The Hesburgh Libraries
The Hesburgh Libraries has one of the most extensive Irish-language collections in the world. In support of the Keough-Naughton Institute of Irish Studies, the collection boasts some 8,500 books and other materials on all aspects of Irish language studies. In addition to printed books and journals, an extensive microfilm collection, a DVD collection, and large collections of pamphlets and other ephemera, the Rare Books & Special Collections has an Irish manuscript collection and a large collection of signed first editions. Online resources extend the collections beyond the library walls, and our holdings include all major digitized collections of Irish materials.
Areas of strength:
Tomás de Bhaldraithe Collection
A collection of books from the estate of Tomás de Bhaldraithe includes correspondence, notes and theses from the collection of Tomás de Bhaldraithe, Irish scholar and lexicographer. The Tomás de Bhaldraithe Collection includes 54 items, dating from 1939 to 1985. It includes 10 theses, 3 letters from Máirtín Ó Cadhain to de Bhaldraithe, 1 letter from Máire Mhac an tSaoi to de Bhaldraithe, materials relating to academic positions for both de Bhaldraithe and Ó Cadhain, manuscript lists of words from Ó Cadhain’s writings, and press cuttings and lectures regarding Ó Cadhain.
Early Irish Print Collection
The core is a collection of seventeenth-century books acquired in 2006.
The papers of Éilís Ní Dhuibhne
The Éilís Ní Dhuibhne collection is comprised of handwritten, typescript, and computer printout manuscripts in various stages of development for novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, and poems by the author, as well as related miscellany (including drawings and a video recording). Titles well-represented within the collection include the novels The Dancers Dancing, Singles, The Sparkling Rain, the play Dún na mBan Trí Thine, and television series Glenroe and Ros na Rún.
Pádraig Ó Concheanainn Papers
A collection of papers of Pádraig Ó Concheanainn (c. 1907-1988), relating mainly to his work as secretary of the Irish-language publisher, An Clóchomhar. The largest group of letters is correspondence from author Dónall Mac Amhlaigh. The collection also includes some personal papers and items relating to the Ó Concheanainn family.
Eugene O’Curry Manuscript Copy of Félire Oengusso.
A copy, transcribed by Eugene O’Curry (1794-1862), of a manuscript, Félire Oengusso, (The Martyrology of Oengus), bound in Dublin by the Sign of the Three Candles. The manuscript was given to the University by Shane Leslie in 1944.
Tom O'Flaherty Collection
A collection of papers of Tom O'Flaherty (Tomás Ó Flaithearta)(1890-1936) of the Aran Islands, including manuscript and typescript fiction and autobiography, and letters, all apparently written from 1933 to 1935 after his return to Ireland from the United States, where he lived for twenty-one years. The papers included drafts of short stories and of chapters of an autobiographical novel.
Uilliam Ó Foghludha Manuscript
Nineteenth-century manuscript book containing religious writing, verse, notes and shopping lists. The scribe was William Ó Foghludha (William Foley). The volume was given to the University by the Rev. E. P. Lorigan of Chilton, Wisconsin.
J. J. O’Kelly Papers
A collection of the papers of J.J. O’Kelly (Sceilg) and of his family.
Risteárd Ó Glaisne Collection
A large collection of Irish language books, mainly from the twentieth century. Books from the collection of Risteárd Ó Glaisne are in the Hesburgh Library and also in the RBSC. Special collections include the novels of Cathal Ó Sándair and a collection of plays in the Irish language