My friend and former director of the National Museum Raghnall Ó Floinn died on December 10th, 2024, after a long illness. One of eight children, Raghnall was born, to Tomás and Sadhbh, in August 1953. He attended Scoil Lorcáin in Monkstown in Dublin and Coláiste Mhuire in the north inner city where his love for the Irish language and culture, initially instilled by his family, deepened.
He studied archaeology at University College Dublin – this was the start of his lifelong relationship with the National Museum. I remember him well as a research student, always being in a hurry. On graduation, he joined the staff of the museum in 1976.
His work as a curator and all that that entailed was of the highest standard. He couriered exhibitions internationally, making friends and building up a wide network of colleagues. Raghnall also saw his role as mentoring younger colleagues and researchers. Like all true scholars, he was happy to share his knowledge and experience with all.
He was promoted to head of collections in 2003 which saw him in charge of six collections departments. While this was a major challenge it was also a major opportunity. He now had a key role in the overall management of the museum which he embraced energetically.
He also oversaw the commencement of a major project of documenting the entire collections of over four million objects. This he undertook with patience, skill and not a little determination.
In 2013, he was appointed director and with it came new problems with new challenges. It was in the middle of the financial downturn. There was pressure to introduce entrance charges which he successfully resisted, maintaining that the national collection should be accessible to the people of the nation. In order to achieve savings he developed and implemented a work force plan which sought to protect the primacy of the collections. He also prepared a Master Vision for the National Museum of Ireland 2018-2033.
His view was that the institution needed a coherent long term strategy to fulfil its potential and provide a service worthy of a national museum.
While Raghnall’s reputation as a curator, art historian and museum director was well earned and deserved there was much more to him than that. During his time in the museum he served for many years on the trade union branch, sometime as chairman.
He was a skilful negotiator and it was these transferable skills and attributes which helped make him a successful director.
On retirement, and despite the onset of serious illness, he organised a major conference in the Royal Irish Academy celebrating the 170th anniversary of the Great Industrial Exhibition of 1853 where he brought together national and international scholars to present papers on topics as diverse as A Great Industrial Exhibition in the Shadow of the Great Famine and The Rise of Consumer Culture in Nineteenth Century Ireland.
He also presented a paper himself on research he carried out on William Dargan, a distant relative by marriage, and the driving force behind the 1853 venture.
When his family moved to Phibsboro he became an active player in his local community. He was involved in drawing up an appeal to An Bórd Pleanála on issues relating to the proposed north metro line and how this would affect the residents and small businesses in the north inner city, during its construction.
He refused to be defined by his illness and he faced death with an optimism that inspired his family and his many friends.
None of his many achievements would have been possible without the support of his loving family. He married his wife Edel, a fellow historian, in 1988 and for the next 36 years they worked together and supported each other in their separate work, academic endeavours and most importantly in raising their children Sorcha and Muiris. They both shared a love of opera and even when his health was deteriorating they travelled to Berlin where they attended operas by Puccini and Donizetti.
I will miss his friendship and his wit and the many evenings we spent in various hostelries putting the world to rights. He will be sadly missed.
