PRONI welcomes continuation of CAIN partnership

Date published: 19 August 2019

Dr Michael Willis, PRONI Director, has welcomed the publication of previously secret records through a continuing partnership between PRONI and Conflict Archive on the INternet (CAIN).

Photo of exterior of PRONI building

Around 340 documents relating to the years 1991 and 1992 have been added to the CAIN website as part of ongoing work involving the Ulster University and the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI).

The newly released material provides a valuable insight into this period mostly notably in relation to the Brooke / Mayhew talks of 1991-1992.  In addition, it also continues to chart developments in Anglo-Irish relations for these years, ongoing discussions around various political and security matters, as well as important issues such as fair employment, the Irish language and community relations.

Dr Willis commented: “PRONI’s mission is to identify, preserve and promote public access to Northern Ireland’s archival heritage. This latest addition of official documents to the CAIN website enhances the opportunity to view and read key documents from the time. It is an invaluable resource for anyone studying our recent past.”

Dr Brendan Lynn, CAIN Deputy Director, added: “CAIN is delighted to have been able to continue our cooperation with PRONI and to update the existing section with material dealing with the years 1991 and 1992.  The latest additions will bring to more than 2,600 the number of PRONI records available on CAIN”.

“The information itself is easily available and free of charge. We believe it will be of great use to students, researchers, teachers and lecturers or to anyone with an interest in the political and social history of Northern Ireland.”

Notes to editors: 

  1. The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) is a division of the Department for Communities and is located at 2 Titanic Boulevard, Titanic Quarter, Belfast
  2. The CAIN website provides an extensive range of information and source material on the conflict and politics from 1968 to the present day. The site is used by a worldwide audience and has received more than 22 million visits since it was launched in March 1997
  3. Currently there are over 2,600 PRONI public records on CAIN and this amounts to some 11,000 pages
  4. CAIN is based at Ulster University, within INCORE and the School of Applied Social & Policy Sciences
  5. CAIN is a component of ARK (Access Research Knowledge, a resource providing access to social and political material that informs social and political debate in the region and raises the profile of social science research. ARK is based within Ulster University and at Queen’s University Belfast
  6. Media enquiries to DfC Press Office on 028 9082 3516 or email: press.office@communities-ni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer on 028 9037 8110

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