Sir, – Fintan O'Toole highlighted some of the problems in the archival sector in his recent piece "Ireland fails to preserve the records that constitute public memory" (February 23rd).
If funding is not increased, there will be large gaps in our archives in the future and we as a society will be to blame. This need for funding applies not only to governmental archives but also to community and private archives. One of the examples Ireland could look to emulate is Canada under the Documentary Heritage Communities Program, which provides grants to a wide array of non-profit organisations, such as archives, historical societies or heritage organisations. These grants help to “ensure that Canada’s continuing memory is documented, preserved and accessible” and increase “awareness of and access to local and regional histories that should be shared across the country”. The grants have enabled archives to launch projects that otherwise would not have happened. While acknowledging the great work funded by the Heritage Council, adopting a similar approach as the Canadians would support our documentary heritage and deepen our understanding of Irish history. Most archives are struggling financially across Ireland, a reality exacerbated by the pandemic. If we truly value our heritage in Ireland, we have to start supporting it. – Yours, etc,
RONAN DOHENY
Kilkenny.