Queer archive handed over to national library

SMUGGLED, secretive and frequently soaked in tears, the hidden history of one of the country’s longest human rights struggles finally has a home.

The Irish Queer Archive, an extensive collection of materials chronicling the social, personal and legal history of homosexuality in Ireland, has been handed over to the National Library of Ireland.

The collection, compiled by the National Lesbian and Gay Federation, features more than 250,000 press cuttings, copies of international gay magazines smuggled past the censor in the 1950s, editions of all Irish gay publications, films, photos, diaries, journals, minutes of meetings, flyers, posters and other printed and written material.

According to federation chairwoman, Ailbhe Smyth, some of the poignant letters written from the 1970s onwards, by individuals from all over the country to support organisations, reveal the enormous difficulties they faced in a country where homosexuality was only decriminalised in 1993.

“Often these letters were their only lifelines,” she said.

“There are extensive personal collections and diaries available that give a picture of the lives of an invisible and marginalised section of Irish society, and of the vibrance and richness of a community, despite the difficulties.”

Author Colm Tóibín, who was special guest at the handover ceremony, said the archive represented a heritage that had long been hidden.

“Many of us who are gay will remember a time in our lives when it seemed that we were alone, that no one visible came before us, that we had no history. No ballads were played on the radio about the wrongs of our past,” he said.

Equally important would be the documents yet to be added to the collection, that would chronicle change to come, he said. He hoped those changes would include the right to marry, and he criticised the Government for failing to show more leadership on the issue.

Mr Tóibín also criticised Northern Unionist politicians, Iris Robinson and Ian Paisley Junior, for making anti-gay comments.

Aongus Ó hAonghusa, director of the national library, said the archive was a very important addition.

“It documents one of the most significant movements for social change in modern Ireland and, when opened up to researchers, it will provide a major resource for scholars of the period,” he said.

It is expected the first materials prepared for release will be available to researchers next spring.