iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Today I deinstalled my exhibition, “Character is Better than Wealth: The Enduring Legacy of Michael Davitt” after its four month run @tcdlibrary.bsky.social. A sincere thank you to everyone who visited, attended a lecture, asked for a tour, listened, watched or supported the exhibition in any way. 🖤

Photograph of an exhibition case with a reflection of Gaia (the world)

Photograph of a red-headed woman stood behind an exhibition case and digital screens in the background

Photograph of an exhibition case displaying archives and books

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

I’ll be on Nationwide next Wednesday the 6th of May at 7pm speaking about the legacy of Michael Davitt and my current exhibition @tcdlibrary.bsky.social 🎥

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

It was a real pleasure to speak to the Friends of the Library last week about my exhibition, “Character is better than wealth: the enduring legacy of Michael Davitt.” Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the discussion so engaging.

Photograph of a lecture slide that reads 'Character is better than wealth: the enduring legacy of Michael Davitt''.

Photograph of a red-headed woman in front of a lecture slide.

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

I was honoured to speak at EPIC last night on the Michael Davitt Papers Project as part of their seminar ‘Michael Davitt’s Global Paths.’ I’m grateful to @catherine-healy.bsky.social for reaching out to me and creating the opportunity to be part of such a thoughtful and engaging seminar.

Photograph of red headed woman presenting in front of a slideshow of images of Michael Davitt

Photograph of a slide reading “Michael Davitt’s Global Paths

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

Michael Davitt died #OnThisDay in 1906. In his will he said "To all my friends I leave kind thoughts, to my enemies the fullest forgiveness and to Ireland the undying prayer for the absolute freedom and independence which it was my life's ambition to try and obtain for her." #MichaelDavitt

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

On the morning of the 6th of May 1882, Michael Davitt’s 15-month spell in Portland Prison came to an end. He notes in his diary that he has served just under nine years and has “Three years yet hanging over [his] head." #OnThisDay #MichaelDavitt

Photograph of Michael Davitt during his imprisonment in Dartmoor.

Photograph of a page from Michael Davitt's diary from 1882 on the day he was released from Portland Prison

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

We remember Irish poet, academic and public figure Brendan Kennelly on what would have been his 89th Birthday. From 2008 to 2023 his archival papers were transferred to the library and from 2022 to 2024 as part of a #VirtualTrinityLibrary Project his extensive papers were catalogued.

Photograph of Brendan Kennelly holding a book

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

For World Health Day today, we wanted to share this card designed by Dorothy Blackham from the Cuala Press Print Collection that reminds us that our Health is the greatest gift we have ✨ To see more #CualaPress prints click below doi.org/10.48495/q811k

Hand-coloured photoengraved print by Dorothy Blackham titled 'Burning Kelp'. The print depicts a woman holding a rake at the water's edge raking kelp against a mountainous backdrop; two men carrying a boat also feature in the background. The text below the illustration is an Indian proverb: "Health is the greatest gift/ Contentedness the greatest riches."

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

I'm Ciara, I'm the project Archivist for the Michael Davitt Papers Project in TCD Library. The papers consist of 45 boxes of papers including over 6000 letters, 550 photographs and 72 diaries. Did you know his favourite colour was light purple! You can learn more below www.tcd.ie/library/rese...

Photograph of a character sheet filled in by Michael Davitt.

Studio portrait photograph of Michael Davitt standing beside a chair while holding a scroll.

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Our Michael wasn't much of a birthday person, we can see his contempt shown in his diary entry for his 42nd Birthday in 1888. 🎂🎉 Michael Davitt was born #OTD in Straide, County Mayo in 1846. doi.org/10.48495/8w3... #VirtualTrinityLibrary #MichaelDavitt

Photograph of a diary entry from Sunday the 25th March, 1888 that reads "My 42nd or 40th birthday, I don't care which."

Studio portrait photograph of Michael Davitt in a bowler hat. Photographed by [John Robert] Hanna, 134 Queen Street, Auckland, New Zealand. Written on the verso: ‘Robert Davitt', and: '1895’.

