New partnership to support community archives in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is delighted to announce a new partnership with the National Museum of Ireland and The Heritage Council to bring the Irish Community Archive Network (iCAN) to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.

As part of this exciting initiative, local history, heritage and community groups are invited to attend an information session to learn more about how they can participate in the programme and preserve their local heritage for future generations. The Information session will take place at 7.00pm on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, in the Talbot Hotel, Stillorgan.

iCAN supports community groups in collecting, preserving and sharing local historical and cultural material online through professionally developed digital archives. Initially, a small number of groups will be invited to participate in the programme, with opportunities to expand participation over time.

Groups and individuals interested in attending the information session are asked to register their interest by emailing dlrheritage@dlrcoco.ie by Monday, 7 September 2026. Please include the name of your group and/or the name/s and email addresses of the attendee/s.

About the Irish Community Archive Network (iCAN)

The Irish Community Archive Network (iCAN) is the leading organisation championing and supporting community archives in Ireland with an aim to encourage and support community groups to collect, preserve and make accessible their local history and heritage online.

Groups accepted into the programme will be provided with a fully subsidised Community Archive website and relevant training and upskilling programmes. Each member group is guided step-by-step as they develop their community archive website to professional standards, while being supported by a network of volunteers and heritage professionals on an ongoing basis. This is a collaborative programme where we all work together for the benefit of our local history and heritage.

An initiative of the National Museum of Ireland, iCAN is delivered in partnership with The Heritage Council, participating Local Authority Heritage Officers and communities across Ireland.

More information about iCAN can be found here https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Learning/iCAN-the-Irish-Community-Archive-Network

Photo credit: Irish Community Archive Network