Deposited Collections

Biographical History

‌Born at Ballymacward, County Galway, educated at UCD where he won a National University travelling studentship. Studied classics at the Sorbonne, Athens and Berlin. Appointed to a lectureship in classics in 1915 and to the Professorship of Greek in 1923.

Elected a Cumann Na nGaedheal TD for North Mayo in 1925 and for the NUI in 1927, a seat he held until 1932. He was a member of Seanad Éireann, 1938–44. Elected President of UCD in 1947, he was the prime mover behind the transfer of the college to its present site.

He married Eibhlín MacNeill, daughter of Eoin MacNeill, and wrote a biography of his father-in-law, Eoin MacNeill: scholar and man of action (1980).

Archival History

This collection was deposited in UCD Archives by the Tierney family in July 1983.

Scope and Content

Professor of Greek (1923–47) and President (1947–64), University College Dublin: correspondence and testimonials relating to his application for the Chair of Greek (1922–3). Correspondence concerning his candidature for the presidency (1947). Correspondence with John Charles McQuaid, Archbishop of Dublin, concerning the establishment of a Department of Psychology in the college (1955). Material relating to government proposals to merge UCD and Trinity College Dublin (1967–75); and to the opening of the Department of Irish Folklore on the Belfield campus (1971). Correspondence, reports and recommendations of An Comhairle Bhealoideasa (1973). Drafts and copies of college statutes.

Cumann na nGaedheal TD: election material for Tierney’s candidature in the constituencies of North Mayo (1922, 25) and the National University of Ireland (1927, 32); correspondence with constituents (1925–32); material relating to the newspaper and propaganda sub-committees of the Treaty Election Committee (1922).

Cumann na Gaedheal and Fine Gael Parties: publicity material for general elections (1927–44); drafts of heads of policy and copies of policy documents (1933-44).

Censorship of Publications Bill, 1928: correspondence, reports, pamphlets and newscuttings.

Lecture notes on Greek and Roman history; manuscripts of articles by Tierney on classical and celtic studies, history, education and politics (1920–70); correspondence with academic contemporaries (1919–70); offprints of articles and copies of journals on literary, philosophical, philological, archaeological and educational subjects and on classical studies and folklore (1920–62)newspapers and cuttings (1927–70); material concerning Eoin MacNeill including copies of articles by and about him (1926–49).

Tierney/MacNeill photographs: the Tierney photographs cover his career as a professor, politician, senator and president of UCD and include family photographs. The MacNeill photographs mainly concern Eoin MacNeill and his family and include photographs covering MacNeill's life from the late 1800s through to the 1940s; parents and siblings; wife (Agnes Moore) and children; career and politics; and the Moore family.

• Access: Available by appointment to holders of a UCD Archives reader's ticket. Produced for consultation in microform. The Tierney/MacNeill Photographs (LA30/PH) are available online at the UCD Digital Library
• Language: English
• Finding aid: Descriptive catalogue