On the 7th of September, ITMA was delighted to launch the Cullinane Archive Collection at a special event held in the Reading Room of No. 73 Merrion Square.

It was a wonderful coming together of dancers, organisations and individuals who wanted to acknowledge and applaud the trojan work that Dr John Cullinane has done in creating this important collection of Irish dance materials. Guests included An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG) Chair Sandra Connick, Conradh na Gaeilge president, Paula Melvin and Phil Denmead from Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.

Speakers on the night included ITMA Director Liam O’Connor, CLRG Chair Sandra Connick and Dr John Cullinane himself. Liam acknowledged the role that Máire Mhic Aogáin, Gráinne Ní Chonchubhair, James McCutcheon and Francis Curley played in securing a home in ITMA for the Cullinane Archive Collection.

Those in attendance were treated to a master class from John. The dancers among the guests where taught a step called the “Lion’s Claw Jig”. This step was written down c. 1911 and appears in pages given to John Cullinane by J. O’Mahony, Castlemartyr, Co. Cork and which now form part of the Cullinane Archive Collection.

The Cullinane Archive Collection is an extensive multimedia collection of material relating to the history of Irish dance compiled by Dr John Cullinane over his lifetime. In July 2021 Dr Cullinane donated his collection to CLRG. In an agreement reached between ITMA and CLRG this unique collection has been placed on deposit in ITMA where it will be preserved, organised and made available on behalf of CLRG.