About the NFC

The National Folklore Collection

Much of the archival material housed in the National Folklore Collection was amassed by its forerunners, the Irish Folklore Institute (1930-1935), the Irish Folklore Commission (1935-1971), and the Department of Irish Folklore UCD (1972-2005). Also included are archive materials collected by the Folklore of Ireland Society (1926- ), a group closely associated with the National Folklore Collection. 

The audio and film recordings, manuscripts and rare printed materials in the Collection span many aspects of human endeavour, from material culture to oral literature, language and artistic expression. Inspired and informed by the systematic efforts of Scandinavian scholars to document their own folklore and cultural history in the early 20th century, the Commission worked carefully and enthusiastically to document traditions at a point in time when the Irish language was in serious decline, while the effects of urbanisation and industrialisation had not yet eroded older cultural patterns and practices.

In recognition of its “world significance” and “outstanding universal value to culture”, our foundational collection - The Irish Folklore Commission Collection 1935-1970 - was inscribed into the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in September 2017.

This website features material from several different collections, drawing on material from the Main Manuscript Collection, the 1937-1939 Schools’ Collection, as well as the Photographic Collection. A range of archive material from the Collection can also be viewed at www.duchas.ie and at digital.ucd.ie.

Cnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann

Bhí cuid mhaith den ábhar atá anois i gCnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann cruinnithe ag réamhtheachtaithe an Chnuasaigh – Institiúid Bhéaloideas Éireann (1930-1935), Coimisiún Béaloideasa Éireann (1935-1971), agus Roinn Bhéaloideas Éireann, An Coláiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath (1971-2005). Áirítear ann freisin ábhar béaloidis a thug an Cumann le Béaloideas Éireann (1926- ) ar láimh, cumann a bhfuil dlúthghaol aige le Cnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann.

Na taifeadtaí fuaime agus scannáin sin, na lámhscríbhinní agus an t-ábhar clóite gann atá sa Chnuasach, is iomaí gné de shaothar agus d’iompar an chine dhaonna a chuimsíonn siad, idir an cultúr ábhartha, an litríocht bhéil, chúrsaí teanga agus léiriú ealaíonta. Ag leanúint sampla na scoláirí Lochlannacha agus iad i mbun iarrachtaí córasacha a gcuid béaloidis agus stair cultúrtha féin a bhreacadh i luathbhlianta an fhichiú chéid, d’oibrigh an Coimisiún go cáiréiseach, díograiseach chun an traidisiún a dhoiciméadú tráth a raibh an Ghaeilge ag meathlú go mear, sular thosaigh na múnlaí is na nósanna cultúrtha seanbhunaithe ag cúlú roimh thionchar an uirbithe agus an tionsclaithe.

Mar aitheantas ar an "tábhacht dhomhanda" agus "an luach domhanda thar na bearta don chultúr" tá Cnuasach Choimisiún Bhéaloideas Éireann 1935-1970, atá faoi chúram anois ag Cnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann sa Choláiste Ollscoile Baile Átha Cliath le háireamh ar Chlár Chuimhne an Domhain UNESCO.

Tá ábhar ó bhailiúcháin éagsúla de chuid an Chnuasaigh le taispeáint ar an suíomh seo, ón bPríomhbhailiúchán Lámhscríbhinní, Bailiúchán na Scol 1937-1939, agus an Bailiúchán Grianghraf. Tá réimse ábhair eile ón gCnuasach ar fáil ag www.duchas.ie agus ag digital.ucd.ie.