Deposited Collections

Biographical History

Born in Dublin, the eldest son of James Meenan, Professor of Medicine at UCD, 1909–50, he was educated at the Catholic University School, Clongowes Wood and University College Dublin where he graduated in political economy in 1931. He obtained a National University travelling studentship and spent the following two years in Rome and Padua engaged on study which led to the eventual publication of The Italian Corporative State (1944). Called to the Bar in 1935 he combined his legal practice with a part-time lecturing position in political economy at UCD. He was appointed to a lectureship in 1951 and succeeded George O’Brien as Professor of Political Economy and National Economics in 1961. Highlights of a distinguished academic and public career included membership of a number of Government Commissions, a directorship of the Central Bank and the presidency of the Royal Dublin Society of which he had been a member since the age of seventeen. The Irish Economy since 1922 was published in 1970 and George O’Brien: A biographical memoir in 1980.

Archival History

This collection was deposited in UCD Archives by Veronica Meenan, his daughter, in October 1992.

Scope and Content

Family papers including material concerning the estate of Joseph and Daniel Meenan (1883–1916); Revd John A. Meenan and the Monaghan Feis (1912–13); and the estates of Patrick Meenan and James Nahor Meenan [Meenan’s father] (1945, 1957).

Personal material including diaries (1923, 1929–83); correspondence including letters between him and Lord Geoffrey Crowther concerning the Royal Commission on Devolution for Scotland (1969); and mementoes and letters informing him of the conferral of honours and awards (1980–1981). Includes letters to his parents and essays written while a student at Clongowes Wood College, county Kildare (1923–8); letters and postcards to his family and photographs from his travels (1928–9; 1936–8) including his travelling studentship in Italy (1933–5).

University College, Dublin: material concerning student societies and publications including UCD Boat Club (1922–30, 1960, 1962); the Literary & Historical Society [L&H] (1867–1956); Catholic University L&H Inaugural Addresses (1837–8, 1868–74); Robert Dudley-Edwards term as Auditor (1929–30); Meenan’s own term as Auditor (1932–3); and the 1960–2 sessions when the Society was banned; UCD Dramatic Society (1929–31), Student Representative Council (1931–2), The National Student (1931, 1936). Material concerning his career in UCD including his appointments as Statutory Lecturer and to the Chair of Political Economy and National Economics (1951, 1961); lecture notes (1948, 1955); departmental administration and development; Governing Body elections (1952–3, 1955); NUI Senate elections (1954, 1964, 1969); and letters concerning Meenan’s candidature for the 1964 UCD Presidential election. Copies of official college and student publications.

Company director and board member, involvement with cultural, economic and charitable Organisations. Includes material concerning the Irish Banks’ Standing Committee (1964, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981); Trusthouse Forte (Ireland) Ltd (1968–72, 1980–2); Maguire and Paterson (1972); Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland (1933–57); and the Royal Dublin Society (1926, 1959–81), including material concerning the 250th Anniversary of the foundation of the RDS.

Publications and lectures. Correspondence as Editor of the History of the Literary and Historical Society University College Dublin (1954–8); draft essays and appendices, reviews, notes, research material and photographs concerning the book. Material relating toThe Italian Corporative System (1942–51); the proposed book The Great Famine (1945, 1949, 1950s, 1981) and other publications, papers, lectures, reports, articles, appreciations, reviews and broadcasts including Thomas Davis Lectures (1959, 1961, 1964, 1971). Letters concerning George O’ Brien. A Biographical Memoir (1978–1985). Material concerning the Father Tom Finlay—Dr George O’ Brien Lecture (1962, 1965, 1972);

• Access: Application to consult the collection must be made to the depositor. Details of the procedure may be had from UCD Archives.
  UCD Archives reader's ticket and appointment necessary. Produced for consultation in original format. Original material will be retrieved at 11am and 2pm only. Material relating to UCD's move to the Belfield campus is available online at the UCD Digitial Library.
• Language: English
• Finding aid: Descriptive catalogue