Deep History, Deepening Collaborations

5 On June 30th, 1922, Public Record Office of Ireland (PROI) at the Four Courts, Dublin, was destroyed in the opening engagement of the Civil War. The ‘Record Treasury’ of the PROI was a magnificent archive that held seven centuries of Ireland’s records. This priceless cultural storehouse was destroyed in a single afternoon. One Hundred Years After the Four Courts Blaze, the Treasury was Reborn On June 27th, 2022, the public was invited to pass once again through the doors of the lost archive, and to explore its beautiful architecture and its collections in digital form. The Virtual Treasury reconstructs over seven centuries of Ireland’s documentary heritage. The earliest record to survive dates from 1174, shortly after the Normans first came to Ireland and the island was claimed as a possession of the English crown. The Virtual Treasury takes us on a journey into the Irish past — into Ireland’s deep history . This is only possible, and sustainable, through partnership — through deepening collaborations with our partners, across Ireland and around the world. With the active support of over 75 participating institutions, the Virtual Treasury reunites historical materials held in archives at national and local level with related historical collections overseas. The Virtual Treasury celebrates the role of these memory institutions as custodians of Irish culture. Key Achievements and Outcomes of Phase II (2019–22) Centenary Digital Offering — now exceeding 60 million words of manuscripts (handwritten texts) made searchable through Artificial Intelligence, with total content set to double by 2025. Map Room — with over 6,000 historical maps of Ireland, including a complete set of maps from the Down Survey of Ireland. Conservation — of the 1922 Salved Records (National Archives, Ireland) and other early treasures held in The National Archives (UK) and Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. Knowledge Graph for Irish History — published as five-star Linked Open Data, featuring over 2.7 million meaningful ‘statements’ or ‘triples.’ Gold Seams — full reconstructions of entire archival series destroyed in 1922. Three Gold Seams (Medieval Exchequer, Cromwellian Surveys, and 1766 Religious Census) were launched in 2022, and more will be presented by 2025 through the collaboration of Core Partners. Web3D — reconstruction of the Public Record Office of Ireland, accompanied by a curated exhibition narrating the story of the Four Courts occupation and fire in 1922. The virtual exhibition has attracted over 14,000 visitors since launch. Engagement — 225+ public outreach activities engaging the general public and research community, in Ireland and overseas. Publications — 50+ research articles in History, Computer Science and Archival studies. ogramme,