Receiving the prestigious Michael D. Higgins Archive and Book Collection is both an honour and a moment of great significance for the University of Galway Library.  This collection offers a remarkable insight into the life and work of Ireland’s ninth President, spanning two full presidential terms.  The archive includes a rich array of material, from meticulously edited speech drafts bearing his handwritten annotations to his personal correspondence, consisting of letters, emails and copy replies, all arranged alphabetically by correspondent and reflects the written dialogue he had with a wide and diverse network of individuals over his two terms as President. The collection also includes press cuttings, documenting media coverage of his two terms of office. With over 75 archival boxes spanning his first term and more than 150 boxes expected in total, the collection promises to be a vital resource for scholars, historians, and the public alike once it has been catalogued by Archivist, Kieran Hoare.

 

As well as his archive collection, the President is in the process of transferring his book collection to the University.  Special Collections Librarian, Marie Boran, notes that this book collection includes titles acquired by the President for his own personal research, including heavily annotated volumes which informed his thinking during his time as a lecturer at the University through to his Presidency. It also includes many presented to him from a wide range of sources while undertaking local, national and international engagements. Many of the volumes are personally inscribed by the author or donor, with some of them marking historic events attended by the President. 

We are very fortunate to have two other notable Presidential archives in the University Library, papers of former President, Mary Robinson, as well as several collections relating to  Dubhghlas de Híde, the first President of Ireland, including the remarkable Irish manuscript collection, Lámhscríbhinní de hÍde, which he bequeathed to the Library on his death in 1949. 

Once catalogued, both the archive and book collection will be accessible for research by members of the public in the Library’s Archives and Special Collections Reading Room. The archive being transferred to the University of Galway represent the personal papers of the President during his time in office, as is the case with the Presidential Series in the University’s Mary Robinson Collection. The official records of President Higgins’ terms of office will remain with the State and be transferred to the National Archives.

Today marks a truly special occasion for our Library and University and we are very grateful to President Michael D. Higgins for entrusting his Archive and Book collection to us.

Treasures of the O’Gorman Special Collection 

Blog Series - Volume 3

Literature

A literary collection owned by the late entrepreneur, local historian and supporter of the arts, Ronnie O’Gorman, was recently donated to the University of Galway. This collection, spanning three generations of the O’Gorman family, includes countless items of literary and historic value. 

To read more about this donation, please see: O’Gorman Collection donated to the University of Galway. 

This blog post will highlight a variety of rare volumes and interesting items found within the O’Gorman Special Collection.

Lady Gregory's bookplate

Previous edition of the Treasures of the O'Gorman Special Collection

• William Butler Yeats
• James Joyce

First edition 

There are three first edition volumes of this text by Lady Gregory available in the collection. One copy is inscribed and signed by Lady Gregory to Hugh Lane’s nephew: “To Paddy Starkey, in memory of his friend Hugh Lane - with very kind regards from the writer I. Gregory - March 17, 1921."

The second copy is also signed and inscribed by Lady Gregory: "To Mona Gough, Coole, April 11 1921. This book will remind you, dear Mona, of days when Hugh has stayed with you - days very pleasant ... Gregory."

Published around 1921.

Alice in Wonderland 

Classic story by Lewis Carroll featuring artwork by Arthur Rackham 

This is a rare edition of the classic Alice in Wonderland featuring artwork by Arthur Rackham. Housed in custom box. Green leather boards with gilt decoration. Beautifully illustrated edition in excellent condition.

Published around 1907.

Alice in Wonderland

The Slade: A Collection of Drawings and Some Pictures Done by Past and Present Students of the London Slade School of Art, MDCCCXCIII-MDCCCVII

Volume featuring artwork and sketches by several artists from the Slade School of Fine Art 

This volume includes a collection of artwork and histories from acclaimed artists who attended the Slade School of Fine Art. This volume includes a handwritten note written and signed by William Orpen. This note is affixed to the inside pages of the volume.

Published in 1907.

The Slade

Han's Andersen's Fairy Tales 

A collection of Andersen’s classic fairy tales with beautiful illustrations 

Beautifully illustrated volume of Andersen's fairy tales featuring artwork by Rie-Cramer and L.A. Covey. Ornate and decorative gilt binding featuring fairy tale characters on boards. This volume is held in a cardboard slip case.

