New Fingal Local Studies and Archives building officially open its doors

Fingal Local Studies & Archives has officially opened its new facilities at 46 North Street, Swords after its move from its previous location in Clonmel House, Swords.

The new location provides a valuable service with a much-improved location, with a clearer street presence and closer proximity to the planned multi-million euro Swords Cultural Quarter. Eventually, it is intended that the Local Studies & Archives will move to the proposed County Library building in the Cultural Quarter.

Betty Boardman, Fingal County Librarian, said about the move, ‘Moving Local Studies and Archives into 46 North Street, brings the service into the developing Swords Cultural Quarter, opening it up to a wider audience to explore the history of the County or their own family history’

Fingal County Council Interim Chief Executive, AnnMarie Farrelly, spoke at the opening and added, ‘I am delighted that Fingal Local Studies and Archive is now located in the heart of Swords Cultural Quarter which will provide greater access to the public. I would also like to pay special tribute to the important work that our Archivist and librarians do especially during this decade of commemorations as we reflect on our local and national history.’ 

Fingal Local Studies & Archives provides citizens with a free, accessible, user-friendly and professional library and archive service. It is a research facility for anyone interested in the local, family or social history of Dublin, with particular reference to Fingal.

The Local Studies Collection comprises many books, pamphlets, postcards, photographs, artefacts, ephemera and newspapers. These are invaluable when undertaking local history or house history research.

Karen De Lacey, Archivist for Fingal County Council, said, "Fingal Local Studies & Archives are delighted to have moved to our new building in the heart of the planned Swords Cultural Quarter. We look forward to continuing our work welcoming those interested in the local, family or social history of Dublin, with particular reference to Fingal."

Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Eoghan O’Brien, who attended the official opening, also added: ‘It is great to see Fingal Local Studies and Archives, which is such an invaluable service and resource for the residents of Fingal, moving into their newly repurposed building right on the doorstep of Swords. The new building is fully dedicated to the service and will provide greater access to the public with its street-facing position. The collections available from here provide a fantastic resource for anyone interested in the history and heritage of Fingal.’

The Archive holds both public and privately-created collections. The private records include collections either acquired or donated to the Archives, such as: The Hely-Hutchinson Collection; The Fingall Estate Papers; the Papers of the Hamilton Estate, Barons of Abbottstown; the Records of Cloghran Stud; papers relating to the Battle of Ashbourne 1916, and Bridgid Connolly; the Shackleton Mill Archives, the Minutes of the Fingal Farming Society, and a number of other small collections.

Public records include those of Fingal County Council, Dublin County Council and predecessor bodies such as the Grand Jury of Dublin County, the Boards of Guardians and Poor Law Unions. Additionally, there are records from the Dublin County Rural District Councils, Boards of Health, Balbriggan Town Commissioners, Howth Urban District Council and other local bodies.

It also provides access to a variety of databases and digital resources such as the Irish Newspaper Archives, Dictionary of Irish Biography, JStor, Find My Past etc.

Local Studies & Archives is open by appointment Monday-Friday from 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm. We can be contacted on: (01) 8704496 / (01) 8704495 or at [email protected] and [email protected] .