Irish and Local Studies Library - Based in Armagh town, this library offers full reference facilities to researchers. It has a spacious reading room which is used on occasions for evening lectures, individual study carrels for in-depth private study, ten computers with internet access, colour copying plus a separate room for viewing microforms. One of its strengths is its newspaper and journals section which includes a wide range of local papers, national and provincial dailies, political and literary magazines, dating from the 18th century to the present day. Its literature section contains a wide range of plays, poetry and fiction by both well-known and obscure writers as well as works of criticism and literary history. A considerable proportion of these works are in the Irish language.

Belfast Linen Hall Library - The Linen Hall Library is a truly unique institution. Founded in 1788, it is the oldest library in Belfast and the last subscribing library in Ireland.
It is renowned for its unparalleled Irish and Local Studies Collection, ranging from comprehensive holdings of Early Belfast and Ulster printed books to the 250,000 items in the NI Political Collection, the definitive archive of the recent troubles. Located on Donegall Square North.

Belfast Central Library - Large collection of newspapers and documents relating to Ulster and Irish studies. Located on Royal Avenue, Belfast.


SOUTHERN IRELAND PUBLIC LIBRARIES

National Library of Ireland, Dublin - The world's largest collection of Irish documentary material: books, manuscripts, newspapers, periodicals, drawings, photographs, maps, etc. The National Library is open, free of charge, to all that want and need to use it. A Reader’s Ticket is necessary in order to consult most categories of material.

Cavan Local Studies - Cavan Local Studies collection is acknowledged as one of the foremost in the country.  Housed  in  the Johnston Central Library, cutting edge information technology has been utilised to ensure preservation, conservation and better service delivery for this unique collection.

Clare Local Studies Centre, - Clare County Library's Local Studies Centre is a reference library and research centre dedicated to the collection of material on any aspect of County Clare. Located at the Manse, beside the de Valera Library in Ennis, it is open to the public free of charge and is part of Clare County Library's Information Services Department. The Centre also houses a collection of Irish interest material.

Cork City Local Studies - The Cork Local Studies department is situated on the top floor at the front of the Central Library. No charge is made for consulting information in this department. The Local Studies department or Cork Collection contains a wide range of material (on paper and on other media) on the history, geography, antiquities, archaeology, folklore and culture of Cork city and county. The bookstock of 9,148 books (in 2005) is complemented by an extensive local newspaper archive. The collection contains books, newspapers, journals, periodicals, manuscripts, maps and photographs. This department is popular with enquirers seeking local history information and those seeking guidance for genealogical research.

Cork County Local Studies - At the County Library on Model Farm road, Cork, we house a wide range of resources at our Local Studies Department. Our collection reflects a broad definition of Cork local studies, which includes areas such as local history, natural history, social studies, planning and genealogy.

Donegal Local Studies - Based at Central library, Oliver Plunkett Road, Letterkenny.

Dublin City Archive - Based on Pearse Street, Dublin City Archives contains records of the civic government of Dublin from 1171 to the late 20th century. These records include City Council and committee minutes, account books, correspondence, reports, court records, charity petitions, title deeds, maps and plans and drawings all of which document the development of Dublin over eight centuries. Also contains an extensive collection of newspapers dating baking to mid-seventeenth c. city directories, and assorted ephemera.

Dublin South Local Studies - The Local Studies Collection at the County Library, Tallaght, is the major Local Studies collection for South Dublin Libraries. Valuable and single copy items in stock in South Dublin Libraries should be housed with the collection. Other branches should hold material which will answer the majority of their Local Studies queries. More specialised queries can be referred to or passed to the Local Studies librarian.

Fingal Local Studies - A comprehensive collection of material relating to the Fingal area has been assembled since 1994 and is currently housed at Parnell Square, Dublin. The purpose of this service is firstly to preserve the heritage of the county by providing a memory bank of materials in all formats and secondly to provide research facilities for the public. Viewing is by appointment only.

Galway Local Studies - The collection is housed at the library headquarters, Cathedral Square, Galway, and includes Griffith's Valuation for Galway on microfilm. Griffith's Valuation was compiled between the years 1848 and 1864. It lists all householders in Ireland at the time of compilation, local Poor Law Guardians' minute books, Trade Directories, Pigot's Directory for the years 1820, 1821, 1822 and 1824, Slater's Directory of Ireland for the years 1846, 1856, 1870, 1881 and 1894, Thom's Directory for 1848, local maps, historical photographs of Galway, and the 1901 and 1911 censi on microfilm.

Kerry Local History and Archives Department - The Local Studies &  Archives Department is located at County Library Headquarters, Moyderwell, Tralee. Kerry has a rich tradition in the areas of archaeology, history and antiquities. The Local Studies & Archives section acts as a resource centre for the very many and varied enquiries in this field. A comprehensive collection of books, tapes, prints and audio visual material has been built up over the years and is added to on a regular basis. Kerry newspapers are available for consultation on microfilm and are extensively used for research purposes. 

