Clare County Council’s Heritage Office, working with Mac Conmara Heritage Consulting and supported by the Heritage Council, has announced the commencement of a major county-wide audit of oral heritage collections relating to County Clare.
Undertaking the first comprehensive survey of oral history, folklore and recorded memory collections associated with the county, the audit will provide a detailed picture of the extent, location, condition and significance of Clare’s recorded heritage, creating an essential foundation for its long-term preservation and accessibility.
The initiative builds upon a long tradition of folklore collecting in County Clare. Beginning with Séamus Ó Duilearga’s recordings of native Irish speakers in Doolin in 1929, generations of collectors documented the county’s stories, traditions and local knowledge. Among the most notable was Seán Mac Mathúna of Luogh, whose work, alongside storytellers such as Stiofán Ó hEalaoire, helped preserve an invaluable record of Clare’s oral heritage that continues to inform and inspire today. Despite this rich legacy, many oral heritage collections remain dispersed, uncatalogued or vulnerable. Many remain difficult to discover and some face increasing risks due to the deterioration of analogue media and technological obsolescence.
Welcoming the initiative, Heritage Officer with Clare County Council, Congella McGuire said, “For decades, individuals, families, community groups and organisations have dedicated their time and energy to collecting stories, folklore and local history. This audit will help shine a light on that work, bringing together information about collections across the county while encouraging greater collaboration and awareness. We are delighted to have Mac Conmara Heritage leading this work and also to have Cuimhneamh an Chláir, the county’s leading oral heritage organisation, as a key partner of the project.”
Speaking about the project, Cllr Pat Hayes, who is a founding Chairperson of Cuimhneamh an Chláir, said, “Somewhere in Clare today there are recordings of grandparents, storytellers and local characters sitting in drawers, cupboards or attics. Many were never intended for an archive, but they may now be the only surviving record of a voice, a story or a way of life. It will be important for people to think beyond formal collections and help us identify these hidden recordings, particularly older reel-to-reel tapes, cassettes and other legacy formats that may be at risk of being lost.”
Tara Brady from Mac Conmara Heritage, who will deliver the project, explained, “When people think of oral heritage, they often imagine large archives or academic collections, which are of course an important part of the picture. But a single recording of a grandparent telling stories at the kitchen table can be just as significant. These recordings help us understand not only Clare’s history, but the experiences, traditions and voices of the people who shaped it.”
Collection holders, local history societies, schools, museums, archives, broadcasters and private collectors will be invited to contribute information about oral heritage collections relating to County Clare over the coming months.
Those with recordings of memory or who are aware of any relevant material can be sent by email or call 086 2747230.
