Limerick loses out on Richard Harris archive

Harris in Pirandello's Henry IV with a note from Peter O' Toole.

QUESTIONS have been raised over the announcement that the Richard Harris Archive, which includes memorabilia from the Limerick film star’s 50 year career, will go to Cork.

Earlier this week, University College Cork (UCC) confirmed that a permanent exhibition will be housed at the UCC library following a donation from the Harris family and estate.

The move – made 20 years after his death on October 25, 2002 – has raised questions over why the archive isnโ€™t to be based in his native city.

A spokesman for University of Limerick (UL) told the Limerick Post that discussions were held with the Harris family about the potential to house the archive in UL.

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โ€œULโ€™s Glucksman Library was in contact with the Harris family a number of years ago about the possibility of curating the archive,โ€ the spokesman confirmed.

He commended the Harris family for ensuring the archive remain in Ireland, saying: โ€œUL welcomes the Harris familyโ€™s decision to donate the archive to UCC where it will be a centrepiece resource for the collegeโ€™s film and media schoolโ€.

The archive contains a large collection of letters, photographs, literary works and poems, curios from film sets, manuscripts, private memos, a Young Munster rugby plaque, as well as professional and personal documents.

One notable item for fans of Harrisโ€™ later work is a handwritten note from Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe.

A letter to Richard Harris from Harry Pottery star Daniel Radcliffe.

Speaking on Limerickโ€™s Live 95, the late actorโ€™s son, Jared Harris confirmed that Limerick had been considered as a home for the prized collection.

“Limerick was always the sentimental choice. Limerick was the first choice. For whatever reason, you donโ€™t really know why these things donโ€™t work out. They didnโ€™t work out. Cork ended being the perfect place for it.”

Jared Harris, with a painting of his father in the background.

Limerick TD Willie O’Dea told the Limerick Post that heโ€™s disappointed to see the legendary actorโ€™s legacy go to Cork.

“It is very disappointing that this extensive archive,ย which includesย a team photo from his Young Munster rugby days,ย has been donated to University College Cork and not his native city.

“We all knew of his love for Limerick. It seems extraordinary that the personal archives of one of Irelandโ€™s greatest actors weren’t donated by his family to be housed permanently in Limerick.”

Despite the collection not being permanently based in Limerick, the first public display of the archive will be held in cityโ€™s Hunt Museum, most likely during 2024.

โ€œWe wanted that the first exhibition of it to be in Limerick. It was very important that that happen,โ€ Jared Harris told the Limerick Post in an earlier interview.

Some Limerick people have taken to social media to convey their dismay that the collection will not be permanently housed in the actorโ€™s native city.

โ€œVery disappointing, very, very disappointing. Who was asleep at the wheel and let the collection slip out of Limerickโ€™s hands,โ€ asked one Twitter user.

On Facebook, one user added that: “UL’s Glucksman Library have a special collections department. Why were the collections of Richard Harris not deposited there? Richard Harris was a much loved true Limerick man. I am very disappointed that his collections went to Cork”.

Another Facebook user suggested that the archives would have been better suited to the International Rugby Experience building on Oโ€™Connell Street, given Harrisโ€™ Young Munster links, stating that it was a โ€œmissed opportunityโ€.

Harris’ Young Munster plaque.