iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Neil Johnston @nejohnst.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Cool job for the right person. Here's the letter appointing Richard St George as Ulster king-of-arms in 1671: virtualtreasury.ie/item/TNA-SO-...

virtualtreasury.ie

Virtual Treasury

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Royal Historical Society @royalhistsoc.org · 10/09/2026

Published today: the latest volume in the Society's Camden Series of primary source editions: 'Francis Slingsby (1611–1642) and the Jesuits', edited by Brian Mac Cuarta bit.ly/4xPl9AT - a study of Jesuit involvement in conversion to Catholicism in the Caroline era. #Skystorians 1/2

bit.ly

'Francis Slingsby and the Jesuits': new volume in the Society's Camden series - RHS

The latest volume in the Society’s Camden Series of primary source materials -- Francis Slingsby (1611–1642) and the Jesuits, edited by Brian Mac Cuarta -- is now available. To mark publication, Brian...

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Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland @virtualtreasury.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Delighted to welcome British Ambassador Kara Owen to Trinity today for an enjoyable excursion through the tens of thousands (!) of records shared by with the VRTI by UK partners. From monarchs and bureaucrats in the 1600s, to Nicholas Dillon, a blind piper from Ballinasloe in 1821. @BritEmbDublin

Ambassador Kara Owen, with Ciarán Wallace (left) and Peter Crooks (right) in front of a screen displaying the Virtual Record Treasury homepage.

A screen grab of the State Papers Ireland Gold Seam on the VRTI.
https://virtualtreasury.ie/gold-seams/state-papers-ireland

The 1821 Census Gleanings interactive map of Ireland.
https://kg.virtualtreasury.ie/collection-map/census-gleanings

Engraving of a blind musician holding a uilleann pipe or pastoral bagpipe. Etching attributed to G Grattan.
Image credit Wellcome Collection.
Creative Commons licence.

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Neil Johnston @nejohnst.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

I got my hair cut this morning and the barber was from Kosovo. The usual football chat but this time it was about GAA and Mayo V Kerry. He asked me if I’d seen the final last week and I thought he meant the World Cup the week before. But no, he’d watched the All Ireland and loved it. Amazing

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Daniel F Gosling @thegozfather.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Some very REQciting news. My Court of Requests pleadings (REQ 2/16-424) project is now complete. Over 28,000 items dating from c.1547-c.1625 (Edw VI to Jas I) now searchable online. Happy researching everyone 🙂 discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/h/C...

discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk

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Irish Manuscripts Commission @irishmanuscripts.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Closing date: Wed 29 July The IMC student prize of €1,000 is awarded to a postgraduate student for editing a short historical document, which will also be considered for publication in Analecta Hibernica. Learn more at: irishmanuscripts.ie/imc-student-prize-2026/

irishmanuscripts.ie

IMC Student Prize 2026 - Irish Manuscripts

The Irish Manuscripts Commission wishes to award a prize of €1,000 to a postgraduate student for editing a short historical document. Winning entries will also be considered for publication in Analect...

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Mutable Joe @mutablejoe.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

for the next hydration break france have chosen a 2003 sancerre, let's see if that helps

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Graham Moore @mooregraham.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

we have some fun 4 July news over at The National Archives! a new copy of the US Declaration of Independence, with an amazing story behind it (privateers! printers! prisoners!) - but also, a find that shows the power and importance of our volunteering and cataloguing projects.

theguardian.com

‘Vanishingly rare’ copy of US Declaration of Independence found by volunteer in UK archives

One of 11 surviving copies of ‘Exeter printing’ and only one known outside US was taken from American privateer ship

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Transkribus @transkribus.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

📢 We've just released Text Titan II, our most accurate general-purpose model yet. It reduces transcription errors by ~47% compared to Text Titan I on our internal benchmark, with the biggest gains on handwritten documents! Find out more and try Text Titan II: www.transkribus.org/blog/introdu...

transkribus.org

Introducing Text Titan II | Transkribus Blog

Transkribus introduces Text Titan II: a powerful, multilingual transcription model for Latin-script documents. Boost accuracy for print and handwriting today.

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Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland @virtualtreasury.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

🗓️ Mark your calendars! Our 2026 Research Showcase "Building Collections, Deepening Connections" is approaching on Tuesday 30 June at 10am in the TCD Arts Building.

Promotional graphic for Virtual Treasury 104, the VRTI's 2026 Research Showcase. A four-panel collage combines archival and digital imagery: a library storage aisle and search interface in the upper left, a handwritten historical document with a red wax seal in the upper right, a medieval manuscript illustration in the lower left, and an early map of the Irish coastline in the lower right. A translucent blue-green circular overlay spans the centre, with the title “Virtual Treasury 104” displayed in large white serif text across a semi-transparent green banner.

