The Shannon Development Collection

Repository: Special Collections and Archives Department, Glucksman Library, University of Limerick

Identity Statement

TitleThe Shannon Development Collection
Archive ReferenceIE 2135 P50
Web Link to this Entryhttps://iar.ie/archive/the-shannon-development-collection
Creation Dates1958-2000
Level of DescriptionFonds (The whole of the records, regardless of form or medium, organically created and/or accumulated and used by a particular person, family, or corporate body in the course of that creator's activities and functions). (Often, but not always, contiguous with an archives ‘collection’ ).
Extent Mediumc.167 standard boxes

Context

Creator(s): Shannon Development

  • Administrative History ↴

    In 1957, The Shannon Airport Development Authority (SADA) was set up with the aim to make Shannon Airport more appealing through the promotion of freight traffic and the development of nearby tourist facilities. In 1959, SADA became the Shannon Free Airport Development Company (SFADCo). SFADCo would receive funding from the government and have the additional functions of establishing an industrial estate and housing for workers. In 2014, Shannon Development was amalgamated into Shannon Group (later The Shannon Airport Group), a conglomerate of aviation, property, and tourism businesses created to drive the economy of the west of Ireland.

  • Archival History ↴

    Shannon Development was established by the Irish Government in 1959 as an agency to promote Shannon Airport and the Shannon region. It is responsible for the creation of Shannon Town, Ireland’s first New Town and for the Shannon Free Zone, the world’s first modern free trade zone. The Shannon Development archive comprises photographic material, press cuttings, reports, brochures, and other documentation spanning over five decades. While in the care of Shannon Development, the photographic material was stored in a standard office environment. The negatives were placed in glassine sleeves and earlier on the glassine sleeves were kept in paper envelopes. These envelopes note a number, a brief description and initials which are believed to be the initials of the photographer. There are 28 corresponding registers which note the reference number of the negative, a date and a brief description. In 2014, Shannon Development was amalgamated into Shannon Group, a conglomerate of aviation, property, and tourism businesses created to drive the economy of the West of Ireland. It was at this time that the collection was transferred to the University of Limerick in two consignments on 22 December 2014 and 5 January 2015. Digitisation and listing began in July 2018, with some of the collection listed and imputed into Adlib software. In 2021, the Special Collections and Archives Department at the Glucksman Library was awarded funding from the Wellcome Trust to catalogue, conserve, digitise and increase accessibility to the Shannon Development Photographic Archive, as part of the New Jerusalems project. This project aims to increase accessibility to archives from eleven post-war New Towns in England, Wales and Ireland. This cataloguing began in 2023. Existing catalogue entries were reviewed and edited where necessary. Following a move to AtoM, cataloguing was continued. The negatives were rehoused in new acid free envelopes and renumbered. Please note that this collection is in the process of being catalogued. Transferred on loan from Shannon Group Plc. to the University of Limerick in two instalments on 22 December 2014 and 05 January 2015.

  • Immediate Source Acquisition ↴

    Permanent Loan

Content & Structure

  • Scope & Content: Shannon Development ↴

    The overall collection comprises approximately 250,000 photographic items, including press cuttings, reports, brochures spanning over five decades.

    Of particular significance are the photographs taken between 1959–1998, which visually capture the Shannon Development story, and provide unique insights into the life in Ireland in the latter half of the twentieth century. It chronicles the evolution of Shannon town, as well as the broader Shannon region from a large agricultural base to a leading industrial and tourism centre. There is also material relating to the wider Clare Region, Limerick, Tipperary, Offaly, and Kerry.

    The photographs include images of the many people of renown that passed through Shannon Airport, coverage of the world’s first duty free zone and images of newly acquired aircraft. The early construction days of Shannon Town and people at work in associated industrial settings are also captured. There are many photos of events at Bunratty Castle, Knappogue Castle, Dromoland Castle, Cragaunowen and the Cliffs of Moher, which provide a valuable insight into the development of new tourist attractions in the region during the 1960s.

    Besides offering a visual account of the development of the airport and its environs, the collection offers unique opportunities to consider a range of topics including life, culture, dress, and some of the social norms of Ireland in the latter half of the twentieth century.

  • Appraisal Destruction ↴

    All records have been retained.

  • Accruals ↴

    No accruals are expected.

  • Arrangement ↴

    The negatives have been left in their original order based on the original reference numbers in the corresponding registers. The registers are arranged chronologically. This collection is not yet fully catalogued but future series will include contact sheets, prints, CDs and DVDs, Video Tapes, Reels, Cassettes.

Conditions of Access & Use

Access Conditions Unrestricted access to most items. Some items contain sensitive material and are closed.
Conditions Governing ReproductionCopyright retained by Shannon Group Plc. Standard copyright regulations apply to all items. For photocopying or reproducing material, please consult with the staff.
Creation Dates1958-2000
Level of DescriptionFonds (The whole of the records, regardless of form or medium, organically created and/or accumulated and used by a particular person, family, or corporate body in the course of that creator's activities and functions). (Often, but not always, contiguous with an archives ‘collection’ ).
Extent Mediumc.167 standard boxes
Material Language ScriptEnglish
Characteristics Tech ReqPhotographs, video recordings, press cuttings, reports and publications created by Shannon Development. Material is mostly in good condition. Some negatives have also been lost or damaged. A number of negatives suffer from vinegar syndrome. Such items have been identified in the descriptive catalogue. Some negatives have also been lost over the years. In such cases, the description of the negative is still recorded. Some numbers were also skipped in the sequence, and this is also recorded.

Allied Materials

Copies InformationDigitised copies have been created and are available on the UL Digital Library and can be accessed through AtoM where possible.
Related MaterialAdditional material can be found relating to Shannon in the Irish Architectural Archive and in the Clare County Archives.
Publication NoteSome items contain sensitive or offensive imagery and are closed. There are also some photographs and register descriptions which are considered inappropriate today but are reflective of their time, and which some viewers may find offensive. Please see https://archives.ul.ie/harmful-language-statement for more information.

Descriptive Control Area

Archivist NotePapers arranged and described by Kate Harris.
Rules/ConventionsThis description follows guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd edition (2000), Irish Guidelines for Archival Description (2009), National Council on Archives: Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names (1997) and EAP Guidance on Data Protection for Archive Services (2018).
Date of DescriptionsApril 2023-March 2025