Published in 1921.

Bleak House 

First edition 

The O’Gorman collection includes several first and rare editions of works by Charles Dickens. Pictured is an example of the artwork found in the first edition of Bleak House from this collection. Bleak House is one such first edition found in this collection.

Published in 1853.

Other volumes in the collection include: Dombey & Son (1848), Sketches by Boz (1874), an Edition de Luxe copy of The personal history of David Copperfield, amongst others.

Bleak House

Tim Robinson's Connemara 

Collection of Tim Robinson's Connemara book titles. 

Included in the O’Gorman collection are three special editions of Tim Robinson’s books on Connemara. The three titles are: Connemara: the last pool of darkness (2008), Connemara: listening to the wind (2006), and Connemara: a little Gaelic kingdom (2011).

Each volume is ornately bound and held in custom slip cases. Each volume is also signed by Tim Robinson.

Tim Robinson's Connemara

Midsummer Eve

Presentation copy. 

Limited edition volume by A.E. A total of 450 copies were created.

This volume is signed by the author and features an accompanying handwritten message: “To Lucas Hatch, with good wishes ... A.E.”

Published in 1928.

Legends of Saints and Sinners

Presentation copy. 

Presentation copy of Douglas Hyde’s “Legends of Saints and Sinners” featuring a handwritten note from Hyde on the inside pages.

Unknown date of publication.

Legends of Saints & Sinners

Electric Light

First edition. 

There are two first editions of Electric Light by Seamus Heaney in the O’Gorman Collection. One copy is signed by Seamus Heaney on the title page.

Published in 2001.

Queens

J.M. Synge with artwork by Harry Clarke. 

This volume contains Synge's poem Queens, followed by colour plates of nine miniature-stained glass panels executed by Harry Clarke for Laurence Waldron to illustrate Synge's poem, to be set as a frieze in his library.

Published in 1986.

Queens

An Offering of Swans

Limited edition printing  

Limited edition volume which had 300 copies printed. A note inside this volume indicates that it was the first book printed by Elizabeth Yeats at Cuala Press.

Published in 1923.

Ábhair spéise ó Bhailiúchán Speisialta O’Gorman  

Sraith Blaganna – Uimh. 3

Litríocht

Bronnadh bailiúchán liteartha Ronnie O’Gorman, fear gnó, staraí áitiúil agus pátrún na n-ealaíon a cailleadh le gairid, ar Ollscoil na Gaillimhe le déanaí. Trí ghlúin de mhuintir O’Gorman a thiomsaigh an bailiúchán seo, agus an t-iliomad míreanna ann a bhfuil luach liteartha agus stairiúil ag baint leo.

Is féidir tuilleadh a léamh faoin mbronntanas seo ag: Bailiúchán O’Gorman bronnta ar Ollscoil na Gaillimhe.

Tarraingeofar aird sa bhlag seo ar roinnt de na leabhair uathúla agus míreanna spéise atá le fáil i mBailiúchán Speisialta O'Gorman.

Lady Gregory's bookplate

Ailt roimhe seo ón tsraith blaganna Ábhair spéise ó Bhailiúchán Speisialta O’Gorman

• William Butler Yeats
• James Joyce

Hugh Lane's Life and Achievement, with Some Account of the Dublin Galleries 

Céad Eagrán 

Tá trí chóip den imleabhar céad eagráin seo le Lady Gregory sa bhailiúchán. Scríobh Lady Gregory an méid seo a leanas do nia Hugh Lane ar cheann de na cóipeanna agus shínigh sí í: “To Paddy Starkey, in memory of his friend Hugh Lane - with very kind regards from the writer I. Gregory - March 17, 1921."

Tá an dara cóip sínithe ag Lady Gregory chomh maith agus an tíolacadh seo uirthi: "To Mona Gough, Coole, April 11 1921. This book will remind you, dear Mona, of days when Hugh has stayed with you - days very pleasant ... Gregory."

Foilsithe thart ar 1921.

Alice in Wonderland 

An scéal clasaiceach le Lewis Carroll le hobair ealaíne le Arthur Rackham 

Eagrán uathúil den leabhar clasaiceach Alice in Wonderland é seo, le hobair ealaíne le Arthur Rackham. Tá sé á choinneáil i mbosca sainoiriúnaithe. Clúdaigh leathair uaine le maisiú óraithe. Tá riocht an-mhaith ar an gcóip seo, agus tá léaráidí áille inti.

