Listening to the Past and Talking to Each Other: Problems and Possibilities Facing Oral History in Ireland

On the face of it, there appears to be a puzzling paradox; Ireland is renowned for its rich oral culture and yet oral history has not taken centre stage in Irish Studies. In preparing this article, questionnaires were circulated to numerous academic researchers (affiliated with various disciplines), relevant institutions, community groups and individuals who are known to have a connection with oral history. The results uncover numerous projects throughout Ireland (north and south). A recent surge of academic interest in oral history)' is apparent in a series of conferences, including a conference of the Women's History Association of Ireland dedicated to 'Oral history and biography' (NUI Galway, September 1999), a conference of the Economic and Social History Society of Ireland on 'Oral History' (Royal Irish Academy 19-20 November 1999), the Oral History Workshops at the Department of Modern History, Trinity College, Dublin (18 and 19 January 2002). and 'Who's Telling Tales? - Oral History In Ireland Today' (NUI Cork. 12 April 2002). In the absence of a comprehensive directory, this critical review cannot claim to be definitive, but sets out tentatively to identify some of the key issues and problems facing oral history in Ireland.