The Jackie Clarke Collection spans nearly 400 years of Irish history and contains over 22,000 items: rare books, manuscripts, legal papers, pamphlets, handbills, newspapers, autograph books, news sheets, circulars, reports, letters, periodicals, cartoons, maps, minute books, thesis, articles and proclamations. It was put together during the lifetime of Ballina man, Jackie Clarke, an ordinary man with an extraordinary passion for history.

County Manager, Mr Des Mahon told the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council that it was an "historic occasion" to get the opportunity to house this collection in Ballina.

Following the election of a steering committee to oversee the management of the Jackie Clarke Library, Ballina, a number of councillors took the time to praise and commend the historical treasure trove.

Fine Gael Councillor Michelle Mulherin said: "I wish to publicly commend the Clarke family as this donation is exemplary of community spirit. It is a great resource to academics and a great asset to have in the county and the town of Ballina. I would like to commend the management of Mayo County Council for having the foresight to invest in this. We are very proud in Ballina to have the town as a base for this collection but recognise that it is a county project and a national project.”

Cllr Johnny O'Malley echoed the words of Cllr Mulherin when he stated: "This is so important for Ballina going forward. If this collection went under the hammer it would prove so valuable it would have been put to the four winds but as a result of its housing in Ballina, every student of Irish history will make their way to the town to find and research these documents. I want to thank Seamus Granahan, Paul Benson and Noel Burke for their brave decision to make the Moy Hotel available and create a 5000 sq ft public library."

The praise was not only from the Ballina side of the house as Castlebar councillor Al McDonnell made a key suggestion during the discussion. As way of marking the huge significance of the collection for the county, the Fianna Fáil councillor proposed that a full meeting of Mayo County Council be held in the Ballina library at the earliest disposal.

Labour Councillor Johnny Mee seconded the proposal, reiterating the unprecedented generosity of the family and reaffirming its significance for the entire county.

Should the meeting go ahead as proposed, it would prove an historical event in the North Mayo town.

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