Irish Traditional Music Archive

The Irish Traditional Music Archive (or ITMA; Irish: Taisce Cheol Dúchais Éireann), operating as a charity,[1] is a "national reference archive and resource centre for the traditional song, instrumental music and dance of Ireland".[2] Focusing on Irish traditional music, Irish dance and their history, the archive covers the performance traditions of the island of Ireland, within the Irish diaspora, and other performers of Irish traditional music globally.[citation needed]

The archive, described by some sources as the "largest collection of its kind in the world",[3] contains thousands of sound recordings, as well as books and serials, photographs, sheet music, DVDs, posters and catalogues. Founded with the Breandán Breathnach Collection, the collection has been expanded through donations by radio, television, libraries and private collectors.[citation needed]

Founded in 1987,[2] the archive has been housed in a Georgian house in central Dublin since 2006.[4][5]

  1. ^ "Register of charities - Irish Traditional Music Archive". charitiesregulator.ie. Charities Regulator. Retrieved 26 December 2021. Irish Traditional Music Archive [..] Other registered names: Taisce Cheol Dúchais Éireann, ITMA)
  2. ^ a b "Irish Traditional Music Archive". nationalarchives.gov.uk. The National Archives (UK). Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Nicholas Carolan's Retirement Marked by ITMA". The Journal of Music. 28 September 2015.
  4. ^ "Music Archive Moves To Merrion Square (2006)". RTÉ Archives. RTÉ. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Aladdin's cave of music". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 15 November 2006. Retrieved 26 December 2021.