Original copy of Bunreacht na hÉireann on display in Mayo museum

WITH all the ongoing drama in Dáil Éireann, it is worth remembering that for whoever is in power, there are a set of guidelines, the Constitution, that the government has to follow.

The Jackie Clarke Collection in Ballina is privileged to be caretakers of one of the original copies of the 1937 Bunreacht na hÉireann (Constitution of Ireland), which is on loan to the museum.

This original copy is made all the more significant because it belonged to a son of Mayo, an eminent Ballina lawyer who himself played a major role in the heart-wrenching struggles to attain that crucial freedom necessary to create this living, breathing document which establishes the guiding principals of our country.

It belonged to the late P.J. Ruttledge and has been kindly given to the Jackie Clarke Collection on a short-term loan by P.J. Ruttledge’s grandson, Robert Ryan.

Members of the public can view this incredible piece of our nation's political history in Ireland's Memory Room at the Jackie Clare Collection.

The Collection is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and entrance is free.

Find out more about the Jackie Clarke Collection here: https://www.clarkecollection.ie/.