Minister O’Donovan announces formation of new Commemorations Advisory Committee and views a new acquisition to the National Archives of Ireland

The Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, has today announced the establishment of a new Commemorations Advisory Committee, marking an important step in the government’s continued commitment to commemorating key moments in Irish history with dignity, authenticity, and with a focus on inclusivity and respectful remembrance.

Reflecting on the legacy of the Decade of Centenaries Programme Minister O’Donovan noted:

This newly formed Committee will assume an important advisory role, supporting Government and key stakeholders in the planning and delivery of commemorative events.

The Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations played a vital role in shaping the national commemorative approach and the new Commemorations Advisory Committee will inherit this role, offering independent guidance on how best to commemorate significant events and milestones in Ireland’s past, while echoing the same core principles: inclusivity, historical authenticity, and non-partisanship.

Minister O’Donovan said:

The Minister confirmed the appointment of a distinguished group of individuals with a deep understanding of Ireland’s cultural, political and historical landscape:

The members of the new Committee are:

• Bryan Dobson, Journalist and former broadcaster (Chair)
• Professor Marie Coleman, Professor of Twentieth Century Irish History, Queen’s University Belfast
• Heather Humphreys, Former Government Minister
• Orlaith McBride, Director of the National Archives of Ireland
• Éamon Ó Cuív, Former Government Minister
• Professor Paul Rouse, School of History, University College Dublin
• Dr Audrey Whitty, Director of the National Library of Ireland

The Minister and some Committee members met today in the new Headquarters of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, to view a new acquisition by the State.

The typed document is a signed agreement between Éamon de Valera, Austin Stack, Arthur Griffith, and Michael Collins that aimed to address the immediate political crisis arising from the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty.

The agreement was drafted and signed at the extraordinary Ard Fheis of Sinn Féin, held on February 21-22, 1922, at the Mansion House in Dublin. 3,000 delegates from all over Ireland attended to interpret the constitution of Sinn Féin considering the Treaty and to decide the party's policy for the upcoming elections.

The Document will add to the Collection at the National Archives of Ireland and will be available on the National Archives website for researchers to access.

A related item, Michael Collins’ Memorial Card, was also shared with the Minister and the Committee.

The Mandate of this Committee will be to:

• maintain an inclusive, respectful, and consensus-based approach to all commemorative matters
• offer independent, non-partisan advice when requested by Government or relevant stakeholders
• ensure historical events are commemorated accurately and grounded in primary source material
• provide guidance on sensitive or complex themes associated with historical events

New acquisition: Signed agreement by De Valera, Stack, Griffith and Collins, 22 February 1922

The National Archives of Ireland is dedicated to preserving and enhancing access to Ireland's historical records. The recent acquisition is a significant enhancement to the collection.

The signed agreement covered three key points:

1. Postponement of Elections: No elections would be held within the next three months to provide time for further discussions.
2. Continuation of Dáil Éireann: The Dáil would continue to function as it had before the Treaty.
3. New Constitution: A new constitution would be drafted and put to the people alongside the Treaty.

Michael Collins Memorial Card

The recent acquisition of a Michael Collins memorial card stands out as a poignant addition to the National Archives collection.

On 22 August 1922, Michael Collins, was killed in an ambush at Béal na Bláth. The Department of the Taoiseach file TSCH/S/1628 provides detailed insights into the government's response, including official minutes, memos, and newspaper clippings that document the dissemination of the news and the arrangements for Collins' funeral.

Complementing these official records, the newly acquired Michael Collins memorial card offers a personal perspective on the nation's mourning.

Commemorations Committee Members

Mr. Bryan Dobson – Chair

Bryan Dobson is a distinguished Irish journalist and broadcaster renowned for his long-standing career with RTÉ. In 1998, he reported from Belfast during the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, and throughout his career, he conducted in-depth interviews

with key political figures in Northern Ireland, including John Hume, David Trimble, Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness and Peter Robinson.

