Collections

The Archive’s accessions registers record more than 5,150 individual acquisitions to date, ranging from single items – a book, pamphlet, drawing or photograph – to the thousands of drawings and files created by large architectural practices.

The collections housed by the Archive comprise the largest body of historic architectural records in Ireland and as such constitute a vital national cultural resource. They include the most significant body of historic Irish architectural drawings in the world, with in excess of 2.5 million drawings and related documents, ranging in date from the late seventeenth to the early twenty-first centuries. Also housed in the Archive are over 500,000 photographs, making this one of the largest collections of photographs in Ireland, and an extensive reference library, with more than 25,000 items of printed matter.

The holdings of the Irish Architectural Archive contain material – primary or secondary – on every notable Irish architect, on Irish buildings of every type, period or style, and on most significant building in the 32 counties of Ireland.