More than 100 members of voluntary history and heritage groups from across Ireland have shared and celebrated their work at the National Annual Gathering of the Irish Community Archive Network (iCAN).
The event was co-hosted this year by Róisín O’Grady, Heritage Officer, Tipperary County Council, at the Great National Ballykisteen Hotel, in collaboration with voluntary heritage groups from across Co Tipperary.
Broadcaster John Creedon was a special guest speaker at the event and he praised the breadth and scope of the work being undertaken by the iCAN members in attendance.
(Image: Members of Cahir Social and Historical Society photographed with special guest John Creedon)
iCAN is an initiative of the National Museum of Ireland and the Heritage Council, delivered in partnership with local authority Heritage Officers nationwide. It supports community groups in digitising, preserving and sharing their local history through online archives.
(Image: From left: Lorna Elms, iCAN Development Officer, Virgina Teehan, Chief Executive, The Heritage Council; Cllr Roger Kennedy, Cathaoirleach, Tipperary Cahir Cashel Municipal District; Dr Éimear O’Connor, Interim Director, National Museum of Ireland; and Róisín O’Grady, Heritage Officer, Tipperary County Council.)
Lorna Elms, iCAN Development Officer with the National Museum of Ireland, said:
We are very grateful to our members across Ireland for their contribution to a successful national gathering. These groups play a vital role in documenting local history and heritage, contributing significantly to the growth of community archives across Ireland. This annual event provides a valuable opportunity to celebrate this collective work while sharing ideas, knowledge and experience.”
(Image: iCAN members at the annual national gathering in Co. Tipperary)
To date, iCAN has supported the creation and development of 55 online archives in counties Clare, Cork, Galway, Mayo, Tipperary, Sligo, and Wicklow, with eight more in development in Carlow and Limerick. The initiative aims to support up to 80 digital archives across Ireland by 2028.
For more information, visit www.museum.ie and ouririshheritage.org.