Minister Catherine Martin opens Treaty 1921: Records from the Archives exhibition at London's British Academy

Culture
12 Oct 21

Minister Catherine Martin opens Treaty 1921: Records from the Archives exhibition at London's British Academy

Minister Catherine Martin opens <i>Treaty 1921: Records from the Archives</i> exhibition at London's British Academy

Photo by: Martin Burton.

Treaty 1921: Records from the Archives will remain in London until October 23 before moving to Dublin Castle to be displayed from December 6, 2021 to March 27, 2022.

Catherine Martin TD has opened the Treaty 1921: Records from the Archives exhibition at London's British Academy.

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media visited London for the exhibition's opening on Monday, October 11.

The exhibition, which was launched by the National Archives of Ireland last month for the Decade of Centenaries 2012-2023 National Programme, commemorates the 100-year anniversary from the beginning of negotiations for the Anglo-Irish Treaty. The treaty, as well as other significant historical records provided by the National Archives, are being presented alongside their British counterparts.

Ahead of the opening, Martin said that the exhibition was "crucial in furthering our understanding of the negotiations and the signing of the Treaty."

"My responsibility, as Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, is to ensure that this complex period in our history is remembered with an appropriate, meaningful, proportionate and sensitive programme, which recognises the legitimacy of all traditions, and values mutual respect and historical authenticity," she said.

Adrian O'Neill, Ireland's ambassador to the UK, said: "I hope that by bringing this exhibition from the National Archives of Ireland to London, with the collaboration and support of these major Irish and British partners, we can offer people an opportunity to explore this period of our history and reflect on how it has influenced evolving relationships across these islands.”

Yesterday (October 11), upon visiting the British Academy for the exhibition's opening, Martin said that it is "always a pleasure for [her] to visit this world capital right on our doorstep."

"Our objective throughout the Decade of Centenaries Programme has been to stimulate public engagement, conversation and debate," she said. "The aim of the Programme has been to broaden sympathies, without having to abandon loyalties and, in particular to recognise the value of ideals and sacrifices, including their cost."

"My vision for the final and most challenging phase of the Government’s Decade of Centenaries Programme, is that the programming will inform authentic historic debate and understanding of the Treaty negotiations, the Dáil debates and the subsequent Civil War and will contribute towards considered reflection, remembrance and reconciliation," she added.

The exhibition will remain at London's British Academy until October 23 before moving to Dublin to be on display at Dublin Castle Garden's Coach House Gallery from December 6, 2021 to March 27, 2022. Admission is free, and information can be found here.

"Perhaps we’ll meet again later this year on the 6th December when this exhibition opens in the Coach House at Dublin Castle on the centenary of the signing of the Treaty," concluded Martin. "I hope so."

See Minister Martin's full speech below:

Today in London I opened 'The Treaty 1921 : Records from the Archives' which includes significant historical records, official documents and private papers and for the first side by side, copies of the Irish and British Treaty documents. https://t.co/kbx3yMHC3g pic.twitter.com/YpkzBMbQnF

— Catherine Martin TD (@cathmartingreen) October 11, 2021