Launch of online access to 17th century Irish manuscripts
News
24 September 2019On 18 September Ambassador of Ireland to Belgium Helena Nolan attended the launch of online access to the Irish manuscripts of the Irish College in Leuven at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin.
A reception to mark the launch was organised by the Embassy of Belgium in Ireland and the Flanders Department of Foreign Affairs.
An honour to speak @RIAdawson with many valued partners & friends at launch of digitised @DIAS_ISOS Irish Manuscripts from Leuven, funded by @IrishEmbBelgium @dfatirl & celebrating our historic & enduring relationship & strong collaboration @BEinIreland @Flanders_DFA @LCISLeuven pic.twitter.com/fuCWUHzvRd
— Helena Nolan (@helenajuly) September 19, 2019
The 17th century handwritten manuscripts are held in the Royal Library of Belgium (Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België / Bibliothèque royale de Belgique) and the online access project is a co-operative project between the Leuven Centre for Irish Studies (KU Leuven), the Royal Library of Belgium, the Embassy of Ireland to Belgium and Irish Script on Screen (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies).
A springboard into the 21st century...handwritten manuscripts about Irish culture+history held in #Leuven since the 17th century are digitised to widen their access @IrishEmbBelgium @RIAdawson @LCISLeuven https://t.co/lsZtC9Thkt pic.twitter.com/P8BUJ1oOHs
— Martina Devlin (@DevlinMartina) September 18, 2019
The manuscripts, which can now be viewed online, were brought to Belgium in the 17th century to St Anthony's College of the Irish Franciscans in Leuven.
The digitisation project was funded by the Embassy of Ireland to Belgium.
Inspirational, uplifting evening of images, words & music @RIAdawson online manuscripts launch, lovely to have the support of many wonderful Irish writers with deep connection to Leuven thanks to @LCISLeuven & thanks to friends @Flanders_DFA & @BEinIreland hosts of Reception ���� pic.twitter.com/DX61ZCOjhO
— Helena Nolan (@helenajuly) September 19, 2019