RASCAL

Research and Special Collections Available Locally (Ireland)

Northern Ireland Place Name Project Sound Archive	Northern Ireland Place Name Project
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Collection
Description	Collection of sound recordings and associated transcripts compiled by the Northern Ireland Place name Project at Queen's University Belfast. Established in 1987, the Northern Ireland Place Name Project was set up to "research the origin of all names of settlements and physical features in Northern Ireland appearing on the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 scale map; to indicate their meaning and to note any historical or relevant information." In 1990, the brief of the Project was extended to record and research administrative names (i.e. townlands, parishes and baronies) omitted from the map. Fieldwork was and remains an essential component of the research carried out by the Northern Ireland Place Name Project complementing earlier source-based research on manuscripts, maps etc. Comprising mainly recorded interviews with ordinary people from throughout the region, this fieldwork provides valuable information on features in local topography and land-use, and, more importantly, records the local pronunciations for the place names being researched. Particular areas covered in the collection include Counties Down, Antrim, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Monaghan and South Armagh.
Strengths	The Northern Ireland Place Name Project Sound Archive is a valuable resource for the study of language, geography and local history. It includes details and information about the location, history and original language and meaning of Ulster place names and townlands. Name derivations may be based on topography, natural history, archaeology, history, local individuals and families, popular traditions and literature.
Physical Characteristics	The collection consists of approximately 39 audio cassettes with associated transcriptions for about half.
Languages	English;Irish;Ulster Scots
Collection Temporal Date Range	. - .
Accumulation Date Range	. - .
Contents Date Range	1986 - .
Collection Type	Collection.Archive.Sound.Special
Accrual	Policy: Passive Method: Permanent Deposit Periodicity: Irregular .
Access	The collection is divided between the offices of the Northern Ireland Place Name Project and the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra, Co. Down. Public access is provided through the Audio Technical Officer at the Museum where material can be listened to on-site during normal office hours (Monday-Friday, 09:00-17:00). This access is supervised and for reference/research purposes only. Appointments should be made in advance.
Legal Status	.
Custodial History	.
Collection Notes	.
Description or Catalogue	Details of the Northern Ireland Place Name Project Sound Archive can be accessed through a series of catalogued Tape Registers held in the Sound Archive office of the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum. Each collection is listed and referenced by tape number. Contact staff at the Northern Ireland Place Name Project for details of material held there.
Publications Note	Archival material only - no published matter included.

Collector
Name	Northern Ireland Place Name Project
Organisation	Queen's University Belfast
Role	Research Unit
History	The Northern Ireland Place Name Project was established in the Department of Irish and Celtic Studies in the School of Languages, Literatures and Arts at Queen's University Belfast with government funding in 1987 to research the names of physical features and settlements on the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 scale map. The Project was to build up a computer database of the names, giving their origin, meaning, and any historical or other relevant information. In 1990 the work was extended to include all townlands and a publication programme was begun, thus fulfilling the aims of the Ulster Place Name Society "to undertake a survey of Ulster place names" and to publish the results for members. Seven volumes were produced 1992-7, on parts of Counties Antrim (2), Derry (1) and Down (4). After a gap in funding 1997-9, a new grant was obtained from the Arts and Humanities Research Board to produce two further volumes in the series (Fermanagh and Tyrone) and to work towards releasing the database online. In the meantime some support was obtained from the Heritage Lottery Fund for a travelling exhibition (Celebrating Ulster’s Townlands by Kay Muhr) and from the Community Relations Council and Ultach Trust for the writing of the first Dictionary of Ulster Place-Names (by Patrick McKay). The Project is due to end in March 2004. See also: http://www.qub.ac.uk/lla/cel/placenameproject.htm" target="new_window">http://www.qub.ac.uk/lla/cel/placenameproject.htm

Owner
Name	Northern Ireland Place Name Project
Organisation	Northern Ireland Place Name Project
Role	Research Unit
Telephone	00442890975345
Email
History	The Northern Ireland Place Name Project was established in the Department of Irish and Celtic Studies in the School of Languages, Literatures and Arts at Queen's University Belfast with government funding in 1987 to research the names of physical features and settlements on the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 scale map. The Project was to build up a computer database of the names, giving their origin, meaning, and any historical or other relevant information. In 1990 the work was extended to include all townlands and a publication programme was begun, thus fulfilling the aims of the Ulster Place Name Society "to undertake a survey of Ulster place names" and to publish the results for members. Seven volumes were produced 1992-7, on parts of Counties Antrim (2), Derry (1) and Down (4). After a gap in funding 1997-9, a new grant was obtained from the Arts and Humanities Research Board to produce two further volumes in the series (Fermanagh and Tyrone) and to work towards releasing the database online. In the meantime some support was obtained from the Heritage Lottery Fund for a travelling exhibition (Celebrating Ulster’s Townlands by Kay Muhr) and from the Community Relations Council and Ultach Trust for the writing of the first Dictionary of Ulster Place-Names (by Patrick McKay). The Project is currently being reviewed. See also: http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofLanguagesLiteraturesandPerformingArts/SubjectAreas/IrishandCelticStudies/Research/NorthernIrelandPlace-NameProject/

Location
Name	Northern Ireland Place Name Project
Address	7 University Square, Room G01, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast Belfast United Kingdom BT7 1NN
County	Antrim
Access Control	The Project office is open from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m throughout the year by prior appointment with Project Staff.
Role	Researcher
Phone	00442890975366
Email	celtic@qub.ac.uk