Fonds P83 - The Grace O’Malley Cantillon Papers

Identity area

Reference code

IE 2135 P83

Title

The Grace O’Malley Cantillon Papers

Date(s)

  • c. 1880-2014 (predominantly 2005-2014) (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

4 standard boxes and 1 photographic box

Context area

Name of creator

(b. 1934)

Biographical history

Grace O’Malley was born in 1934 as the elder of two children of Charles Vincent O’Malley and Dr Sarah (Judy) née Walsh. Her father was a dentist and ran a successful dental practice in the heart of Limerick city at No. 4 Pery Square, while her mother worked as a doctor and ophthalmologist. Grace was educated at Mount Anville in Dublin and later entered University College Dublin, where her studies for a degree in French and Italian were interrupted by tuberculosis in 1956. Following her recovery, Grace worked in public relations in Shannon. In 1958 she met and married her husband, George Cantillon, and had four children with him. Grace’s lifelong interest in family history culminated in an MA in Art History at University of Limerick in 2004 and the publication of The Round House O’Malleys: The Power of One Woman! in 2014.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Donated to the University of Limerick by Grace O’Malley Cantillon on 30 January 2020.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

This collection contains research notes and research material generated and collected by Grace O’Malley Cantillon while preparing her book on family history titled The Round House O’Malleys: The Power of One Woman! (2014). The collection encompasses a range of primary manuscript material sourced by the author, including letters from her uncle Thomas O’Malley to his mother and sisters while trying to carve out a life for himself in Australia between 1910 and 1914 (P83/1/6/3/2-11). Another interesting compilation of primary material (degree certificates, apprenticeship agreements, personal correspondence and memoirs) relates to Grace O’Malley Cantillon’s father, Charles Vincent O’Malley, who operated a successful dental practice in Limerick city in the first half of the twentieth century (see P83/1/6/7/1/1-P83/1/6/7/5/6). Also worth noting are the memoirs of Frank O’Malley describing his life as a rubber planter in early twentieth-century Malaya (P83/1/6/6/3-5). In addition, there is an extensive photographic component extending back to the 1880s. The primary material in this collection provides useful insights into Ireland as part of the British empire and the blossoming of the prosperous Irish Roman Catholic professional class following Irish independence.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

All records have been retained except for duplicates and photocopies of original items present in the collection, which have been destroyed.

Accruals

No accruals are expected.

System of arrangement

The material is divided into four series. Series 1 contains Grace O’Malley Cantillon’s research notes accumulated while researching for her book. These include pedigrees, press cuttings, correspondence and photocopies of articles and other research material, but also primary sources such as letters, accounts, certificates and manuscript memoirs. The material has been subdivided by the person to whom it relates to match the structure of the book as faithfully as possible. Series 2 contains a collection of postcards sent to members of the O’Malley family. Series 3 contains photographs, which are subdivided by the main branch of the family to which they relate. Series 4 contains items that relate to the O’Malley family but are not linked to a specific individual or family branch.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Unrestricted access to most items. Some items contain personal information and are closed to protect the privacy of living individuals. These items have been identified in the descriptive catalogue.

Conditions governing reproduction

Standard copyright regulations apply to all items. For photocopying or reproducing material, please consult with the staff.

Language of material

  • English
  • French
  • Spanish

Script of material

    Language and script notes

    Physical characteristics and technical requirements

    Paper documents and photographs in good or reasonable condition.

    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

    Name access points

    Genre access points

    Description control area

    Description identifier

    Rules and/or conventions used

    This description follows guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd edition (2000), Irish Guidelines for Archival Description (2009), National Council on Archives: Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names (1997) and EAP Guidance on Data Protection for Archive Services (2018).

    Status

    Level of detail

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        Sources

        Archivist's note

        Papers arranged and described by Anna-Maria Hajba in January 2024.

        Accession area