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

For International Day of Happiness I wanted to share this card from the Cuala Press Business Archive by Anne Price which reminds us of the importance of friendship and the happiness it can bring 💛

Hand-coloured photoengraved Christmas card depicting two women underneath a tree, one sitting, one standing. Cottages, mountains and a lake or sea are in the background. Artwork by Anne Price - artist's monogram at bottom right. With text underneath the illustration from the "Letters of Mrs Delany" 1728: "A Fairy spot of ground to be enjoyed with a friend is preferable to the whole World without that Happiness."

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit! ☘️ Given the occasion, we think this Cuala Press print of a young Saint Patrick and his wolfhound is worth sharing 🇮🇪 The print was designed by Anne Price and is accompanied by text taken from the writings of Saint Patrick 🐍 #CualaPress #SaintPatricksDay

Hand-coloured proof of 'The Young St. Patrick' by Anne Price. Artwork depicts a youthful Saint Patrick with Irish wolfhound; some sheep and a staff or crook are also visible. Accompanied by text taken from the writings of Saint Patrick, first lines "Now after I came to Ireland Tending the flocks was my daily occupation and constantly I used to pray in the daytime".

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

Michael Davitt had an acute sense of justice. We see this in the prepartion he did during the Special Commission on Parnellism & Crime. There are 4 notebooks which collate notes & evidence from trials which he used to limit reputational damage done to the Irish Parliamentary party.

Photograph of the front cover of notebook MS9551 entitled 'Notes by an amateur detective Oct 1888 - March 1889.

Photograph of the first page of MS 9551. The title of the page reads 'The Special Commission' Notes by an amateur detective.

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Hurrah for love! 💗On the 30th of December 1886 Michael Davitt and Mary Yore married in Oakland, California. Here is his diary entry for that day ❤️#EYALove @exploreyourarchive.bsky.social

Photograph of a page from Michael Davitt's diary from 1886 for the day he married Mary Yore.

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

⚡️The project page for the Michael Davitt papers project is now live ⚡️We now have all things Michael Davitt in the one place! You can find links to the catalogue, the digitised images and an exhibition of photographs from the collection! www.tcd.ie/library/rese...

IE TCD MS 9649/18 Studio portrait photograph of Michael Davitt sitting, with legs crossed in a Russian fur coat and hat. Photographed by E. Yexobckon, Moscow. Written on the verso: ‘(sent by N York Herald I think ED’, and: ‘En route to Russia 1904? To investigate massacre of Jews in Kischineff’.

IE TCD MS 9649/221 Group portrait photograph of Mary Davitt, wife of Michael Davitt, with their children Eileen, Michael, Cahir and Robert Emmet

IE TCD MS 9649/285 Photograph of the passing countryside, taken by Michael Davitt while travelling by train in British Columbia. From Davitt’s tour of Northwest Canada in 1891. Written on the back: ‘Passing view from the train in British Columbia – taken from platform at rear of cars’.

IE TCD MS 9549 Front cover of Michael Davitt's Diary from 1888

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

I had the pleasure of speaking to TCD English students this morning on 'Cromwell' in the Brendan Kennelly Literary Archive! It was such a rewarding hour for me as an archivist to see the students engaging with the collection and being so interested in the items!

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

An alternative Valentine's poem to the traditional "Roses are red, violets are blue" ❤️🌹 Michael Davitt was inspired to compose a humorus doggerel verse about his fellow prisoners in Richmond Prison in his 1883 diary. #VirtualTrinityLibrary #EYALove @exploreyourarchive.bsky.social

Photograph of a poem about prisoners in Richmond Prison in 1883, written by Michael Davitt

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

Lá Fhéile Bríde/Happy St. Brigid’s day everyone 💐 Saint Brigid's day marks the end of winter, the first day of spring and new beginnings 🌞 This print has been digitised as part of the Virtual Trinity Library Cuala Press project at the Library of Trinity College Dublin. doi.org/10.48495/c24...

Hand-coloured photoengraved print by Kathleen Verschoyle titled 'Saint Brigid'. Print depicts Saint Brigid, wearing a blue cloak and holding a lamb, with two lambs at her feet and trees in the background. The text below the illustration is a poem by Winifred M. Letts. The first two lines read "The Dandelion lights its spark, Lest Brigid find the wayside dark."

