Breandán Mac Giolla Choille 
1920-2006

Breandán Mac Giolla Choille was born in Holywood, Co. Down in 1920, and was educated at St Mary’s Christian Brothers’ Secondary School, Belfast, and at University College Galway. He obtained first class honours B.A. in Irish, English and History in 1942, followed a year later by first cass honours M.A. in Old and Middle Irish, and a Higher Diploma in Education.

He was appointed an assistant (equivalent to archivist) in the Public Record Office of Ireland and State Paper Office in 1945, and in 1956 was promoted to the posts of Keeper of State Papers and Assistant Deputy Keeper of Public Records. In 1971, following the retirement of Margaret Griffith, he became Deputy Keeper of Public Records, while continuing as Keeper of State Papers, and he remained in these posts until his retirement at the age of 65 in June 1985. As Deputy Keeper, he also served 
for more than a decade as a member of the Irish Manuscripts Commission and was one of the two joint directors of the Irish Manuscripts Commission’s Business Records Survey. He was a founder member of the Irish Society for Archives. Following his retirement, he acted as consultant archivist to the Franciscan Order on two very significant collections—the Eamon de Valera and Seán MacEoin papers, now deposited in UCD Archives.

Over the course of his working life in archives, he initiated and oversaw a series of profound changes which revolutionised access to and use of public archives. These included the acceptance in principle of the 30-year rule in the 1970s. He had a major hand in drafting the bill which, as the National Archives Act, 1986, passed into law 
just after his retirement  and gave statutory effect to this principle. The degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, was conferred on him by the National University of 
Ireland in 1993, in recognition of his dedication to the cause of archives and his 
many services to their users.

David Craig, Ken Hannigan
National Archives
Photograph courtesy of Aideen Ireland, National Archives

Index

Patrick Greene 1900–2007

Distinguished teacher, historian and celebrated collector of folk stories Patrick Greene died on 22 February at the age of 106. Born in Ballinalee, County Longford, he was particularly interested in the Travellers’ oral tradition and published some of their stories in his book To Shorten the Road (1970s). He spent many years working with Travellers’ education programmes and teaching Cant to the younger generation of Travellers. He was a well-know singer and was the longest serving member of the Irish Folklore Society.