The Creggan History Society Archive serves as a living repository of the region’s memory — a place where documents, images, and stories are preserved not just for reference, but for reflection and rediscovery. Since the Society’s founding in 1975, the Archive has steadily grown into a valuable collection of materials relating to the people, places, and events that have shaped the Upper Fews and the broader Creggan Parish.
It is the heart of our mission: to gather, safeguard, and share the historical record of this distinctive corner of Ireland.
What the Archive Contains
The Archive includes a wide array of materials, both physical and digital, ranging from scholarly articles to personal memoirs. Each item contributes to our understanding of the region’s complex and multi-layered past. Among the most commonly accessed items are:
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Society Journals (published annually since the 1970s)
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Photographs – of people, buildings, events, and landscapes
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Gravestone inscriptions and cemetery records
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Townland surveys and fieldwork reports
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Transcripts of oral histories and interviews
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Maps – historical and modern comparisons
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Parish records and genealogical notes
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Local newspaper clippings and death notices
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Lectures and talks – recorded or transcribed
These resources have been gathered from local families, researchers, archives, and Society members over decades. The result is a collection that balances formal scholarship with deeply personal contributions, creating a rich and accessible tapestry of regional history.
Journals and Publications
At the core of the Archive is the Creggan History Journal collection — the Society’s flagship publication. Each issue features a range of articles covering historical research, family history, local folklore, archaeology, and commemorative writing. Contributions are drawn from academics, local historians, and descendants of emigrants with ties to the area.
Back issues of the journals are currently held in physical form, but efforts are underway to digitise the entire collection. This will allow readers from around the world to explore the content online, supporting diaspora engagement and historical scholarship alike.
In addition to the journals, the Archive also includes other printed materials such as pamphlets, booklets, and special reports published by or in collaboration with the Society.
Gravestone and Cemetery Records
One of the most frequently accessed parts of our Archive relates to gravestone inscriptions. Over the years, Society members and volunteers have recorded and transcribed headstones from local cemeteries, many of which are now worn or unreadable. These records are of particular value to genealogists and descendants looking to confirm dates or locate burial places.
Where possible, headstone records are accompanied by photographs and contextual notes. Some entries are cross-referenced with parish registers or civil records to enhance accuracy and detail.
Oral History and Memory Projects
The Archive places special emphasis on preserving oral history, recognising that personal stories, when recorded, become historical artefacts in their own right. Interviews with local residents, family anecdotes, and recollections of past events offer insight that rarely appears in official documents.
These oral records are stored as audio files, written transcripts, or both, and are gradually being indexed for easier searching. They include memories of schooldays, farming practices, social customs, wartime experiences, emigration journeys, and more.
We continue to invite residents and descendants to share their memories — whether recorded independently or through an arranged interview. Every voice adds to the shared story of the area.
Access and Use
At present, most of the Archive is available by appointment only, for in-person consultation at Áras an Chairdinéil Ó Fiaich in Cullyhanna. Selected materials, especially journal articles and gravestone records, are gradually being made available online through this website.
Those seeking access for research or personal interest are encouraged to contact the Society in advance. We are happy to assist with queries and suggest possible resources based on the nature of your search.
Researchers may also request copies or scans of certain materials, subject to copyright restrictions and preservation guidelines. Where possible, we aim to provide information at little or no cost, though donations are always welcome to support our conservation efforts.
Contributions Welcome
The Archive grows through the generosity and engagement of the community. If you have materials that may be of historical interest — such as family papers, photographs, letters, or old recordings — we would be delighted to discuss preserving them as part of the collection.
We take great care in handling donated items, and where possible, we digitise them and return originals, if requested. Contributors are credited appropriately, and materials may be featured in exhibitions, publications, or educational work.
By contributing to the Archive, you are helping to ensure that future generations can understand and appreciate the lives and legacies of those who came before.
Preserving the Past, Informing the Future
The Archive is more than a collection of papers — it is a community resource, a teaching tool, and a lasting tribute to the people of the Creggan area. It tells the story of hardship and resilience, of faith and tradition, of change and continuity.
We believe that by protecting and sharing these records, we not only honour our past but also build a stronger connection with the present. Every document, every image, every recorded memory is a thread in the larger fabric of our shared heritage.