A Career in Archives and Records

Ireland
Employment
Overseas Students
Employers' Requirements

Ireland
Ireland is a country with a unique manuscript heritage but with a poor archival tradition. The manuscript legacy of our monastic foundations was a rich one. Its influence was widespread particularly on the script and decoration of early medieval manuscripts. This was one of the nationís greatest contributions to European culture and one of which we can be justly proud. For historical reasons we have a weak and relatively recent archival tradition. Such a tradition is greatly dependent on central government and on its commitment to the preservation of its own archives. The absence of indigenous government in Ireland for many centuries prevented the development of a tradition of archival preservation until after the Act of Union in 1801 when the situation ameliorated greatly. The foundation of the Public Record Office of Ireland in 1867 was a milestone in the history of Irish archives.

The most important initiatives since 1922 in the Republic of Ireland were the passage of a number of laws: the National Archives Act in 1986 which places an explicit responsibility on central government to preserve its archives and the Local Government Act in 1994 which makes the preservation of local authority archives mandatory. The Freedom of Information Act in 1997 and Data Protection Act of 1988 and Data Protection (Amendment) Act of 2003 have led many institutions to reassess their standard of record keeping practices in the interests of greater accountability and public expectation. The National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997 has established control for the export of archives. Nevertheless by European standards we have a relatively new and evolving archival tradition. Those wishing to work as archivists in Ireland can help shape and influence our archival tradition, a prospect which makes the career of archivist particularly exciting.

In the last thirty years the preservation of archives in Ireland has become commonplace and there has been growing acceptance of the need for professionalism in doing so. This impetus has been enhanced by the commitment of a wide range of institutions and bodies to preserve their archives; by the establishment of a number of specialised societies which promote expertise in the management of archives, namely the Society of Archivists, Ireland, the Irish Society for Archives and the Association of Church Archivists of Ireland; by the publication of professional standards by the Society of Archivists, Ireland, Standards for the Development of Archives Services in Ireland (1997); by the availability of a skilled workforce facilitated by dedicated professional education; by the increasing use of archives in research work, publications and in media productions; and by an increasing emphasis on good record keeping practices as a means of ensuring public confidence in corporate functioning and institutional accountability.

In Ireland there are two central archivesóthe National Archives of Ireland in Dublin and the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland in Belfast, founded under the Public Records (Northern Ireland) Act (1923); and three great manuscript librariesóthe National Library of Ireland, the library of the Royal Irish Academy, and the library of Trinity College Dublin. An increasing number of universities and colleges, business and commercial institutions, private organisations and corporate bodies also employ professional archivists. There has been great commitment to the preservation of archives by the various churches and by Roman Catholic dioceses and congregations. The growth of specialised archives services in areas such as theatre and architecture has also been significant. Many local authorities have responded to the passage of the Local Government Act 1994 by employing archivists and it must be assumed that others will do so in coming years. Archives services and corporate archives in Ireland are detailed in Seamus Helferty and Raymond RefaussÈ (eds.), Directory of Irish Archives, 4th Edition (2003).

Employment
Many of the positions available for archivists in Ireland are new ones. Consequently recently qualified archivists have a substantial responsibility in setting acceptable standards of professional services and conduct. Archives services often employ only one archivist and as a result that archivist often makes professional decisions in isolation. The Higher Diploma in Archival Studies strives to educate archivists who are as self-sufficient as possible. There is also a policy of balancing the demand for archivists and the availability of professional posts on the one hand and the number of places offered on the Higher Diploma in Archival Studies course each year on the other.

Overseas students
Students from overseas may apply for the Higher Diploma in Archival Studies course but they must satisfy the same admissionsí criteria as other students and it is important that they already have some pre-course experience of working in archives services. Course elements are taught mainly in English but occasionally with a focus on other languages (see HDAS 2-4, 5-2). Although the core of the course, Archival science and records services, is applicable to an archivist working almost anywhere in the world, some course elements are particularly relevant to students who intend working in Ireland. As presently constituted all course elements (except HDAS 5-6) are tested by examination and none are optional. Overseas applicants should note that fees are higher for students from countries outside the European Union.

Trainees are welcome from the United Kingdom. It must be noted that there are differences between the archival traditions of Ireland, England and Wales, and Scotland. Additional reading would have to be carried out by any student who takes the Higher Diploma in Archival Studies and who intends seeking employment outside of Ireland.

The Higher Diploma in Archival Studies is subject to regular scrutiny by the Society of Archivists which recognises the qualification it provides. Useful links to sites providing details of similar archives education courses in the United Kingdom may befound on the Society's website.

Employers’ requirements
The requirements of archives services and other employers in appointing archivists may vary. In some cases a first- or second-class honours degree is considered essential. History is occasionally stipulated as a degree subject although other subjects such as literature, languages or geography may also be sought. Latin may be required for posts in archives services that preserve large quantities of medieval or ecclesiastical records. A high level of computer literacy is now essential for all posts, knowledge of technology is desirable and a clean driving licence is sometimes a requisite. A professional qualification is mandatory for most positions and some employers also request membership or registered membership of the Society of Archivists.