Bonar Law Collection acquired by National Library of Ireland

Tánaiste and Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media welcome purchase of unique collection of maps, topographical prints and political cartoons for the State

An Tánaiste, Micheál Martin TD, and Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, have today announced the acquisition by the State of the Bonar Law Collection, the most complete visual record of Ireland, in map and print form, ever assembled by an expert private collector. In extent, the Bonar Law Collection comprises close to 10,000 maps and approximately 9,000 prints, which include caricature prints and ballad sheets, many of which are unique to this collection.

Following discussions between the National Library of Ireland (NLI) and the Library of University College Cork (UCC), agreement has been reached and the NLI has entered into a loan-arrangement with UCC that allows the collection to be placed in UCC. The collection will be housed in the UCC Library and will be open to researchers and the general public.

Speaking in UCC, An Tánaiste, Micheál Martin, said:

"This remarkable and vast array of maps, sea charts and prints of Ireland represents the best collection of its kind anywhere in the world. It is unrivalled in the holdings of any public institution, including the British Library and the Library of Congress."

"I am delighted that we have been able to preserve this valuable asset. It offers a fascinating insight not only into Irish geographical history, but also into the changing political landscape of the last two hundred years, for the benefit of the State and for the people of Ireland."

Minister Catherine Martin, said:

"The collection represents a life's work of study and expert knowledge of maps, especially maps of or relating to Ireland, and topographical prints. It is a testament to Andrew Bonar Law and his family, that such a unique historical record exists, and that it can now be preserved for the public good and will remain in Ireland."

"I'm glad that my Department was able to fund this acquisition which will hopefully be available to view in its physical format following conservation assessment after 2025, with digital content available to view as early as this year. I wish UCC and the NLI teams the very best with this exciting work."

Dr. Audrey Whitty, Director of the National Library of Ireland, said:

"We are grateful to Minister Martin and her Department for the opportunity to make this acquisition, and we are glad to be collaborating with UCC, given their unrivalled scholarship and excellence in historical geography."

""It is a major priority for us is to grow and to further strengthen our connections across all of Ireland and we are delighted to enter into a loan-arrangement with UCC that allows the collection to be placed in Cork."

"The excellent condition of the material in the Bonar Law Collection means that it will be an essential part of the NLI collection of printed maps and topographical prints, and a foundation collection for future digitisation projects, programmes and exhibitions."

Professor John O'Halloran, President of UCC said:

"Through digital technology and innovative cartographic techniques, UCC research staff will activate the potential of the Bonar Law Collection to better understand how Ireland has changed, not just physically but socially, politically and ideologically through the ages. Through our award-winning Cork University Press Atlas Series and related documentaries, UCC has a strong track record in ensuring public engagement with Irish history and culture."

The collection will be housed in the Boole Library at UCC and can be accessed by researchers and members of the public by contacting UCC Library Special Collections and Archives team.

Notes for Editors:

Andrew Bonar Law (born 1933) is Ireland's premier collector of printed maps and topographical prints. Following university education in Trinity College Dublin, he settled in Ireland. He opened the Neptune Gallery c. 1965 and operated a very successful business as a dealer in art, as well as in prints and maps. His publications include The Printed Maps of Ireland to 1612 (1983); The Printed Maps of Ireland 1612-1850 (1997), and The Prints and Maps of Dublin (2005).

The Bonar Law Collection is also a testament to the expertise of Charlotte Bonar Law, Andrew's daughter, who is also a highly experienced map dealer.

It is the most complete visual record of Ireland, in map and print form, ever assembled by an expert private collector.

The Bonar Law Collection comprises close to 10,000 maps and approximately 9,000 prints.

Highlights of the collection include:

• All of the important atlases of Ireland in their various editions
• World atlases containing Irish maps
• A section entitled 'cartographical curiosities'
• A comprehensive collection of coloured and black and white caricature prints
• Broadsides and ballad sheets, many of which are likely to be unique to this collection
• An important collection of Sea Charts

The Bonar Law Collection includes over 90% of the listed maps and prints of Ireland ever produced.

It is anticipated that the digital content could be available for exhibition as early as 2024 with the physical material available for exhibition following conservation assessment after 2025.

Project background

Special funding has been made available by the DTCAGSM to cover cost of this purchase.

University College Cork has a long history of research in the discipline of geography and cartography. The Department of Geography is highly acclaimed as an active cartographic research unit. Nowhere is this better evidenced than by the Cork University Press (CUP) Atlas publications series which is led by UCC's geographers.

The acquisition of the Bonar Law Collection is an unprecedented example of collaboration between a national cultural institution and one of Ireland's leading Universities. The national scale, uniqueness and innovative nature of this partnership is a model for future projects.