In April 2013, Mr Dobson interviewed Douglas Hurd, former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and Noel Dorr, former Irish Ambassador to Great Britain, reflecting on Margaret Thatcher’s legacy and her role in the peace process.

Mr Dobson has also contributed significantly to national commemorations, presenting live RTÉ coverage of the centenary of the 1916 Rising, as well as documentaries such as ‘Witnesses to War’, featuring interviews with Irish veterans of the Second World War.

Professor Marie Coleman

Professor Marie Coleman is Professor of Twentieth Century Irish History at Queen's University Belfast. Her research encompasses the War of Independence, the Civil War, with particular emphasis on the experience of women, religious minorities and revolutionary veterans. Her current work explores compensation claims for damage to property and personal injury between 1916 and 1923. She has published extensively, making significant contributions to the understanding of Ireland’s complex historical narrative.

Heather Humphreys

Former Government Minister Heather Humphreys is an Irish politician who has held several senior ministerial roles, including Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation; and Minister for Social Protection, Rural and Community Development. As Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, former Minister Humphreys headed up the 2016 Centenary Programme. In April 2024, former Minister Humphreys was appointed Deputy Leader of Fine Gael. Her political career has been marked by a strong commitment to rural development, cultural heritage, and social inclusion.

Ms. Orlaith McBride

Orlaith McBride has served as Director of the National Archives of Ireland since April 2020, overseeing its strategic direction and operations. She is a member of both the Irish Manuscripts Commission and the Council of National Cultural Institutions and represents Ireland at European and international forums.

From 2011 to 2020, she was Director of the Arts Council, where she led key national programmes, including the Arts Council’s 2016 centenary commemorations and Ireland’s cultural programme during its 2013 EU Presidency. Prior to this, she was Director of the National Association for Youth Drama and served as President of the National Youth Council of Ireland (2010–2011).

Éamon Ó Cuív

Former Government Minister Éamon Ó Cuív is a veteran Fianna Fáil politician who served as a T.D. for Galway West from 1992 until his retirement in 2024. Over his

distinguished career, he held multiple ministerial portfolios, including Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and Minister for Social Protection. Former Minister Ó Cuív was also a member of the All-Party Group on Commemorations. His work has had a lasting impact on rural development and the promotion of the Irish language.

Professor Paul Rouse

Professor Paul Rouse is a historian and professor at University College Dublin (UCD), specialising in the history of sport, popular culture, media, and agriculture.

Professor Rouse presented a historian’s perspective to the Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemoration on the significance and content of the records of the Irish Land Commission. This included the Land Commission’s operations and legal structure and the approach to the equivalent archive in Northern Ireland.

He is the author of acclaimed works including Ireland: A History and The GAA: A People’s History and Sport. Professor Rouse has also served as a historical consultant for television and produced documentaries such as Lost Generation, which highlights the lives of elderly Irish citizens in Britain.

Dr. Audrey Whitty

Dr. Audrey Whitty is an accomplished archaeologist, art historian, and curator, currently serving as Director of the National Library of Ireland since February 2023. She previously held the role of Deputy Director at the National Museum of Ireland (NMI) and curatorial positions at the NMI and the Corning Museum of Glass in New York.

Dr. Whitty holds a BA in History and Archaeology and an MA in Archaeology from University College Dublin, along with a PhD in History of Art from Trinity College Dublin due to her thesis, The Albert Bender (1866-1941) Donations of Far Eastern Art to the National Museum of Ireland in the context of his Cultural Interests in Ireland and California. Her expertise has played a pivotal role in preserving, interpreting, and promoting Irish cultural heritage.

Dr Whitty is also a member of the National Famine Commemoration Committee. She has curated numerous exhibitions, most notably Alison Lowry: (A)Dressing Our Hidden Truths - An artistic response to the legacy of mother and baby homes and Magdalene laundries and A Dubliner’s Collection of Asian Art: The Albert Bender Exhibition. Dr. Whitty is a past Chair (2020-2023) of the Irish Museums Association.