Donegal Studies

Donegal Studies

What are 'Donegal Studies' ?
What do we have ?
Donegal Local Studies at the Central Library
Donegal Studies in other Libraries
Books and Journal Articles on Donegal
Links for the history and culture of County Donegal
Donegal Studies items acquired in 2006

 

The Central Library contains a unique collection of books, pamphlets, newspapers, microfilms and other material on the history, natural history, economy, archaeology and culture of County Donegal. While spending a day, or part of a day, in the Central Library is the best way to make use of these unique resources, we intend that you may also access these resources online to an increasing degree.

Central Library, Letterkenny

What are 'Donegal Studies' ?

Donegal Local studies can be defined as studies relating to County Donegal in all its aspects, including geology, climatology, and natural history; and as studies relating to all types of human activities and endeavor in the County, from the earliest times to the present.

The collection thus includes, amongst other topics, materials on history, natural history, geology, archaeology, economy, church history, family history, literature, culture and sport.

What do we have ?

From rare books to the latest local publications, from maps to music, from newspapers to videos, the Donegal Studies collection is both varied and invaluable. For more than three quarters of a century a unique collection has been built up of books, pamphlets, offprints, newspapers, maps, prints, photographs, microfilms, newspaper cuttings, CDs, cassettes, videos and ephemera on the history, natural history, economy, archaeology and culture of County Donegal.

The Library Service seeks to act as the collective memory of County Donegal by

1. comprehensively collecting and making available local studies material of all types; and

2. acting as a centre for local studies, energetically promoting the resources and the study of local history and culture.

Donegal Local studies is one area of knowledge in which the Library Service aims for comprehensiveness and self-sufficiency. It is also an area where the Library Service contributes to a national resource network comprising materials for the study of local history and culture throughout Ireland. We seek to encourage and respond to the greatly increased interest in and demand for local studies material of all types, for example by producing annual lists of Donegal Studies publications (published in the Donegal Annual) and sponsoring the Deontas Mhic an tSaoir scheme.

Donegal Local Studies at the Central Library

The Donegal Studies collection is housed on the first floor of the Central Library & Arts Centre in Letterkenny. This is the main local studies resource in Donegal.

• We seek to include at least two copies of every item of Donegal interest in the collection. Where there is only one copy of an item it is housed in the collection.

• To meet the aim of being custodians of the collective memory of Donegal - Our County's Memory -, we collect, record and preserve, using appropriate media, copies of all printed, audio and visual material relating to the life of the County and each community in the County.

• We collect books, pamphlets, newspapers, periodicals (and where appropriate offprints and cuttings from periodicals not kept in the Local Studies collection), microforms, maps, prints, photographs, ephemera, cassettes, CDs, multi-media products, and products of new technologies which will be developed in the future. Publications and semi-published material of local authorities and official and community bodies in Donegal and the North-West are included.

• We collect fiction and other material by authors from Donegal whether or not the content relates to the area.

• The Library Service works closely with Donegal County Archives and the Donegal County Museum in its local studies provision.

Donegal Studies in other Libraries

There is also a Donegal Studies collection in Buncrana Community Library (with a special focus on Inishowen) and there will be similar collections in Donegal Town Community Library (with a focus on the south of the County) and Leabharlann Phobail Ghaoith Dobhair (with a focus on the Gaeltacht and Gaelic culture) when they are developed.

As well as these consultation collections there are Donegal Interest lending collections in all Libraries, and, although shelved separately, books in these collections may be borrowed in the normal way.

Books and Journal Articles on Donegal

The Donegal Studies Collection at the Central Library houses a vast range of books, articles and other materials arranged according to subject.

Click on one of the subjects below to access this database (pdf format).

Agriculture Archaeology Art and Architecture Atlases Audio / Video Biography and Autobiography Broadcasting & Film Businesses Children's Literature / Litríocht Don Aos Óg Colm Cille: Biography etc. Cookery Crafts Drama / Dráma Economy Education Environment / Planning Family History / Genealogy Famine and Poor Law Fiction Filíocht Folklore / Folklife Gaeilge / Gaeltacht General & Bibliography General History Health & Medicine

Language Law Literature and Literary Criticism Litríocht agus Léirmheastóireacht Local History / Topography Music Natural History / Science Official Publications Outdoor Life Philosophy Photography Poetry Politics Prós & Litríocht Eile  / Prose & Miscellaneous Psychology Public Administration / Public Works Religion / Ecclesiastical History Society / Economy Sport Technology Theatre Tourist Guides and Maps Transport & Communications Urscéalta

To download the entire list, click here. (800kB approx.)

This list was compiled by Liam Ronayne, Donegal County Librarian with the assistance of Eileen Burgess, A / Executive Librarian.

General