British and Irish Newspaper Archive Workshop

British and Irish Newspaper Archive Workshop on Thursday 21st August @11am in Castlecomer Library
Explore the Past with Digital Tools: A Workshop by Kilkenny County Council Library Service’s Local Studies Team
Join the staff of the Local Studies team for an engaging and hands-on workshop exploring the rich world of digital newspaper archives. Discover how to access and navigate historical newspapers online, uncover local stories, trace family histories, and bring the past to life through digital research tools.

Newspapers are mirrors of the time they were published, and bring history to life.


They provide primary sources of information about , people, places and events. Wonderful as the stories within the newspapers are, it is often the peripheral details that allow you to get under the skin of the times and understand the past. They add context to different worlds and times experienced by the people living in them and the people reporting on the events.

Whether it's understanding the opinions, concerns and attitudes of our ancestors from letters pages and editorials, the development of commerce and advertising from advertisements, or the development of an area from planning notices, they are a truly comprehensive record of times past.


Historical newspapers cover every topic under the sun

The topics you will find covered in our historical archive are as broad as your imagination. You will find the stories of Britain and Ireland’s cultural and economic development; wars, the development of sport locally, nationally and internationally; the development of photography and advertising; the changing nature of fashion and many, many more.