Works Commence on Ambitious Re-development of National Archives
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Major state-of-the-art expansion of archive repository begins on historic site.
Today marks the start of a major investment of over €37m in re-developing the archive repository at the National Archives on Bishop Street, Dublin 8. The project, which will be completed over 65 weeks, will future-proof the records of the State over the coming decades in a purpose-built, modern archive building.
This re-development is a significant project under the National Cultural Institutions investment programme as part of Project Ireland 2040. The project is funded by the Department for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and is being delivered in partnership with the Office of Public Works.
The National Archives holds the official records of the State, as well as private collections. The collections held in the National Archives total over 50 million records dating from the 16th century to records relating to the modern Irish state. The National Archives also holds early Census records including the 1901 and 1911 censuses that are publicly available. The National Archives team is currently working on the public release of the 1926 Census, the first census of the Irish Free State, which will be released on 18th April 2026.
The main collections of the National Archives are kept securely at buildings on Bishop Street, Dublin 8 where there are also public reading rooms, office accommodation and archival storage. However, despite its very large footprint, the Bishop Street building (former Jacobs biscuit factory) has been unable to take records at volume since 2013. The re-development will accommodate over 300,000 archive boxes in a purpose-built, dedicated archival repository, designed with ground works, foundations and services that offer the potential to develop future archival storage vaults on top of the new archival storage vaults if required over time.
Speaking at the National Archives today Minister Martin said:
“I am delighted to be here today as work begins on transforming the archive repository at the National Archives. We saw, during the Decade of Centenaries, the vital role the National Archives plays in preserving the precious records of the State. The expansion and conversion of the Bishop St building to a modern, state of the art, secure and environmentally-controlled repository, complying with internationally accepted archival storage standards, will provide an increase of two-thirds in the total storage capacity of the National Archives. This is significant project for one of our Cultural Institutions and ensures the National Archives can meet its evolving needs in a sustainable and future-proofed manner.”
Also speaking today, Kieran O’Donnell TD, Minister of State for the Office of Public Works said:
“The commencement of works at the National Archives Building on Bishop Street marks a significant milestone in protecting the States physical records and collections of our past. The re-development of the building will provide the necessary space required to accommodate not only our current volume of records but will also provide opportunities to develop additional archival storage as required into the future.
I am delighted that this project is progressing to the next stage, bringing us closer to a modern, fit for purpose repository for State records that will meet current and future demands”.
The project is funded by the Department for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and delivered in partnership with the Office of Public Works. This development is a project under the National Development Plan, Project Ireland 2040, which will see many of our much-loved National Cultural Institutions, restored and renewed for generations to come.