Phone +353 1 407 2300 Founded 1986 | Province Leinster | |
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Address Bishop St, Dublin 8, Ireland Hours Open today · 9:15AM–5PMTuesday9:15AM–5PMWednesday9:15AM–5PMThursday9:15AM–5PMFriday9:15AM–5PMSaturdayClosedSundayClosedMonday9:15AM–5PMSuggest an edit | ||
The National Archives of Ireland (Irish: Cartlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann) is the official repository for the state records of Ireland. Established by the National Archives Act 1986, it came into existence in 1988, taking over the functions of the State Paper Office and the Public Record Office of Ireland. The National Archives moved to its current premises in Bishop Street, Dublin, in 1991. The Archives stand on the site of the Jacob's Factory, one of the garrisons held by rebels during the 1916 Easter Rising.
Contents
The State Paper Office (founded 1702) was originally based in Dublin Castle. The Public Record Office of Ireland was established under the Public Records (Ireland) Act, 1867 to acquire administrative, court and probate records over twenty years old.
1922 destruction
During the Civil War, the Four Courts, where it was based, was seized and the repository building destroyed by detonating explosives, resulting in a fire in June 1922 during the Battle of Dublin, along with most of the records held here, some dating back to the thirteenth century.
When four-fifths of Ireland became independent as the Irish Free State in 1922, the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland was set up to take over the records of that part of Ireland which remained in the United Kingdom.
Holdings
The holdings of the National Archives include: