There are extensive collections relating to Irish nationalist movements from the eighteenth century onwards, including manuscripts relating to the lives and careers of Edmund Burke, Lord Edward FitzGerald, Wolfe Tone, Daniel O’Connell, William Smith O’Brien and James Fintan Lalor.
The period covering the Land War and Home Rule is represented by the papers of T.C. Harrington, T.P. Gill, William O’Brien, J.F.X. O’Brien. The period 1916-1923 is particularly well documented and include collections of manuscripts relating to Sir Roger Casement, Erskine Childers, Thomas McDonagh, Bulmer Hobson, Eoin MacNeill, Sean T. O’Kelly, Patrick Pearse and Piaras Beaslai.