We received the following communication from IBRG
a chara/dear friend
I am writing to let you know about my work on cataloguing the Irish in Britain Representation Group archive, which was lodged at the Working Class Movement Library in Salford some years ago.
IBRG was a campaigning organisation from 1982 to 2000, established because of the lack of activity by the traditional Irish organisations in Britain on vital soclal, cultural and political issues. I was an active member of IBRG, including holding the post of Ard Cathaoirleach/ National Chair for 3 years.
The archive reflects IBRG’s activities on issues such as anti-Irish racism, education, civil and legal rights, culture, Irish women, Irish language, asking for recognition as an ethnic minority by local and central government, the Prevention of Terrorism Act, miscarriages of justice, the conflict in the North of Ireland and much else.
It includes national and local minutes, press releases, reports, correspondence, press cuttings, photographs, copies of the IBRG magazine etc. It is a unique archive on the Irish in Britain in those years.
It would be very helpful if you could circulate information about the existence of the archive to members and/or branches of your organisation as we very much hope it will be made use of by researchers and others.
I am blogging about the archive as I work my way through it. These are the links to my posts so far.
I would be very happy to answer questions about IBRG and the archive. My email address is : lipsticksocialist636@gmail.com
mise le meas/kind regards
Bernadette Hyland
Tinteán 