Series 1 - Manuscript Material

Identity area

Reference code

IE 2135 P43/1

Title

Manuscript Material

Date(s)

  • c. 1700-1960 (Creation)

Level of description

Series

Extent and medium

7 sub-series

Context area

Name of creator

(1914-1990)

Biographical history

Timothy Looney, a native of Cahir, county Tipperary, was born in 1914. A well-known local historian, he could regularly be found exploring local castles, churches, graveyards and sites of archaeological interest. He was known to challenge established beliefs and traditions and to use the evidence of cross-disciplinary elements such as documents and landscapes to offer alternative interpretations. His house on Pearse Street, a treasure trove of maps, books, documents and photographs, was a popular port of call for genealogists tracing their ancestors and for scholars researching historical topics. Looney’s collecting activities culminated in a remarkable salvage operation to recover papers from Shanbally Castle, county Tipperary prior to its destruction by a controlled explosion in March 1960.

In addition to his historical pursuits, Looney was an active member of his local community. He had a lifelong interest in the GAA, and was influential in the development of Gaelic games in Cahir. He was a tireless charity worker and fundraiser. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he organised volunteers to travel around the country to collect money for the Central Remedial Clinic, known as the Little Willie Fund, to aid the plight of polio victims. A supporter of the trade union movement, he was also active in the Irish Transport and General Workers Union. He had a great fondness for Cahir, and campaigned prominently to save its historical railway station. Timothy Looney died in his native town in 1990.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

This series contains manuscript material, primarily estate papers, collected by Timothy Looney.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

The series has been arranged into six sub-series according to the original creator.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Unrestricted access to most items, except those requiring conservation treatment. These items have been identified in the descriptive catalogue.

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

  • English
  • Latin

Script of material

    Language and script notes

    Physical characteristics and technical requirements

    Paper documents mostly in good or reasonable condition. A number of items require conservation treatment and are too fragile to be safely handled.

    Finding aids

    Allied materials area

    Existence and location of originals

    Existence and location of copies

    Related units of description

    Related descriptions

    Notes area

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Access points

    Subject access points

    Place access points

    Name access points

    Genre access points

    Description control area

    Description identifier

    Rules and/or conventions used

    Status

    Level of detail

    Language(s)

      Script(s)

        Sources

        Accession area