9th October 2000

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Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerry McKenna welcomed the opening of the EIRData 2000 project hosted by Monaco’s Princess Grace Irish Library (PGIL) in association with the University of Ulster.

EIRData 2000 is an extensive set of electronic literary text files dealing with Irish literary authors and their works in all periods, and is a tribute to Irish achievements in literature as well as testament to the Princess Grace's attachment to her Irish roots.

The project is conducted by the University of Ulster under the aegis of the Princess Grace Foundation (Monaco) with funding dedicated for the purpose by the Ireland Fund Princess Grace Memorial Library in Monaco.

PGIL EIRData is an ambitious Internet project in Irish studies comprising an extensive set of digital records dealing with Irish literary authors and their works in all periods. In common with Princess Grace Irish Library (Monaco) to which it belongs. It is the most comprehensive reference source of its kind in any medium, thus providing a robust and uniquely flexible platform for future advances in Irish cultural informatics.

Speaking from the ceremony at Monte Carlo, Professor McKenna said:

“The EIRDATA project is both a real and symbolic bridgehead: between Ireland and Monaco; between Ireland’s past and its future; and between the world of Gutenberg and the Internet. It has been said that the Internet is Ireland’s Channel Tunnel. It is indeed true that the power of technology of address locational peripherality will yield rich dividends in the new century.

“The University is glad to be part of this project, and we are grateful for the faith shown in us by the Ireland Fund of Monaco, and to all the Ireland Funds who have contributed to so many groundbreaking projects in Ireland. It is the faith shown in us and in our future that has brought out people together, and will give us the confidence to compete as first citizens in the new global society.”

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk