1979 - the story from the archives

Next week journalists will be invited to view official files for 1979 at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI).

The files are being released under the 30 Year Rule and Aileen McClintock, the Director of PRONI, will brief the media at 9.30am on Wednesday 2 December.

Some of the main issues covered in the files are:

• The 1979 General Election and first European Election in Northern Ireland;
• Anglo-Irish Economic Co-operation, political developments, devolution and prison protests;
• The Central Secretariat files for 1979 include briefings for the incoming Secretary of State, Humphrey Atkins, reports on party conferences, analysis of election results, and reorganisation of secondary education;
• Housing, the economic situation, De Lorean, army briefings and prisons.

The media will continue to have access to the official files for 1979 from Wednesday 2 December to Friday 4 December 2009 inclusive.

Media representatives will be given an opportunity to examine the files in advance of their release to the public on the strict understanding that there is an embargo on publication or broadcast until 00.01hrs on Wednesday 30 December 2009.

The files for 1979 will be opened to the public on Wednesday 30 December 2009.

The files are being released under the rules governing access to such records and all papers have been reviewed in accordance with Freedom of Information and Data Protection legislation.

Notes to editors:

1. The files will be available for public inspection from 30 December 2009 at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, 66 Balmoral Avenue, Belfast, BT9 6NY, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9.00am to 4.45pm and on Thursdays from 10.00am until 8.45pm.
2. In relation to next year’s move to new premises: The site of the new Public Record Office is in a prominent position close to the Odyssey Arena and adjacent to the Gateway building at the entrance to the Titanic Quarter. It is scheduled to open to the public in May 2011. To help alleviate any inconvenience to customers during the period of on-site closure next year the amount and range of material available on-line will be extended. Additional databases scheduled for completion in 2009/10 financial year include 1766 Religious Census Returns, 1775 Dissenters Petitions and the pre-1910 Coroners’ Inquests. To further facilitate customers, discussions are taking place with partner bodies about the possibility of providing an off-site self-service facility for limited microfilmed records during this period.
3. Media enquiries to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Press Office, Tel 028 9051 5046 or email DCAL Press Office. Out of office hours call the duty officer on 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.