Rebuilding the past: The transformation of early modern Irish history

The study of early modern Irish history is undergoing major transformation. For almost a century since the destruction of the Public Records Office of Ireland in 1922, scholars have bemoaned the lack of source material for the period 1500 to 1800, which has severely limited the breadth and depth of historical research. A new project, however, is uncovering significant amounts of hitherto unidentified material and entire archives are being rebuilt, using mainly nineteenth-century transcriptions. Technological advances assist the process of exploiting these newly rediscovered manuscripts but a fundamental rethink is also required by historians of Ireland on how best to capture the myriad of experiences of all the peoples of the island, particularly the Catholic majority. These exciting developments mark a true turning point in Irish historical research. We have an opportunity to break through the barriers of rigid periodisation and to explore the deep continuities evident in the history of early modern Ireland.