A new digital archive of Threshold, one of Northern Ireland’s longest-running literary periodicals of the 20th century, has been digitised and made available online from University of Galway Library Archives.

The new digital archive includes more than 3,000 pages of all published issues of the journal, including special themed issues on topics ranging from W.B. Yeats to Irish-America to literature during the Troubles. The archive also includes a selection of wider letters, pamphlets and advertisements from the journal’s archive.

First published in 1957 by its founding editor, Mary O'Malley of the Lyric Players Theatre, Belfast, the journal provided an outlet for leading and emerging writers across poetry and fiction, as well as topical essays, reviews, and criticism for over thirty years. Its final issue was published in 1990.

The Threshold digital archive will be formally launched during the Cúirt International Festival of Literature alongside an exhibition of original issues, photographs and correspondence relating to publication and from the wider Lyric Theatre/O'Malley archive.

It can be viewed at https://digital.library.universityofgalway.ie/p/ms/categories?collection=629

Catriona Cannon, Head of Heritage Collections and Digitisation at University of Galway Library, said: "Threshold holds a special place in the literary history of Ireland, offering a platform for some of the most influential Irish voices of the 20th century over its thirty-three year run. We're excited to share this invaluable resource with a global audience online. By preserving over 3,000 pages of poetry, fiction, and essays, we ensure future generations can continue to engage with the journal's rich cultural legacy.”

Conor O’Malley, son of Pearse and Mary O'Malley, said: “We are delighted that the full content of Threshold will now be accessible online to researchers from whole of Ireland and beyond. University of Galway Library is to be warmly congratulated on its initiative and vision.”

University of Galway Archivist Dr Barry Houlihan said: “The new digital archive of Threshold opens up a hugely significant part of our literary heritage and an important journal of new writing since it was founded in 1957. Through its online archive Threshold will find a new global readership today.”

Jimmy Fay, Executive Producer of the Lyric Theatre, said: “University of Galway Library Archives are providing a wonderful resource for students and enthusiasts of Irish theatre and literature with this welcome online presence of Threshold. It is an astonishing source of inspiration and another reason to celebrate the long-reaching and all-embracing vision of Lyric Theatre founder Mary O’Malley.”

The Threshold archive launch events coincide with other activity at University of Galway as part to Cúirt International Festival of Literature, including those featuring students and staff, such as:

• University of Galway MA Showcase https://www.cuirt.ie/whats-on/ma-showcase/
• Writing masterclasses, in association with Faber Academy, including one with Eimear McBride, author of A Girl is a Half-formed Thing, The Lesser Bohemians, Strange Hotel and The City Changes Its Face https://www.cuirt.ie/whats-on/fiction-masterclass/
• As part of Arts in Action - University Translator-in-Residence Astrid Huisman and Keith Payne in conversation with Lorna Shaughnessy https://www.cuirt.ie/whats-on/arts-in-action-on-translation-with-keith-payne-and-the-university-translator-in-residence/
• As part of Arts in Action - University of Galway Writer-in-Residence, Molly Hennigan: Visual and Literary Histories of Incarceration https://www.cuirt.ie/whats-on/university-of-galway-writer-in-residence-visual-and-literary-histories-of-incarceration/
• Launch of the 33rd edition of ROPES Literary Journal by the MA in Literature and Publishing class https://www.cuirt.ie/whats-on/ropes-launch-5/

The Threshold journal archive lies within the wider Lyric Theatre/O’Malley archive at University of Galway Library, which documents and preserves a richly detailed history of theatre production, design, art, and music at the Lyric since its foundation.

Overt the course of more than three decades, Threshold welcomed contributors and guest editors including Seamus Heaney, Mary Beckett, Kate O'Brien, Gerald Dawe, John Hewitt, John Montague, among others.

Volume 1 of Threshold was introduced with the following foreword: “The History of Irish periodicals is not encouraging. Despite high literary standards and imaginative presentation of general topics, few have survived. No one, however, would deny the value of their contribution to creative writing and objective criticism.”

The launch event on Friday April 11th at 4pm will include a panel discussion about the story and history of Threshold, its writers, editors and publications and on the future of literary periodicals. Speakers include Conor O’Malley, Dr Barry Houlihan, and Jimmy Fay, moderated by Lindsay-Ann Reid and introduced by Monica Crump.

Ends