Hugh Ryan of Mothel and Carrick-on-Suir was a noted scholar. Following his death in 1989 “Hugh Ryan – an appreciation” by Michael Coady appeared in Decies volume 42. Hugh Ryan worked as a draper’s assistant in Carrick for 58 years. Michael Coady wrote, “Hugh’s life was one of profound humility but remarkable cultivation”. As a result of his passion for book collecting and his deep interest in local and regional history, he was, according to Michael Coady, “…the unofficial keeper of the collective memory and the printed record of his community…”. In particular, Hugh Ryan completed a survey of the gravestones in Mothel graveyard, which appeared in Decies volumes 38-42.
Archival History ↴
The papers of Hugh Ryan were handed over to Waterford County Library, Lismore Library Headquarters, Main St., Lismore, County Waterford following the death of Hugh Ryan in 1989. Following the establishment of the County Archives Service the papers of Hugh Ryan were transferred from the County Library to the custody of Waterford County Archives Service.
Immediate Source Acquisition ↴
Donation
Content & Structure
Scope & Content: Hugh Ryan, Mothel, County Waterford ↴
The collection contains a large selection of political pamphlets that relate to Irish nationalism and address the political concerns of the period 1900-1960. The collection also contains papers relating to the studies of Hugh Ryan into the parish of Mothel and Rathgormack. The pamphlets in the collection offer a chance to explore the rhetoric and the reasoning of Irish nationalism in the important period of 1916 to 1966. The collection includes a pamphlet titled “Arguments for the Treaty” by Michael Collins produced around 1922 (PP/HRYN/78) as well as pamphlets detailing the views on a number of issues in the relationship between Ireland and England. Also included in the collection is a volume of political cartoons from the Irish Press Newspaper relating to the issue of the payment of land annuities by the Cumann na nGaedheal government to the British government (PP/HRYN/115). The collection contains a copy of the impressive work carried out by Hugh Ryan in gathering the graveyard inscriptions in Mothel graveyard and further records of the parish of Mothel and Rathgormack including details of the tithes and receipts of the parish.
Appraisal Destruction ↴
Permanent Retention
Arrangement ↴
The collection has been arranged in two sections:
A. Politics in Pamphlets and B. Studies: Historical, Social and Business. The arrangement reflects the nature of the collection with most of the collection falling into the first category. Within the main sections the collection has been broken down further to enable researchers to find a particular area of interest. For example, all pamphlets relating to the Treaty fall into section AV. The sections have not been arranged in date order but within the sections the individual documents are in date order.
Conditions of Access & Use
Conditions Governing Reproduction
Copies can be made of some documents. Consult the archivist for further information.
Creation Dates
1827-1988
Extent Medium
149 items
Material Language Script
English, Latin
Characteristics Tech Req
Some pamphlets are fragile and require careful handling
IGAD: Irish Guidelines for Archival Description. Dublin: Society of Archivists, Ireland, 2009.
ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description. 2nd ed. Ottawa: International Council on Archives, 2000.
National Council on Archives: Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names. Chippenham: National Council on Archives, 1997.
