Irelands largest local history resource

As we enter the last day of 2024 and the new year is upon us, todays blog post looks at the importance of the archive in telling local histories. Spanning some 262 years, the INA is brimming with information which can shed new light on local and family histories. Whether it be political, social or economic history of a locality, no matter what you are after, you are sure to find it among these millions of pages. Take for example newspaper advertisements. These are the things that still make newspapers profitable and in the past they too were an important source of revenue for proprietors. Tracing newspaper advertisements over a period of time can reveal much about the socio-economic makeup of an Irish town or village. For those interested in family history it reveal information about where people lived and shopped.

Lets take three Irish towns…..Bray, Dunshaughlin and Longford. In the 1930s people in Bray shopped in Tanseys on 20 Quinsboro Road for all items relating to Ladies, Gents and Childrens outfits, a shop which described themselves as dealing in ‘Irish’ made goods. Those seeking drinking glasses in the town (and further afield) could call on ‘Solus’ who sold the superior drinking glass, while Jerry Dawson and his amusements were sure to entertain those in the town and visiting. Newspaper announcements in 1944 tell us that Meath Packers had established in the old workhouse in the town supplying the best of fruit and farm produce. In 1950 the ‘Ardri Hatcheries’ of Dunshaughlin were supplying first class chickens in the area. In the same period in Longford Town, Wilson’s Medical Hall supplied the town with medical needs, as did McCann’s . In Longford in the late 1920s the Palace Cinema was the place to be on Great Water Street.

So explore your local town and village and see what advertisements in the past exist! Happy New Year.

For more information search the pages of the Irish Newspaper Archive (www.irishnewsarchive.com )