An archive of over 1,000 recordings has been compiled by Maurice and Jane O'Keeffe since 1990, when they began to travel the highways and byways of Ireland recording the oral history of each county. Each recording is produced on an individual CD of approximately 1 hour in duration.
Every topic under the Irish sun is included in the recordings - folklore, local and national history, storytelling, genealogy, archaeology and geology, fishing and farming traditions, the 1916 Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War, rural electrification, hedge schools, teaching and schooling, buttermaking and pisheogs.

Irish Life and Lore Photographic Exhibition A photographic exhibition of images taken for the Irish Life and Lore Series Archive will be on display at the Seanachai Literary Centre, Listowel during Listowel Writers Week, beginning on 28th May. more » Irish Life and Lore Collection Launches Four Collections will be launched during the month of May with another in June. more » National Museum of Ireland Presentation On June 25th at The National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, a presentation on the Economic War of the 1930`s will be given using many audio clippings from the Irish Life and Lore Archive. more » Irish American Cultural Institute Presentation On St. Patrick's Day, 2008, the New York branch of the Irish American Cultural Institute made a presentation of the Irish Life & Lore 1916 Collection to the LeMoyne Jesuit College, Syracuse. more » Irish Life and Lore on RTE The Irish Life and Lore series were recently featured on RTE's Nationwide programme. more »

 

Most of the recordings in the Irish Life and Lore archive have been divided into Collections according to the counties in which they were compiled. Each Collection is comprised of individual CDs accompanied by an illustrated catalogue giving a brief synopsis of each recording. Each CD may also be purchased individually.

A Master Catalogue, containing details, numbers and cover illustrations of all 670 recordings from the Collections has now been compiled. The Catalogue contains up to date information and new images of interviewees, and has 250 pages. It is priced at €150.

The most recent Collections completed are:

50 CDs -- Compiled 2007 More about the Collection Individual CDs - €20/$20   70 CDs -- Compiled 1999-2007 More about the Collection Individual CDs - €20/$20   50 CDs -- Compiled 2007 More about the Collection Individual CDs - €20/$20   51 CDs -- Compiled 2007 More about the Collection Individual CDs - €20/$20   50 CDs -- Compiled 2004-2006 More about the Collection Individual CDs - €20/$20   50 CDs -- Compiled 2004-2006 More about the Collection Individual CDs - €20/$20   45 CDs -- Compiled 2006 More about the Collection Individual CDs - €20/$20 Buy the Book  -  €20/$20   119 CDs -- Compiled 1995-2002 More about the Collection Individual CDs - €20/$20   83 CDs -- Compiled 2002-2004 More about the Collection Individual CDs - €20/$20

50 CDs -- Compiled 2007 More about the Collection Individual CDs - €20/$20   92 CDs -- Compiled 1995-2007 More about the Collection Individual CDs - €20/$20   50 CDs -- Compiled 2006 More about the Collection Individual CDs - €20/$20   54 CDs -- Compiled 2004-2005 More about the Collection Individual CDs - €20/$20   47 CDs -- Compiled 2002-2004 More about the Collection Individual CDs - €20/$20   33 CDs -- Compiled 2005 More about the Collection Individual CDs - €20/$20 Buy the Book  -  €15/$15   45 CDs -- North Cork - Compiled 2003-2004 More about the Collection Individual CDs - €20/$20 Buy the Book  -  €10/$10   26 CDs -- Compiled 2002-2004 More about the Collection Individual CDs - €20/$20

	Featured Carlow CD Michael Conry No. 1 The conversation begins with a description of Michael Conry's own background, and his reasons for deciding to come to Carlow. His work as a geologist focused his attention on research and study of the Carlow stone and he has published many books on this subject. We toured the county, visiting the localities which featured stone fencing, unique read more »» Featured Fourth Kerry CD John O'Sullivan I arrived at the farm of John O'Sullivan, who brought me to the old thatched stone-built cottage which had been the home of Sean O'Sullivan, his father. He described to me the types of baskets he would make, including the puckeen, which was used to cover the calf's mouth, turf-baskets, pigeon carrier baskets and picnic baskets. John's own read more »» Featured Second Offaly CD Jim Cummins Johnny Cummins came from a farming background and in this recording he discusses his earliest memories of his school days, when he wore a bib coat, knee breeches and clogs. He goes on to talk about his confirmation, his work on the land, sowing crops, and the severe effects of the Economic War. He also describes the hurling matches played read more »» Featured North Tipperary CD Frank Lewis and Mark Grace I called to the house of Mark Grace, where I met the man himself and his wife, who introduced me to Frank Lewis. The interview focused on the many aspects of fishing on the lake and Mark took me to the place where he keeps all his fishing gear. There he described the different fishing flies, the box in which the mayfly would be kept and a read more »» Featured Third Clare CD Michael Casey Michael grew up in Millstreet, Co Cork, and worked in a creamery in Effin, Co Limerick. The interview dealt with the War of Independence, the Economic War of the 1930s, the running of a creamery and life as chairperson of the Gaelic Athletic Association. read more »» Featured Kilkenny CD John Keane John Keane was born in Listowel, the son of author and playwright John B. Keane. He spent some time working for Kerry County Council and for Kerry’s Eye newspaper. He moved to Kilkenny and has spent 20 years there working with the Kilkenny People. In this interview John talks about the history of the Kilkenny People newspaper. The importance read more »» Featured 1916 CD William Geary No. 1 In June 2004, I was invited by the Irish American Historical Society in New York to come to the city to address them on my work involving the recording and archiving of local history and folklore. The Society also suggested that I record the memories of William Geary from Ballyagran, Co. Limerick who lived in New York. I was very pleased to be read more »»

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