Deep History, Deepening Collaborations

22 Strand 3 INSPIRE (Integrating State Papers Ireland) Unlocking the Story of Early Modern Ireland, 1660–1715 The decades immediately following Oliver Cromwell’s death in 1658 were marked by dramatic events in Ireland. While Charles II regained control of the kingdom in 1660, his Catholic brother James II lost it to his nephew, William of Orange. Their two armies clashed in battles at the Boyne and Aughrim before James capitulated in 1691 and a Protestant-only administration was confirmed in Dublin. How did these tumultuous times affect daily life in Ireland? State Papers Ireland, held at The National Archives (UK), runs continuously from 1509 to 1782. They are a vital source for understanding this pivotal period in Ireland’s history. Letters between Dublin Castle and Whitehall give fascinating insights into the English administration of Ireland. Senior officials grapple with policy problems and the demands of governing. Junior officials carry out their duties while complaining about the lack of money. But there is more than just politics. Among the descriptions of conquest and war, religious persecution, and plantation, we also see ordinary life. In their petitions to the crown for clemency, appeals for justice or pardon, and lobbying for government jobs we encounter Irish people struggling to find a footing in the rapidly changing country. INSPIRE concentrates on the years from Charles II’s restoration in 1660 to the death of Queen Anne in 1714 and the beginnings of Hanoverian Ireland. Research will focus on State Papers Ireland (SP 63) and the Signet Office Ireland (SO 1) series. By integrating these 80 volumes of records (15,000 individual items) with related records in other repositories in Ireland and Britain, INSPIRE will paint a vivid picture of the period. Harnessing emerging technologies, the research will link images, summaries, and machine-generated transcriptions, making the historical content freely available to the international research community and the general public. Team Dr Neil Johnston, The National Archives (UK); Simon Neal