Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich Memorial Library & Archive Trust
Activities Report 2023-24
Governance
Throughout the year the Trustees have met regularly to oversee the running of the Library & Archive Trust in accordance with the Deed of Trust, with reports of activities being provided by the Director.
Collections
During the year work was completed on two major collections at CÓFLA. Cataloguing of the Chapman Quaker Collection was completed with over 500 titles added to the book catalogue and several periodical lines also added. A grant from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs Reconciliation Fund also enable the CÓFLA to catalogue, digitised and make public around 4,000 new items in relation to Cardinal Ó Fiaich’s papers. These were all drawn from material relevant to the Conflict between 1969 and the Cardinal’s death in 1990.
Alongside these larger project a large volume of titles were added to the online book catalogue and work was begun on reorganising the sports collections. The work of the CÓFLA has been supported by the Department for Communities and the Archdiocese of Armagh.
Engagement and Outreach
The Library & Archive staff worked with partners in the City Chapter, PRONI, Armagh Robinson Library and Local Council to deliver a number of events in 2023-24. Talks and courses were held in Armagh, Glengormley, Holywood, Lisburn, Maghery, Strabane and also online.
A series of lectures were delivered to mark both the CÓFLA’s 25[th] Anniversary year and the centenary of the birth of Cardinal Ó Fiaich. The archive also worked with the City Chapter on events to celebrate National Poetry Day, World Book Day and the St Patrick’s Festival with its partners in the City Chapter and with the Armagh Robinson Library on a major conference, The Primacy of Peace , which looked at the role of the Armagh archbishops in the Peace Process in N Ireland.
Networking
The Director continued to participate in meetings of the PRONI User Forum and with the Federation for Ulster Local Studies during the year.
Events and Activities
The CÓFLA continued to provide a meeting space for local groups during the year, particularly the Armagh branch of the U3A. A community art class was again held in the autumn and Spring of 2023 and 2024.