About the Office of Public Works archive
The Office of Public Works (OPW) archives consist of over 2,000 volumes and over 300,000 documents, including files, maps, and plans.
This extensive collection, dating back to 1831, provides insights into Ireland’s historical development, particularly in the areas of public infrastructure and services.
What you can find in the OPW archives
The archives contain detailed records on:
- Inland navigation
- Fisheries
- Roads
- Harbours
- Civil buildings
Working papers
A behind-the-scenes look at the day-to-day operations of the OPW, including correspondence, reports, and plans.
Historical records
As the OPW took over responsibilities from several older organisations, its records predate its formation, some reaching back to the mid-1700s.
The OPW archives are organised into ten series, each with numerous sub-series.
Accessing OPW archives
To access the OPW archives, search the online catalogue or plan a visit to the Reading Room. Some of the series or collections are not available online or in-person (see details below).
OPW/1
Records of the Secretarial Branch (bound letter books and minute books) ranging from 1800 to 1906. This series is subdivided into approximately 18 thematic/functional categories, most of which include the records of bodies taken over by the Board in 1831.
- General (1800–1906)
- Coastguard Stations (1847–1873)
- Public Works Loans (1849–1877)
- Issue of Money from Consolidated Fund (1824–1827)
- Inland Navigation (1800–1884)
- Fisheries (1819–1873)
- Roads and Bridges (1825–1877)
- Piers and Harbours (1807–1877)
- Linen and Yarn Hall Committee (1828–1887)
- Railways (1836–1868)
- Drainage (1842–1862)
- Lunatic Asylums (1835–1853)
- Queen’s Colleges (1845–1853)
- Maynooth College (1845–1871)
- National Schools (1856–1881)
- Labourers’ Dwellings (1866–1869)
- Glebe Loans (1870–1881)
- OPW/1/18/3/11/1-4: Registers and Claims under the Damage to Property Compensation Act, 1923
This collection can be searched online, but it is stored off-site and must be ordered in advance.
OPW/2
Records of the Accountants’ Branch (bound ledgers, journals, and account books) ranging from 1730–1934. Arranged similarly to OPW/1, into approximately twenty-two thematic/functional categories.
This collection can be searched online, but it is stored off-site and must be ordered in advance.
OPW/3
Records of the Engineers’ Branch. This series consists of 97 reports by engineers on proposed arterial drainage schemes between 1843 and 1880 and a series of Shannon Commission engineering minute books for the period 1841–1847.
Search the online catalogue or plan a visit to the Reading Room.
OPW/4
Bound volumes (minute books and letter books, as well as site, lease and deed books), relating to properties held by the OPW in the 19th century.
Also includes:
- Annual estimates
- Contracts registers
- Buildings registers
- Minute and letter books for the Shannon navigation from 1839–76
The finding aid for this series is only available in the Reading Room, and the material can be accessed onsite.
OPW/5: Loose Papers
This series consists of individual files on various subjects dating back to 1850 – 1935, along with associated bound volumes that act as ‘finding aids’ to these files. A new system of registration was introduced in 1848, established in 1850, and eventually superseded in 1935. These files cover every aspect of the OPW’s work.
There are approximately 40,000 unlisted files in this series, which is not currently open.
OPW/5HC: Architectural and Engineering Drawings
This series includes drawings related to or extracted from the general files in OPW/5. There are approximately 2,150 folders, each containing between one and thirty individual sheets.
The collection is organised as follows:
- OPW 5HC/1: Dublin public buildings
- OPW 5HC/2: Phoenix Park buildings
- OPW 5HC/3: Royal Hospital Kilmainham
- OPW 5HC/4: Other buildings under the OPW’s remit
- OPW 5HC/6: Roads, bridges, canals, drainage and navigation
- OPW 5HC/7: Railways
- OPW 5HC/8: Standard/ generic designs for public buildings
Search the online catalogue or plan a visit to the Reading Room.
OPW/6: Property Compensation Claims (1922-1923)
This series deals with the destruction of property and includes over 700 files, mostly relating to Dublin.
Search the online catalogue or plan a visit to the Reading Room.
OPW/7: Unregistered Miscellaneous Papers
This series includes papers on various subjects, such as the Congested Districts Board, the Curragh in Kildare, the Phoenix Park, and War Graves.
The finding aid for this series is only available in the Reading Room, and the material can be accessed onsite.
OPW/8: Piers and Harbours
This series details over 350 piers and harbours, with much of the material dating back to the early 19th century when piers and harbours were under the direction of the Commissioners of Irish Fisheries. It includes substantial material on the harbours at Howth and Kingstown (Dún Laoghaire) and covers the Famine years.
Search the online catalogue or plan a visit to the Reading Room.
OPW/9: Central Registry Files (1935-1960)
This series covers all topics and aspects of the OPW’s work. There are approximately 36,000 files in this series.
Please note: Due to a relisting project with the OPW, some batches of OPW/9 Central Registry files will be temporarily unavailable to researchers for several weeks at a time.
OPW/10: Records of the Grand Canal Company
This series includes records related to the Grand Canal Company.
Search the online catalogue or plan a visit to the Reading Room.
Additional online resources
‘The archives of the Office of Public Works and their value as a source for local history,’ by Rena Lohan.
‘Sources in the National Archives for researching the Great Famine,’ by Marianne Cosgrave, Rena Lohan and Tom Quinlan (parts 1 and 2).