Well-known broadcaster John Creedon has praised a number of County Tipperary groups for their outstanding work in preserving and sharing local history and heritage online.
Mr Creedon was the special guest at the recent annual gathering of the Irish Community Archive Network (iCAN), which took place this year in County Tipperary.
The event was co-hosted by Róisín O’Grady, Heritage Officer, Tipperary County Council, in collaboration with voluntary heritage groups from across the county. It took place at the Great National Ballykisteen Hotel.
The Tipperary groups involved in iCAN are Cahir Social and Historical Society; Ormond Historical Society; Borrisoleigh Heritage and Culture; Tipperary in the Decade of Revolution; and Our Slieveardagh Hills.
iCAN is an initiative of the National Museum of Ireland and the Heritage Council, delivered in partnership with local authority Heritage Officers nationwide. It supports community groups in digitising, preserving and sharing their local history through online archives.
Lorna Elms, iCAN Development Officer with the National Museum of Ireland, said: “We are very grateful to Róisín O’Grady and our dedicated iCAN members in County Tipperary for hosting such a successful national gathering.
“These groups play a vital role in documenting local history and heritage, contributing significantly to the growth of community archives across Ireland. This annual event provides a valuable opportunity to celebrate this collective work while sharing ideas, knowledge and experience.”
Róisín O’Grady, Heritage Officer, Tipperary County Council, said: “We were delighted to host this year’s iCAN gathering, in partnership with the National Museum and the Heritage Council, and to welcome members from across Ireland.
“It was a privilege to bring together so many community groups who are at the heart of this innovative initiative and to showcase our own work in Co. Tipperary. We hope the learning and celebration further empowers iCAN members to build and grow their digital archives.”
To date, iCAN has supported the creation and development of 55 online archives in counties Clare, Cork, Galway, Mayo, Tipperary, Sligo, and Wicklow, with eight more in development in Carlow and Limerick. The initiative aims to support up to 80 digital archives across Ireland by 2028.
For more information, visit: www.museum.ie; www.ouririshheritage.org; www.heritagetipperary.org
1. Members of Cahir Social and Historical Society photographed with special guest John Creedon at the national annual gathering of the Irish Community Archive Network in the Great National Ballykisteen Hotel, Co. Tipperary. From left: John O’Reilly; John Creedon; Eleanor Morrissey; and PJ O’Meara.
iCAN
2. Photographed at the national annual gathering of the Irish Community Archive Network in the Great National Ballykisteen Hotel, Co. Tipperary is John Flannery, Ormond Historical Society; John Connors, Borrisoleigh Heritage and Culture; Cllr Roger Kennedy, Cathaoirleach, Tipperary Cahir Cashel Municipal District; and Eddie Stapleton, Borrisoleigh Heritage and Culture
iCAN
3. Margaret O’Brien (left) and Katy Goodhue, from Our Slieveardagh Hills at the national annual gathering of the Irish Community Archive Network in the Great National Ballykisteen Hotel, Co Tipperary
iCAN
4. Photographed at the national annual gathering of the Irish Community Archive Network hosted in the Great National Ballykisteen Hotel, Co. Tipperary were, from left: Lorna Elms, iCAN Development Officer, Virginia Teehan, Chief Executive, The Heritage Council; Cllr Roger Kennedy, Cathaoirleach, Tipperary Cahir Cashel Municipal District; Dr Éimear O’Connor, Interim Director, National Museum of Ireland; and Róisín O’Grady, Heritage Officer, Tipperary County Council
iCAN