Amongst other topics, the newly released material charts: 1981 Republican Hunger Strike; the fallout from the Falkland Island crisis of 1982; the New Ireland Forum 1983-84; as well as developments which culminated with the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in November 1985. The items selected have been drawn from material which has been released under the 30-year rule but, until now, has not been available online
Dr Brendan Lynn, Ulster University’s CAIN Deputy Director, stated:
“Ulster University and CAIN are very pleased to have been able to continue our cooperation with NA and to update the existing section with material covering developments up until 1985. It has allowed us to pursue one of CAIN’s long-term objections of working with individuals, groups or organisations with relevant information to produce digital versions of their material and make it more accessible to a wider audience.
“The information itself is readily available and free of charge. We believe it will be of great use to students, researchers, teachers and lecturers or to anyone with an interest in the political and social history of Northern Ireland.
“Finally I would also like to record my thanks to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its Reconciliation Fund for providing the support to allow CAIN to maintain its partnership with the NA.”
John McDonough, Director of the National Archives added:
“As the official repository for the archives of the modern Irish State, the National Archives holds documents of immense significance relating to the conflict in Northern Ireland.
“I am pleased that the National Archives has been able to continue in its joint efforts with Dr Brendan Lynn of CAIN, supported by the Reconciliation Fund of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, to bring selected documents relating to the conflict in Northern Ireland that our institution holds to as wide an audience as possible. This latest tranche brings the involvement of the NA in line with the annual release of records.
“Our continued support for the work of Dr Lynn and CAIN is a reflection of the importance we attach to promoting the use by the public of online digitized archival sources as a means of fostering an understanding of our past.”