A Century of Recovery – and Beyond - Marking the centenary of the Four Courts fire (1922) and the launch of the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland

11 A Century Ago 1838 | Foundation of the Public Record Office at Chancery Lane, London 1867 | Foundation of the Public Record Office of Ireland, Dublin 6 December 1921 | Signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty 13 April 1922 | Occupation of the Four Courts and Public Record Office Anti-Treaty forces occupy the Four Courts complex, including the Public Record Office of Ireland. Public Record Office of Ireland staff relocate to the Record Tower, Dublin Castle. 28 June 1922 | Bombardment of Four Courts Supplied with artillery and ammunition by the British Government, the National (Free State) Army begins bombarding the Four Courts. 30 June 1922 | Destruction of Public Record Office of Ireland The Anti-Treaty republican garrison holds out until 30 June before eventually surrendering. A massive explosion wrecks the east wall of the Record Treasury in the Public Record Office, setting fire to the record within. In a few hours seven centuries of Irish historical records are destroyed. Fragments of records fall to earth across the city, some as far aways as Howth. 3 July 1922 | Commencement of Salvage Operations Staff of the Public Record Office return to the ruins, survey the heartbreaking scene and begin what would become a century of recovery. The salvage operation continues into 1923. 1923 | Foundation of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Belfast The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (Belfast) established on 22 June 1923. In January 1924, David Chart appointed as first Deputy Keeper. Opens to the public on 3 March 1924. 1928 | Foundation of the Irish Manuscripts Commission The Irish Manuscripts Commission established under its first chairman, Eoin MacNeill. The first issue of Analecta Hibernica appears in 1930.