The humble poster still catches the attention in spite of the increasing use of electronic advertising media in Irish traditional music, and it brings to public notice festivals, summer and winter schools, concerts, recitals, dances and classes, and a whole variety of publications. The effect of posters has been noticeably enhanced in modern times by increasing local expertise in graphic design and computerised printing, and they are likely to continue to decorate shop windows and pub walls far into the future.

The poster has a secondary, archival value: it serves as a record of events and the places in which they take place, the performers who appear at them, the groups in which they appear, the instruments they play, and a range of other information, from prices to other advertising techniques. Often the poster remains as the only record of a musical event and the people who participated in it.

For these reasons, the Irish Traditional Music Archive has always actively collected posters (along with flyers, programmes, and other advertising material). It brings such materials to the attention of visitors to its premises in the case of upcoming events and current publications, and it then preserves them in its collections for future access and study. Anyone producing such materials is asked to include the Archive on its mailing list (ITMA, 73 Merrion Square, Dublin 2) and/or on its electronic circulation list ([email protected]).

Dating tip: Many posters carry the day of the week and the month of an event, but not the year. To calculate the year in such cases, use one of the many Universal Calendars available on the Internet.

Thanks to the many donors of these posters to the Archive’s collections, including Claddagh Records, the Willie Clancy Summer School, and the organisers of the various events and publications they record.

Nicholas Carolan & Grace Toland, 1 April 2010