Collection P120 - Tim Robinson

1 cabinet of index cards + 8 map drawers + 84 boxes

Tim and Máiréad Robinson's archive primarily documents the research, mapping and writing work they carried out in the Galway Bay region over a 40 year span. Their focus was self-described as "the ABC of earth-wonders", referring to the Aran Islands, the Burren, and Connemara.

Tim Robinson produced his first map of the Aran Islands in 1975, soon after followed by a map of the Burren uplands in 1977. His survey work is methodically documented in field note-books, tracings with annotations of historical maps of the area, annotated secondary readings, and correspondence with a network of local and subject experts with whom he discussed an expansive range of topics. Having amassed a wealth of information, Robinson went on to speak and write prolifically about these regions. His first major literary work, 'Stones of Aran: Pilgrimage' was published in 1985, with a follow up, 'Stones of Aran: Labyrinth' published in 1996. The archive includes the drafts and research work that went in to crafting these two books.

While working on the 'Stones of Aran' books, Tim and Máiréad moved to Roundstone, and began work on surveying Connemara. In Connemara, literary output pre-dated the production of a map, beginning with the short pamphlet, 'Setting Foot on the Shores of Connemara', which was published in 1981. This was followed by a series of articles in the Connacht Tribune with information on the placenames, folklore, local history and archaeology of South Connemara. These articles appeared from 1983 to 1987, and were later published in the bilingual anthology, 'Camchuairt Chonamara Theas' / 'A Twisty Journey: Mapping South Connemara'. In 1990, the Connemara one-inch map, with accompanying gazetteer was published, the product of an exhaustive survey of the region, which is thoroughly documented in the archive. Tim Robinson was meticulous in the organisation of this information, distilling much of his field research into an index of its townlands.

He later published the Connemara trilogy of books, 'Listening to the Wind' (2006), 'The Last Pool of Darkness' (2008), and 'A Little Gaelic Kingdom' (2011).

Beyond their cartographic and literary output, Tim and Máiréad Robinson also became immersed in the development of their local community, with much of the archive detailing events and exhibitions taking place in Aran and Connemara, and various infrastructure developments taking place in the area from the 1970s - 2000's. They were frequently a lively part of the debate and advocacy work surrounding these events, from proposals for a wind farm on Inis Meáin, to the campaign to save Mullach Mór, and the save Roundstone Bog campaign.

The archive is arranged in three parts.

The first part, P120/1, is the townlands index of Connemara and the Aran Islands. This arrived as a self-contained shelved card-catalogue, with each drawer representing a Civil Parish in Connemara and the Aran Islands.

The second part of the archive, P120/2, is comprised of Tim Robinson's extensive collection of historical research maps, and proofs of his published maps.

The third part of the archive, P120/3, is comprised of 84 boxes of manuscript material. These have been arranged by region, into the sub-series Aran, Burren, and Connemara. Within these sub-series, the archive is arranged by project, with sections on research and community involvement.

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02/06/2015
15/07/2025