James Hardiman (1782-1855)

On display in the reading room over the next fortnight is a name which should be familiar to even the most unobservant of visitors to this campus: James Hardiman. Born in Westport, James Hardiman was the first librarian of the newly founded Queen’s College Galway. In 1827, however, following his law studies, he spent a period travelling and collecting the Irish verse and songs, an endeavour which resulted in the comprehensive opus Irish minstrelsy : or, Bardic remains of Ireland (London : Joseph Robins, 1831).

If you would like to view the spotlight exhibition, please contact the staff of the Special Collections Reading Room in the Hardiman Research Building at specialcollections@nuigalway.ie.