The complete archive of the Friends of the National Collections is now available online to the public. This important collection of documents tracing significant developments in visual arts in Ireland over the past century was loaned in 2001 for a period of 10 years to the National Irish Visual Arts Library. The material has been catalogued and a database created to facilitate easy access for researchers to the wealth of information within the archive.
The Friends of the National Collection is a voluntary body founded in 1924 by the Irish artist Sarah Purser. The organisation was established to help preserve Ireland's artistic heritage at a time when there was little or no State support for developing art collections in Ireland. The Friends raise funds via contribution, gifts or bequests, to secure works of art and artifacts of artistic importance and historic interest to give to the country's public collections throughout the 32 counties. To date some 800 works of art, from the 14th century to the present day, have been donated to national museums, art galleries and libraries.
