Trace your roots at Murphy’s Brewery!
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Trace your roots at Murphy’s Brewery!
29.01.2010
Who do you think you are? If a family member worked at Murphy's brewery UCC Library may have the answer!! In 1999 Heineken Ireland recognising the historical value of the records of Murphy's Brewery transferred their archive to UCC Library where it is now permanently preserved within the Library's purpose built Special Collections department.

Comprising 91 archival boxes and 147 bound volumes, the collection includes business records (legal, administrative and financial) and brewing records (brewing books, malt bins, lab. reports, etc).  Archivist, Emer Twomey who processed the collection for UCC library, quickly realised what an important genealogical resource it is for families of former employees. Details of weekly wages along with descriptions of the different trades employed on the Lady’s Well premises are of immense interest to family historians.

Historians of social and commercial life in Ireland in the 19th and 20th centuries will also find much of interest in the collection. For example, there are glimpses, from expense accounts, into the opulent lifestyle enjoyed by Cork’s merchant princes; detailed tied house records, which are a resource for family as well as commercial historians; information on workers’ pay and conditions, and on the development of trade unions in the brewery. Also contained within the archive is the evolving story of the brewery itself, its changing products, the impact of new technologies and techniques of production, and the mixed fortunes of the company itself through 150 years of Irish economic history. In 1856 James J. Murphy in partnership with his brothers William, Jerome, Francis and Nicolas established a firm that has remained synonymous with Cork up to the present day. After purchasing the premises of the old Cork Foundling Hospital for the sum of £1,300, the Murphy brothers built a purpose designed brewery on the Lady’s Well site and production of the famous porter began.

Launching the online list at Heineken Ireland, UCC Librarian John FitzGerald complimented Heineken Ireland on their farsightedness in recognising the historical importance of their records and their generosity in donating them to UCC where they are now available for public consultation "In donating this collection to a public repository Heineken Ireland have reaffirmed their commitment to and appreciation of the wider community in Cork which for 154 years has been the mainstay of the Lady’s Well workforce. UCC library is delighted to play our part in housing the collection in appropriate storage conditions and providing a user friendly digitized guide to the collection accessible from our website."

Members of the public who would like to consult the collection (or any of the Library's archival collections) can find full details on the Library website http://booleweb.ucc.ie/index.php?pageID=238 or alternatively contact the Archives Service at (021) 4903132 or (021) 4903475, or e-mail libraryarchives@ucc.ie

Picture: Declan Farmer, Corporate Affairs Manager, Heineken Ireland viewing the archive with UCC Librarian, John FitzGerald. Second Picture: Emer Twomey, Archivist, UCC Library.

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