Special Collections: Collections

Special Collections holds the following types of collections:

• Manuscripts: Gaelic Irish, English and other languages
• Maps: estate maps, ordnance survey, city plans
• Older Printed Books: books from 1476 - 1850 covering subjects such as theology, sciences and history.
• Newspapers: available on microfilm and in bound volumes.
• Prints: Political, Portrait, Topographical
• Photographs: Portrait, Topographical
• Named Collections: collections donated by individuals
• Collections on a theme: Munster Printing, Transmissions and Transformations of the Ancient World, Humour
• Collections from Printing Presses: Attic Press, Cork University Press, Cuala Press, Dolmen Press, Three Candles Press
• Theses: Masters theses to 2013; PhD theses

Check with Special Collections staff for the finding aid for manuscripts on microfilm and the finding aid for paper manuscripts.

Selected Gaelic Irish manuscripts are available on Irish Script on Screen.These include The Book of Lismore and Cín Lae Uí Mhealláin which is an account of the Irish Confederate Wars (1641-1647) written by Tarlach Ó Mealláin, OFM.

View the list of newspaper holdings.

• Date range of collections: 15th century – present day 
• Oldest book: Bruni’s Historia del Popolo Fiorentino (1476)
• Oldest newspaper on microfilm: Freeman’s Journal (1763)
• Oldest printed newspaper : Cork Evening Post; Cork Hibernian Chronicle; Corke Journal (1769)