Finding Kilkenny in the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland and
The Statute of Kilkenny Book Launch
In June 1922 the Public Record Office of Ireland was destroyed in the battle of the Four Courts, the opening engagement of the Civil War. In a single afternoon seven centuries of Irish history went up in flames. The Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland is an all-island and international research programme working to digitally reconstruct, as far as possible, these lost archives. By tracking down copies and transcripts in libraries and archives around Ireland and overseas we have recovered tens of thousands of documents relating to every corner of Ireland, making them available online free of charge.
On 25 November 2025 Kilkenny County Council Library Service will host the Virtual Treasury Roadshow + The Statute of Kilkenny Book Launch - exploring the history of Kilkenny and its people through the lens of these exciting resources.
The launch of The Statute of Kilkenny, edited by Professor Keith Busby and published by the Irish Manuscripts Commission, will take place after the Roadshow, and will feature short remarks by Professor John McCafferty (Chair of IMC), and an introduction by Dr Peter Crooks (Co-Director of VRTI, IMC Commissioner).
Attendance is free and all are welcome.
Date: Tuesday 25 November 2025
Times: 6:45 pm - 9:00 pm
Venue: Mayfair Library, Parliament Street, Kilkenny, R95 N23R
Phone: 056 7794174 Email: mayfair@kilkennylibrary.ie
Please note that numbers are limited due to venue capacity.
Speakers:
- Alicia Dunphy – Local Studies Library Staff Officer, Kilkenny County Council Library Service
- ○ Local resources in Kilkenny
- Ciarán Wallace - Deputy Director, Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland:
- ○ Ireland’s public records: destruction and recovery
- Lynn Kilgallon - Virtual Record Treasury Research Fellow:
- ○ Medieval Kilkenny records in the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland
- Brian Gurrin - Virtual Record Treasury Research Fellow:
- ○ Kilkenny census records in the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland
The Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland research programme is supported by the Irish Government through funding from the Department of Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport under Project Ireland 2040.