Foilsithe thart ar 1907.

Alice in Wonderland

The Slade: A Collection of Drawings and Some Pictures Done by Past and Present Students of the London Slade School of Art, MDCCCXCIII-MDCCCVII. 

Imleabhar le hobair ealaíne agus sceitsí le healaíontóirí éagsúla ón Slade School of Fine Art 

Tá obair ealaíne agus cuntais stairiúla le roinnt de na healaíontóirí clúiteacha a d’fhreastail ar an Slade School of Fine Art san imleabhar seo, mar aon le nóta lámhscríofa le William Orpen. Tá an nóta seo greamaithe le leathanach laistigh den leabhar féin.

Foilsithe thart ar 1907.

The Slade

Han Andersen's Fairy Tales 

Bailiúchán de shíscéalta Andersen le léaráidí áille 

Imleabhar de shíscéalta Andersen le léaráidí áille le Rie Cramer agus L.A. Covey. Ceangal óraithe ornáideach agus maisiúil le carachtair ó shíscéalta ar na clúdaigh. Coinnítear an t-imleabhar i gcáschumhdach cairtchláir.

Foilsithe in 1921.

Bleak House 

Céad Eagrán 

Tá roinnt leabhar céad eagráin agus uathúil le Charles Dickens san áireamh le bailiúchán O’Gorman. Sa phictiúr seo tá sampla den obair ealaíne atá sa chéad eagrán de Bleak House sa bhailiúchán seo. Ceann amháin de na chéad eagráin atá sa bhailiúchán seo is ea Bleak House.

Foilsithe in 1853.

Áirítear leis na himleabhair eile sa tsraith: Dombey & Son (1848), Sketches by Boz (1874), agus cóip Edition de Luxe de The personal history of David Copperfield.

Bleak House

Tim Robinson's Connemara 

Bailiúchán de leabhair Tim Robinson faoi Chonamara. 

Tá trí eagrán speisialta de leabhair Tim Robinson faoi Chonamara i mbailiúchán O’Gorman. Is iad na trí theideal sin: Connemara: the last pool of darkness (2008), Connemara: listening to the wind (2006), agus Connemara: a little Gaelic kingdom (2011).

Tá ceangal ornáideach ar gach ceann de na himleabhair agus tá siad á gcoinneáil i gcáschumhdaigh shainoiriúnaithe. Tá gach ceann acu sínithe ag Tim Robinson chomh maith.

Tim Robinson's Connemara

Midsummer Eve 

Cóip thíolactha 

Eagrán teoranta le A.E. is ea an t-imleabhar seo. Cruthaíodh 450 cóip san iomlán. Tá síniú an údair ar an imleabhar agus tá teachtaireacht lámhscríofa ag gabháil leis: “To Lucas Hatch, with good wishes ... A.E.”

Foilsithe in 1928.

Legends of Saints and Sinners 

Cóip thíolactha 

Cóip thíolactha de “Legends of Saints and Sinners” le Dubhghlas de hÍde a bhfuil nóta lámhscríofa le de hÍde ar cheann de na leathanaigh.

Níl aon eolas faoin dáta foilsithe.

Legends of Saints & Sinners

Electric Light 

Céad Eagrán 

Tá dhá chóip chéad eagráin de Electric Light le Seamus Heaney i mbailiúchán O’Gorman. Tá ceann de na cóipeanna sin sínithe ag Seamus Heaney ar an leathanach teidil.

Foilsithe in 2001.

Queens 

J.M. Synge le hobair ealaíne le Harry Clarke. 

Dán le Synge, Queens, atá san imleabhar seo, in éineacht le plátaí daite de naoi mionphainéal gloine daite arna ndéanamh ag Harry Clarke do Laurence Waldron mar léaráidí do dhán Synge agus le socrú mar fhríos ina leabharlann.

Foilsithe in 1986.

Queens

An Offering of Swans 

Priontáil eagráin theoranta 

Eagrán teoranta le A.E. is ea an t-imleabhar seo ar priontáladh 300 cóip de. Tugtar le fios i nóta laistigh den leabhar seo gurb é an chéad leabhar a phriontáil Elizabeth Yeats ag Cuala Press.

