Irish Military Archives

The Irish Military Archives is the official depository for the records of the Irish Department of Defence, the Defence Forces, and the Army Pensions Board, as established by the National Archives Act of 1986.[1]—The function of the archive is to collect, preserve, and make available material relating to the history of the development of the Defence Forces from the formation of the Irish Volunteers in November 1913 to the present day, including overseas service with the United Nations from 1958.

The archives is located in Cathal Brugha Barracks, Rathmines, Dublin.

Collections

Bureau of Military History

Among the archive's collections is that of the Bureau of Military History (1913–21) comprising witness statements, contemporary documents, photographs, press-cuttings and voice recordings, compiled between 1947–1957. It is available to view online.[2]

Military Service Pensions Collection

Two components of the Military Service Pensions Collection have also been launched online.[3] It was described by Professor Diarmuid Ferriter as providing "the final key to the inner life and activity of the revolutionary organisations".[4]

The first two phases which are now online and form part of the Military Service Pensions Collection contain over 600,000 pages documenting the revolutionary period of 1916–1923. The collection was made available on a phased basis leading to 2016.[5]

Other collections

References

  1. ^ "Military Archives". Archived from the original on 2 March 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  2. ^ http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie
  3. ^ "Military Service Pensions Collection 1916-1923". Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  4. ^ Guide to the Military Service Pensions Collection 1916-1923, p110 (2014)
  5. ^ "Military Service Pensions Collection | Online Collections | Collections | Military Archives". Archived from the original on 28 March 2014.
  6. ^ Military Census of the National Army
  7. ^ An tÓglach