Kildare Local Studies - Based in Newbridge, as well as containing a wonderful collection of secondary source material the Local Studies Department includes many original gems such as Griffith's Valuation, the original 6 inch Ordnance Survey Maps of the County, the Tithe Applotment Books, photographs from the Lawrence, Eason and Valentine Collections, some Rental Books of the Marquis of Drogheda and the Verschoyle Estates etc. Newspapers on microfilm in the Collection date to 1763. There are also microfilm copies of the 1901 and 1911 Census Returns for Co. Kildare.

Kilkenny Local Studies - Our Local Studies Department, at Co. Library H.Q, 6 Rose Street, Kilkenny,is one of the jewels of our service If you are doing a thesis for a Local Studies Degree, writing a local parish history, interested in checking old newspapers for hurling match reports, looking up your family history, we can help.

Laois Local Studies - The Local Studies Department is located at the Library Headquarters in Aras an Chontae, J.F.L. Avenue, Portlaoise providing access to heritage and genealogy.

Leitrim Local Studies - Leitrim County Library has an extensive collection of local studies material which is housed at Ballinamore Library. The material is available for public consultation and is open to the public Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10.00 – 17.30; Tuesday and Thursday 10.00 - 20.00 and Saturday 10.00 - 17.00. There is an extensive collection of photographs including collections such as Duncan, Browne, Davies etc. The collection is particularly strong on G.A.A. and Railway material.

Limerick City Reference Library - The Reference Library is located in the Central Library at the Granary. In addition to the many historical reference materials available, local newspapers are also available on microfilm.

Limerick County Local Studies - The local studies library is located on the first floor of the library headquarters, The library acts as a reference and research centre for the local population and for requests from abroad. The collection held deals with all aspects of Limerick county (and city) history, heritage and culture. A comprehensive collection of books, journals and audio-visual material has been built up over the years. Until recently a card catalogued was maintained. This is now supplemented by the library database www.elibs.gov.ie

Longford Archives and Local Studies - The library holds copies of all published material on Longford. Among the vast array of works are James P. Farrell's History of the County Longford (Dublin, 1891), Bishop James J. MacNamee's History of the Diocese of Ardagh (Dublin, 1954) and Longford - Essays in County History (Dublin, 1991), edited by Raymond Gillespie and Gerard Moran. There are also several parish histories and works on specific themes and subjects such as sport, education and politics.

Mayo County Library - The main Local Studies Department is located in Castlebar Central Library and is the central repository for a wealth of material on the history and heritage of County Mayo from earliest times to the present. From it's inception, Mayo County Library has continually acquired material of local interest - books, manuscripts, journals, newspapers, photographs, maps, CD-rom, microfilm etc. The result is an extremely comprehensive collection backed up by the latest in visual, audio visual and copying equipment.

Meath Local Studies - The local history department is currently housed at the Library Headquarters in Navan. The Department holds a large collection of items including: old newspapers, local history Journals, local census returns, schools folklore collection from 1937, local photographs, a collection of books and poetry from local authors past and present, books and pamphlets produced by local history societies, trade directories for Meath, local workhouse records, school registers, local historical maps, genealogical material. The collection is available in varying formats from printed material, to microfilm or microfiche Material. If you wish to research a particular subject area please contact the Local Studies Librarian on 046 - 9021134 or email: navlib@meathcoco.ie

Offaly Local Studies - We have an extensive range of resources, ranging from archives, local newspapers dating from the mid-19th century, early film, antiquarian books and artefacts. The "Offaly" collection is a unique and rich resource for the study of Offaly's culture and heritage.

Roscommon Local Studies - The main collection located at Co. Library Headquarters, Abbey Street, Roscommon, contains: Published material relating to Co Roscommon, Local newspapers, Photographs, Microfilm, Maps and manuscripts.

Tipperary Local Studies - Tipperary Libraries Local Studies and Archives collection is presently located at The Source, cathedral Street, Thurles.  Tipperary Studies is a reference library and research centre dedicated to the collection of material on all aspects of County Tipperary.  Tipperary Studies aims to collect and make freely accessible as comprehensive a collection of material relating to the history of Tipperary as possible, including published books, journals, newspapers, photographs, audio visual material microform, manuscripts and ephemera.

Waterford Local Studies - Waterford City Library's Local Studies department provides our customers with information on the genealogy, history, architecture, archaeology and geography of the city and surrounding areas. Our stock in this area consists of a reference collection of over 2,000 books relating to the history of Waterford and surrounding areas. More of our resources are listed below - for more details, call in to our Local Studies room in Central Library, Lady Lane, Waterford.

Westmeath Local Studies - Based at library headquarters, Dublin Road, Mullingar. Local newspapers are available on microfilm and date from the 1800’s , also some in bound hardcopy which date from the mid 1900’s.

Wexford Local Studies - Local Studies is a special collection of historical and current printed and visual material relating to all aspects of County Wexford and its people. The Collection includes resources that relate to the history, archaeology, economy, religion, landscape and cultural heritage of the county as well as to its natural and built environment. It also contains works by Wexford-born authors, regardless of subject matter.