Foilsithe in 1923.

Dr. Ronnie O'Gorman Collection at the University of Galway Library

In July 2024, a literary collection owned by the late entrepreneur, local historian and supporter of the arts, Ronnie O’Gorman, was donated to University of Galway.

The bequest was finalised by Ronnie O'Gorman, the founder and publisher of the Galway Advertiser, before he died in May 2024. It will reside in the University's Library as part of its Special Collections.  

The carefully curated collection features many rare and significant works of Irish literature, representing his deep appreciation of Irish writing, the history of publishing in the country and his lifelong passion for the collection and promotion of Irish literature and art. 

The works also span three generations of the O’Gorman family and many of the volumes reflect the family’s long interest in the history of Galway, about which Ronnie wrote extensively. 

The collection was presented at a special event at University of Galway Library early in 2024, attended by Ronnie O’Gorman and family, as well as friends and associates.  

It includes a first edition of James Joyce’s Ulysses; one of 250 signed copies of a New York Limited Editions Club first edition Ulysses, with illustrations by the French artist Henri Matisse, signed by both the artist and Joyce; and The Aran Islands, by John Millington Synge, with 12 hand-coloured illustrations by Jack B. Yeats, which was described by the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography as "the great prose manifesto of the Irish literary revival". 

As well as more rare and beautiful volumes collected by Ronnie O’Gorman, his father Frank and also his grandfather Philip, who worked as Library Clerk in the University of Galway Library in the late 19^th century, the collection also includes two 19^th Century Walter Osborne paintings - Galway Fowl Market and Galway Fish Market. 

Cataloguing of the collection is now complete and more detail on the collection can be found in blogs written by Teresa Curtin, the University of Galway Library's Cataloguing and Metadata Librarian.

Read more about the Yeats and Joyce aspects of Ronnie's collection below:

Treasures of the O’Gorman Special Collection : William Butler Yeats

Treasures of the O’Gorman Special Collection: James Joyce

             

Ben O’Gorman, son of Ronnie O’Gorman, said: “Our family is delighted that we were able to keep the collection together and for it to be donated to the University - somewhere that really appreciates it. Ronnie took such joy in curating his collection, it was in many ways his life’s work, so to be able to keep it in one place, for the future, for others to enjoy, is a great legacy.” 

President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “The O’Gorman Collection is a tremendous gift to the University community and it is particularly poignant that the collection will reside in our Library where Ronnie O’Gorman’s grandfather Philip worked. Ronnie O’Gorman was a man of huge insight, huge foresight, in establishing the Advertiser and the sense of community that developed for Galway. As we celebrate the donation of such a beautiful gift, I also remember and cherish the day that we had with Ronnie on campus early in 2024, a day that had generosity, community, atmosphere - all of those things that characterised Ronnie O’Gorman.” 

University of Galway Librarian Monica Crump said: “The O’Gorman collection represents the very best of Irish literature and culture. It was started by Philip O’Gorman, a former Library Clerk here in the Library, continued by his son Frank and then his grandson Dr Ronnie O’Gorman. We are grateful to all three generations of the O’Gorman family for their commitment to collecting these wonderful works and looking after them so well in the intervening years. And we are immensely grateful to Ronnie and the O’Gorman family for entrusting us with these volumes. We are committed to continuing the good work of the O’Gormans, of preserving them, keeping them safe, and making them available for students and researchers into the future.” 

Catriona Cannon, Head of Heritage Collections and Digitisation at University of Galway Library, said: “Ronnie was a long-time friend of the Library and tireless champion of art and culture in the West of Ireland. He was always a welcome sight in our reading room, his combination of knowledge, passion and generosity of spirit was utterly unique and a joy to encounter. This legacy will ensure the continuity of Ronnie’s lifelong commitment to preserving and promoting Ireland’s literary culture - it is a gift to the city he loved and it will inspire and educate students and staff of the University and our researchers for generations to come.”

Remembering Ronnie O'Gorman, a tribute from University Of Galway Library staff

News coverage:

O'Gorman Art and Literature Collection Donated to University of Galway.

First Edition Ulysses signed by Joyce and Matisse among O'Gorman Collection Donated to University of Galway.