www.clarelibrary.ie Makes List Of Top Irish Websites

July 5, 2007 - PRLog -- County Clare, IRELAND, 5th July 2007 - Clare County Library's website is one of the most popular websites in the country, according to an Internet survey.  

Ranked at number 48, www.clarelibrary.ie is one of two public libraries to be included in the listing of 370 Irish sites and finishes ahead of such popular domains as goldenpages.ie, anpost.ie and eircom.ie. The website is also rated ahead of sites belonging to the National Library of Ireland, Irish Independent, Fáilte Ireland, TV3, An Garda Síochána and Meteor.  The listing has been generated on www.top100ireland.com based on the amount of mentions each website address receives in multiple Internet searches.

Commenting on the success of the website, County Librarian Noel Crowley stated, "The number of Internet users – academic and personal – logging on to the website is continuing to increase.  This growth in usage can be largely attributed to the free and unlimited access to the websites expansive range of historical documents, well-written history articles, thousands of photographs and suite of ordinance survey maps.  The advent of digital technology has enabled the Library to host such a service, which has been availed of by thousands of people with an interest in all aspects of county Clare's history."

Over 2.3million Internet users worldwide have logged on to www.clarelibrary.ie since it first went live in 1998.  Recent additions to the website include Ecclesiastical Remains - Monuments of County Clare; 1841 & 1851 Census Search Forms; A Folklore Survey of County Clare by Thomas Johnson Westropp; The Grand Jury and Petty's Down Survey Maps, The United Irishmen of North West Clare, 1798; and Registry of Freeholders, Co. Clare, 1841.  Meanwhile, 49 historical maps dating back to the early 1700s have recently been made available online by Clare County Library via www.clarelibrary.ie.  The David Rumsey Historical Map Collection features the first maps to make reference to the West Clare Railway while others provide information on historic landmarks and tribal settlements.

Reaction to the website has been very positive with online comments being posted by Internet users from such countries as Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, USA, Canada and Britain.  

Comments made by users of the site include:
Diane Rigden, Ohio, USA said, "Greetings, I don't know if my family was from County Clare or not, but some evidence suggests just that. In the course of following my slim leads, I found your website today. I could not believe the abundance of resources that you have put online! I wish that other counties would follow your lead. I hope I do find that my family was from County Clare - your site will make my research much easier."
Australian Carolyn Hart wrote, "I have just been looking at your wonderful website which contains a huge amount of very interesting information. Congratulations."
According to Pennsylvanian student Roisin Corry, "You guys have a great site. I love all the primary documents you have available. As a library degree student and an editor (and I have an MA in Irish Studies), I can really appreciate all the work you guys do."
Dr. Paul Butler of the University of Limerick added, "A short e-mail to say... Great website... I needed to track a book and found it on the website and then found its availability in the local library…Absolutely great. Thanks and keep up the great service."

For further information on Clare County Library contact 065-6821616, log on to www.clarelibrary.ie or email mailbox@clarelibrary.ie.  For more on the website listing log on to www.top100ireland.com.

-END-

Note to Editor:
-   Noel Crowley, Clare County Librarian is available for interview.  Please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 086-8534900 or email media@dunphypr.com.

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
Clonboula,
Connolly,
Ennis,
County Clare
IRELAND
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media@dunphypr.com
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