Virtual history roadshow visits Kilkenny library

Over 80 people were in attendance at the event last week

Published 7th Dec 2025, 14:00 BST Brian Gurrin speaking at the event Over 80 people were in attendance at the event last week Sign up to our Kilkenny Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Kilkenny Live within your account.

Kilkenny County Council Library Service hosted the Virtual Treasury Roadshow at Mayfair Library last week, offering the public a unique opportunity to explore Kilkenny’s rich history through cutting-edge digital resources.

The evening also marked the launch of the Irish Manuscripts Commission’s latest publication: The Statute of Kilkenny, edited by renowned scholar Dr Keith Busby.

The Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland is an ambitious project that restores access to seven centuries of Irish history lost during the destruction of the Public Record Office in 1922.

Since its launch in June 2022, the Treasury has provided free online access to tens of thousands of reconstructed records with over 50 million words of searchable text sourced from seventy archives worldwide.

The Kilkenny Roadshow, attended by over 80 people, showcased how these digital records illuminate the lives of local communities in Kilkenny from medieval times to the 19th century.

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Dr Ciarán Wallace commented: “It was a most successful event, which is down to the excellent venue and the equally excellent library team. A full house and lots of chat afterwards is always a good sign!”

County Librarian Josephine Coyne added: “This rich treasury of records provides vital access to all interested in Irish history and brings ordinary lives buried in official documents back into the light”.

Other speakers included Alicia Dunphy, Lynn Kilgallon and Brian Gurrin from the Virtual Treasury team, who presented insights into the project’s research and its significance for Kilkenny.

The evening concluded with the launch of The Statute of Kilkenny. The Statute passed in 1366, is one of medieval Ireland’s most controversial documents, reflecting efforts to regulate relations between English settlers and the Gaelic Irish.

Remarks were delivered by Professor John McCafferty and Dr Peter Crooks, highlighting the historical and cultural significance of this work.

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