The National Archives holds records from a large number of private businesses, including small family grocers, solicitors, trade unions and major industries.
Business collections in the National Archives
The National Archives recognises the historical significance of business archives to the social, political and economic history of Ireland. Although business records are not specifically mentioned in the National Archives Act of 1986, the Act does permit the accessioning of private collections that warrant long-term preservation. This has built upon the long-standing tradition of the Public Record Office of Ireland to acquire and preserve collections from private sources.
Business Records Survey
The Business Records Survey was established in the 1970s by the Irish Manuscripts Commission to survey the archives of small and large businesses. It was also conducted to acquire these archives to ensure their long-term preservation. The Business Records Survey collected hundreds of collections over the years. These archival collections are arranged on a county-by-county basis.
Irish Business: 19th and 20th century
These collections provide a unique insight into Ireland’s social history, mainly throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. They often include individuals who may not appear in other official records and provide a perspective not necessarily derived from official government policy.
How to access these collections
Business records are private collections. Access to these collections can be limited and restricted.
These collections are stored off-site and their finding aids are not available online. To access these collections:
- View the hard copy finding aids in the Reading Room
Visit the Reading Room and use the hard copy finding aids to locate the records you want to view.
Plan a visit - Order in advance
Business records are stored off-site and must be ordered in advance. On average this takes 1 day if ordered in person at the Reading Room. It takes longer if ordered by email.
Order in Advance - Visit the Reading Room
When the records are retrieved, you can visit the Reading Room to view them.
National Archives legal obligation
The National Archives Act of 1986 does not specifically refer to business records so the National Archives doesn’t have any legal obligation to house these collections.
If you have a query about business records held in the National Archives email query@nationalarchives.ie