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

We remember Elizabeth Corbet Yeats (1868-1940) who died #onthisday in 1940. Alongside running the Cuala press with her Sister Susan, she designed many prints for the press, including this one, with text by Stephen Gwynn 🎨 You can see more of her designs on digital collections doi.org/10.48495/wh247

Hand-coloured photoengraved print by Elizabeth Corbet Yeats titled 'Mother of my yearning'. Print depicts a thatched cottage with trees and stone walls in the foreground and mountains in the background. The text below the illustration is an excerpt from a poem by Stephen Gwynn titled 'Ireland'. The first two lines of text read "Mother of my yearning, love of all my longings,/Keep me in remembrance, long leagues apart."

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

I am delighted that my piece on the Brendan Kennelly Literary Archive appeared in the January/February edition of @araukie.bsky.social Arc magazine! This was such an amazing project and I'm glad the archive is now available for use in The Library of Trinity College Dublin! ✨

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

✨Staff Forum✨ Christmas edition ❄️

Photograph of a redheaded woman presenting with a Powerpoint with a photograph of Brendan Kennelly on it

Photograph of a redheaded woman presenting with a Powerpoint with a photograph of the same redheaded woman sat at a desk with a pile of paper on it

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Some behind the scenes of a little Cuala Press showcase today ✨

Photograph of two pages from the Leabhair Dun Eimire depicting the staff

Photograph of a postcard for Dun Emer industries depicting a tree with two cherubs and a woman on either side. One holding books and the other holding an embroidered cloth

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

Today is #ChristmasCardDay and in what has become a bit of a tradition, I wanted to share some of our Cuala Press Christmas Cards with you ✨ Such as this one by Elizabeth Corbet Yeats with a poem by An Craoibhín (Douglas Hyde) and this one with a poem by Louis H. Brindley. #CualaPress

Hand-coloured photoengraved Christmas card depicting a snowy village sceneby Elizabeth Corbet Yeats. Underneath the illustration is verse, in Irish, by An Craoibhín (Douglas Hyde) framed with holly berries and leaves

Hand-coloured photoengraved Christmas card of cottages in the snow at night. With verse by L.H.B. (Louis H. Brindley).

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

Family was extremely important to Michael Davitt. While travelling to Australia for a lecture tour in 1895, he received the news that his daughter Kathleen, had died suddenly of tuberculosis. He carried her photograph with him in his diary until he returned #EYAFamily @araireland.bsky.social

Photograph of a page from Michael Davitt's Diary containing a photograph of his daughter Kathleen

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Did you know that Poet and academic Brendan Kennelly not only wrote poetry, but he also adapted three plays from Greek Mythology. Such as his version of Euripides’ Medea and The Trojan Women #EYAMythology #VirtualTrinityLibrary #CuardaighDoChartlann #EYAMiotaseolaíocht @araireland.bsky.social

Photograph of a Programme for a production of Brendan Kennelly's version of Euripides’ Medea

Photograph of a programme for a production by Theatre Cryptic of Brendan Kennelly's version of Euripides’ The Trojan Women

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

He's an icon, he's a legend, and he is the moment! #OutfitOfTheDay 17-year-old Michael Davitt looking dapper for a mirrored studio photograph taken circa 1863. #EYAFashion #EYAFaisean #VirtualTrinityLibrary #CuardaighDoChartlann #OOTD @araireland.bsky.social

Mirrored studio photographs of Michael Davitt at 17 years of age, seated with legs crossed and looking past the camera to his left.

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

The Brendan Kennelly Literary Archive is the largest boxed collection we have in The Library of Trinity College Dublin. It consists of 457 archive boxes and covers all facets of his life! #EYAHuge #EYAOllmhór @araireland.bsky.social

Photograph of a redheaded woman sat on a pallet in front of piles of banker boxes

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Radical nationalist and social reformer Michael Davitt was a champion and hero of marginalised communities in Ireland & abroad. Here he is at the eviction of Widow Darcy in Wexford,c1887 in discussion with two Irish Parliamentary Party MPs #EYAHeroes @araireland.bsky.social #EYA2024

Michael Davitt in discussion with two Irish Parliamentary Party MPs, about the eviction of Widow Darcy in Wexford, c1887.

