Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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104. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the office of the chief herald which is attached to the genealogy and heraldry division of the National Library of Ireland has recently purchased seven letters written by a person (details supplied) between 1883 and 1885; the price paid for this acquisition; the reason for this purchase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32206/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Office of the Chief Herald is an integral part of the National Library of Ireland (NLI). The NLI adds to its collections each year through donations and purchases. It purchased the letters referred to by the Deputy and this has been catalogued and is listed on the NLI website (Manuscript No. 51212 and website link )

The letters were purchased at auction last year in London and had a total cost for the lot of £49,856 sterling. The NLI considers that the letters from the individual referred to by the Deputy are a valuable addition to the National Library’s collection. I have been informed that early letters by this individual are rarely offered for sale. These particular letters had only recently come to light and unlike much of this individual's correspondence, the letters were previously unpublished.

The NLI intends to have the letters digitally imaged and made available to the public on-line.