “We are so proud to host these historical collections. Our library is now home to the country’s only collection of amateur drama records thanks to the donation of the Brendan O’Brien and Pat Burke Collections, while the insights gained from the Shannon Estuary Report Collection will be of immense interest to academics, historians, ecologists and the wider community, and of course has a special place in a university that is itself defined by the river Shannon.

“We are very proud of these collections. The TUS archives have a local, regional and national significance and are central in how we as a young university view ourselves.”

The Brendan O’Brien Collection is particularly striking. It features: Correspondence with legendary Irish cultural figures such as Beatrice Behan, Teresa Deevy, and Hilton Edwards. Signed messages from Presidents Eamon de Valera, Patrick Hillary, Mary Robinson, and figures like Harold Wilson and Liam Cosgrave. Drama Festival programmes spanning decades, and rare memorabilia like the original seating plan for the historic Sportex Hall.

Gearoid O’Brien, son of Brendan O’Brien, described the archive’s significance: “The All-Ireland Drama Festival has been a hugely important part of the cultural life of this country since its inception in 1953. It is a source of great pride to the family that this archive is now housed in TUS. I hope that others will continue to add material to this important archive which is not only of local interest but also of considerable national interest. This will surely be a very important resource for scholars of Irish amateur drama.”

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In a nod to the university’s environmental focus, Jack O’Sullivan, whose donation enriches the Shannon Estuary Collection, added: “Here, in the Library of the Technological University of the Shannon, I hope to see a growing collection of books, reports and manuscripts which will help staff, students and researchers to deepen their understanding of the importance of the natural environment... engaging in practical work to ensure long-term care of the river and its living ecosystems."

The launch event, which took place during the RTE All-Ireland Drama Festival Fringe, also featured a keynote address from Dr Lisa Griffith, Director at the Digital Repository of Ireland, who praised TUS for its vision in preserving and sharing these vital resources.

With this launch, Limerick not only anchors the university’s cultural heart but positions itself as a central node in the national conversation about archives, heritage, and the future of learning.