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

Such an inspiring speech by Donal Fallon for the @araireland.bsky.social Explore Your Archive campaign launch. Our archives shine a light on the achievements of Irish people and our resilient culture. This is what archives are about, the preservation of this is so important 📁

Photograph of Donal Fallon ambassador for the ARAIreland Explore Your Archive campaign

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

@clodaghfinn.bsky.social is a fabulous supporter of archives and was an amazing Explore Your Archive ambassador! Her breath of experience and love of archives is so heartwarming and so reassuring! @araireland.bsky.social

Photograph of Clodagh Finn speaking at the Explore Your Archive campaign launch

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

@niamhnicharra.bsky.social kicking off this evenings launch of @araireland.bsky.social 's Explore Your Archive campaign. This event is the highlight of my working year and the campaign is such a great way to showcase the variety of collections across the country 📁

Photograph of Niamh Ní Charra speaking as chair of ARAIreland for the launch for the explore your archive campaign

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

You’ve got your nonentities, clock watchers, pseudo celibates, Modern language mumble, Alcoholics Anonymous, Anyone who’s Anybody and the worst. Beware of the long haired intellectuals! A TCD guide to the 1937 Reading Room from c1955 from the #TrinityWomenGraduates archive.

Photograph of an outline of the 1937 Reading Room in Trinity College Dublin from 1955. Includes humerous labels for each area in the room.

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

A musing on the weather by Brendan Kennelly. ❄️🌧️☂️

Photograph of a note written by Brendan Kennelly, that reads “Delightful day in Dublin. Hailstones, rain, sun, thunder, lightning, more hailstones. With variety like that, how can poetry not come?”

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

I was delighted to write an article for the ARA Ireland Winter Newsletter on the Brendan Kennelly Literary Archive. This was such a great way to wrap up my time on the project and I'm delighted that the Archive is now available for use in our reading room! araireland.ie/news

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Speaking of the Brendan Kennelly Literary Archive! I am delighted to announce that the Archive is now available for all to use! You can read more about the project here libguides.tcd.ie/blogs/news/b... and take a look at our shiny project page below! www.tcd.ie/library/rese...

Photograph of Brendan Kennelly stood in front of the Campanile in Trinity College Dublin

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

In October, The Irish Society for Archives asked me to speak on the Brendan Kennelly Literary Archive as part of their Autumn lecture series! 🍂 It was one of the most rewarding nights of my career so far and was a great way to round up my time on the Brendan Kennelly Literary Archive!

Photograph of a readheaded woman stood at a podium presenting with a powerpoint behind her showing the same redheaded woman sat in front of a pile of boxes

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

It was an absolute delight to present on ✨Inspiration ✨in the Brendan Kennelly Literary Archive as part of our Quick Pick panel for TCDAHfest in September! Doing presentations like these are one of the many highlights of my job and I am so grateful to have such inspiring and supportive colleagues 🖤

Photograph of a redheaded woman at a podium presenting on the Brendan Kennelly Literary Archive with a powerpoint slide depicting the same redheaded woman sat at a desk covered in piles of paper.

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 25/10/2023

I had so many to choose but I love this one outside Fresh in temple bar. Quote with a photo of street graffiti from your phone...

Photograph of a skeleton in a black suit with a speech bubble reading 'No Worries' with orange, yellow and red flames

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 10/10/2023

My office for the day is another equally gorgeous Library the Royal Irish Academy where I'm attending this session on exhibiting sensitive materials on behalf of my colleagues in Research Collections. I'm super excited for this!

Photograph of a PowerPoint slide on a projector screen reading 'Welcome to Trigger Warnings: exhibiting sensitive materials.' Behind the screen are bookcases of old books and in front are red chairs for the speakers.

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 27/09/2023

On a stormy day like today I wanted to share this note that Brendan Kennelly wrote in one of his notebooks of poetry. Brendan wrote several notes like this but in this one he muses on how inspiring the weather can be! And today the weather is sure to provoke some poetry! #VirtualTrinityLibrary

Photograph of a note on the weather and inspiration taken from a Notebook of handwritten poetry for Cromwell.

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 19/09/2023

Hi Bsky! I tried several times to write a little introductory post for here but every time it reminded me of dating app bios and I had to stop. I promise I'm more fun in person! I'm a project archivist in Trinity College Dublin working on the Brendan Kennelly Literary Archive and I love Street Art!

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Ciara Daly @dalykeeks.bsky.social · 19/09/2023

I've finally made the transition from Twitter! If anyone has any recommendations for who to follow let me know! #Archivist #Archives

Photograph of exhibition cases in the centre of The Long room of the Old Library.

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