This week, the VOICES project team presented its work to a delegation of European Research and Innovation Ministers during a visit to Trinity College Dublin’s Old Library. The presentation took place alongside colleagues from the Virtual Record Treasury and was hosted by Minister James Lawless, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
The visit formed part of a programme of events held during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026. Over two days, Minister Lawless welcomed European ministers to Dublin Castle for discussions on strengthening Europe’s research and innovation ecosystem, with a focus on enhancing cross-border collaboration, supporting researcher mobility, and accelerating the translation of research into societal and economic impact.
As part of the programme, delegates visited Trinity College Dublin to learn about two major Irish research initiatives. The VOICES project showcased its work recovering and highlighting the lived experiences of non-elite women in early modern Ireland, demonstrating how ordinary women’s stories can be uncovered from historical records where they have long remained “hidden in plain sight”.
The delegation also heard from the Virtual Record Treasury project, which is digitally reconstructing seven centuries of Irish historical records lost in the 1922 Four Courts fire. Through innovative digital technologies and international collaboration, the project is restoring access to Ireland’s destroyed national archive for researchers and the public alike.
The visit provided an opportunity to highlight the international significance of Irish humanities research and the role of digital innovation in expanding access to the historical record.