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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

On 29 May 1660, Charles II returned to England for the first time as King. In the #HistParl article linked below, Dr Andrew Barclay explores the vast choreographed procession from Dover to the capital.

historyofparliament.com

The Return of Charles II, 29 May 1660

In today's blog Dr Andrew Barclay, senior research fellow in our Commons 1640-1660 project, returns to his exploration of the days leading up to the

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Neil Johnston @nejohnst.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Well done Sara. This sounds like a brilliant project

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Neil Johnston @nejohnst.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Henrician justice (TNA C 193/3)

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Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland @virtualtreasury.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

We’re delighted to announce our ‘Women in Revolution’ webinar Thursday 4 June 7:00-8:15 PM featuring @janeohlmeyer.bsky.social @earner.bsky.social + Catriona Kennedy. Attendance is free. All are welcome For more info + to register 👀👇 events.teams.microsoft.com/event/d2a073...

Poster for the Women in Revolution webinar on 4 June at 7.00 pm.
Showing portions of images from James Whately's 'The Dublin Volunteers on College Green, 1779' and 'The Irish House of Commons, 1780' featuring women.

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Neil Johnston @nejohnst.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Thanks to National Archives Ireland for the invite to the launch of the 1926 Census @britishacademy.bsky.social

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Daniel F Gosling @thegozfather.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

In 1660, judges couldn't agree on which regnal year to use in the indictment against the regicides, as the crime of killing Charles I occurred on the last regnal day of Charles I's reign but also the first of Charles II's. So they just went with "30 Jan 1649" [from Sir John Kelyng's Reports]

Printed text from the Reports of Sir John Kelyng

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Neil Johnston @nejohnst.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

It’s perfect. And David Kitt too

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Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

‘Le Carré, driven by personal demons kept writing into his late 80s; Frederick Forsyth maintained his lucrative franchise. Deighton simply walked away into hobbies: fountain pen engineering, unpublished histories of aero engines, flying planes & cooking and living well.’ ❤️ www.ft.com/content/32e4...

ft.com

Len Deighton, writer, 1929-2026

He reframed the spy novel genre with gritty cold-war thrillers but possessed an extraordinary range of talents, from graphic designer to historian

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Neil Johnston @nejohnst.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Lots of harps on display. And Dublin Bay beneath the horse

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Neil Johnston @nejohnst.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Charles II’s Irish Great Seal from 1673. For the day that’s in it. TNA C 106/153

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Dana Houle @danahoule.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

A+ nickname

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Sean Cunningham @seanc1509.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Publication of my short #PenguinMonarchs book on Henry VII on #WorldBookDay is wonderful. Enjoy the early #Tudor conspiracies, tragedies & @jodyhewgill.bsky.social‘s amazing cover painting. Thanks to the team @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social

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Brian Gurrin @briangurrin.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

In 2006 I told the late (great) Prof. Ray Gillespie that I wanted to publish every surviving scrap from the 1766 religious census, by 2016. I missed the 🎯by 10 yrs, but 😃 to report that on the 260th anniv. it's done. Everything, >50k names & population details, now online. @maynoothuniversity.ie

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Brendan Kane @brendankanect.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

Just pushing up the registration link for the virtual book launch here 👇. See you there!

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Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland @virtualtreasury.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

Countdown to the 260th anniversary of Ireland's first census. 🕰️ 7️⃣ 5 March 1766 the Irish House of Lords orders a census of all householders noting 'which are protestants and which are Papists' (Catholics). They gave only 61 days to cover the whole country! virtualtreasury.ie/item/NAI-PRI... 👀 ALT

https://virtualtreasury.ie/item/NAI-PRIV-M-5036-A-9
Handwritten copy of the Irish House of Lords resolution on 5 march 1766 ordering the 1766 Religious Census to be taken.
Source: National Archives, Ireland, PRIV/M/5036A, p. 13.

https://www.virtualtreasury.ie/gold-seams/1766-religious-census

The homepage for the 1766 Religious Census on the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland.

Every surviving copy census records from over a dozen archives are gathered together and fully searchable here.

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Brian Gurrin @briangurrin.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

VRTI will be posting some information about the 1766 religious census returns over the next few days (260th 🎂 approaching). Keep an 👁️out. We'll be revealing some hidden gems 💎 among the surviving returns.

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Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland @virtualtreasury.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

Welcome remarks by @micheal-martin.bsky.social at @trincolllibcam.bsky.social Irish + British histories are bound together: sometimes literally! virtualtreasury.ie/item/CamTrin... often personally - virtualtreasury.ie/item/CUL-MS-... and collaboratively 👍️ 👀 ALT text @camlibresearch.bsky.social

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Prentice, welcomed the Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Micheál Martin, to Cambridge to celebrate the appointment of the University’s first Childers Professor of Irish History.
Photo of Prof Alvin Jackson, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, and Vice-Chancellor Prof Deborah Prentice standing in the Great Court, Trinity College, Cambridge.

Photo credit: University of Cambridge

The text of the Taoiseach's speech is available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-the-taoiseach/speeches/address-of-taoiseach-miche%C3%A1l-martin-announcement-of-the-first-childers-professor-of-modern-irish-history-at-cambridge-university-trinity-college-cambridge-friday-20th-february-2026/

https://virtualtreasury.ie/item/CamTrinity-MS-1388

Flyleaves from MS 1388, Gesta Romanorum, Trinity College, Cambridge.
The three flyleaves at the beginning are fragments of an account roll of cent. xiv, xv. On one side, well written, are portions of an Irish rental.
Among the names that occur are
1. Ballythormoth · Ballybrodyn · Mologhrath· Balyrothe ...Henr. Adameson.Christopher de Holywode.Manerium de Trym.
2. Nouum castrum de Lyones Tasshagard.... Joh. Humbleton... Laurencius Neweton....fratres Carmelitarum leghlyn... Galfr. de Vale miles.Cromlyn.Bally Margg.Capella Isold et saltus salmonum... Walt. de la Hyde... Edw.Perrers... Will. Wellesley... Th. Monyn... Will. Kylmyngton.Walt. Eure... Prior S. Joh. Jerusalem hibern.
3. Balyskeagh.Manerium de demore.Castelricard.Maneria de Rathtoirith(?) Ardumlghan · Moylagli · Kyldalk

Each paragraph ends with a statement of what is due to the King: "itaque domino Refi," "et sic Regi" etc
On the other side in a rougher hand are some more accounts, viz
Rentale Johannis Shordich
and
copenhanger doune.

See more Cambridge MSs in VRTI: https://www.virtualtreasury.ie/collecting-history-exhibition

The Statue of Kilkenny's ban on mixed marriages being enforced. 1396/7.

Translation of entry on Page 32 of MS 3104:

J.W. is indicted because he took Finowle Ó hAnluain, an Irish woman, in cayff and held her for two years feloniously, contrary to the form of the Statute of Kilkenny. And he pleaded for pardon. 20 Richard II, roll 7.
(Trans. P. Crooks)

See more Cambridge MSs in VRTI: https://www.virtualtreasury.ie/collecting-history-exhibition

See Irish historical records shared by Cambridge and other British and Irish research libraries at our online exhibition:
https://www.virtualtreasury.ie/collecting-history-exhibition

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Dictionary of Irish Biography @dib.ie · 30/01/2026

"On Raglan Road on an autumn day I met her first and knew That her dark hair would weave a snare that I might one day rue." After hearing Luke Kelly (d. #OTD 1984) singing in the Bailey pub, poet Patrick Kavanagh requested he interpret his poem ‘On Raglan Road’. www.dib.ie/biography/ke... #DIBLives

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Vicky Iglikowski-Broad @vickyig.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

Our latest exhibition, Love Letters, is now open at The National Archives, revealing 500 years of love. From paupers, monarchs, queer networks & quiet acts of affection found in government records. Very proud to have been lead curator on this one, working with so many wonderful people! 💌

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Will Derham @willderham.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

For any of you interested in early modern beer, Dublin Castle, or just history and food in general, this series of talks and tastings I have helped put together might be of interest 🍻🧐 #History #Heritage #Food #Beer #SpeirGorm www.eventbrite.com/cc/brewing-p...

eventbrite.com

Brewing Power: Food and Drink in Sixteenth-Century

Dublin Castle is delighted to present a six-part public lecture series exploring how food and drink shaped everyday life, social relationships and authority in sixteenth-century Ireland.

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ICHRPI @ichrpi.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

In a brand new publication in #PER online, Neil Johnston (@nejohnst.bsky.social) reviews 'Empire and enterprise. Money, power and the Adventurers for Irish land during the British Civil Wars' (Manchester University Press, 2020) by David Brown. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

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Neil Johnston @nejohnst.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

Needless to say I’m delighted about this. It was super to work with Simon Neal, who re-catalogued more than 70 volumes; to collaborate with Eamonn Kenny @adaptcentre.bsky.social who knocked the data into shape; and to incorporate it into the Knowledge Graph we’re building, based on @dib.ie entries

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Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland @virtualtreasury.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

#TNAConnections Another great Gold Seam you can explore on the VRTI is that of the State Papers Ireland, 1660–1715 (TNA SP 63), an assembled collection of official letters, private papers, and correspondence that is held at @nationalarchives.gov.uk.web.brid.gy. virtualtreasury.ie/gold-seams/s...

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Neil Johnston @nejohnst.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Looking forward to getting a copy

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Tim Hitchcock @timhitchcock.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Really pleased to announce the launch of the all-new, all-dancing, London Lives website - www.londonlives.org It has been thoroughly re-engineered to facilitate more types of search, and redesigned for phones and tablets. The team very much hopes peope like it. 1/

londonlives.org

London Lives

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Neil Johnston @nejohnst.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Really impressive work transforming Sweetman’s Calendars into computational data

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Politics and Culture of the Late Stuart Court, 1649-1714 @stuartsymposium.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

We are thrilled to share the CFP for our Symposium, Politics and Culture of the Late Stuart Court, 1649-1714. We hope to bring together a range of interdisciplinary research on this complex and understudied period! #EarlyModern #CfP

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