The Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland (VRTI) team was awarded Trinity College Dublin’s Civic Engagement Civically Engaged Research Award for 2026 for its public history project, Mapping Memories.
The project addressed digital exclusion among older people in Ireland, a persistent issue that limits access to public services, social connection, and cultural participation. Drawing on VRTI’s experience delivering public-facing events, the initiative responded to concerns from older participants who felt excluded from digital spaces due to a lack of confidence or skills.
Rather than offering traditional digital training, Mapping Memories adopted a participatory approach. Older people were invited to act as co-creators, contributing personal stories and memories to a richly annotated map of their local area. These accounts were layered onto historical maps, building a shared, community-driven record of place and experience across generations.
The award was presented by Provost Dr Linda Doyle to VRTI Co-Director Ciarán Wallace at a ceremony held on the 5th December.
