A CO Tyrone man has spearheaded a new online archive of Gaelic texts covering some of the most momentous events in Irish history.

Charles Dillon from Benburb led the team responsible for the new archive which was formally launched by the Republic’s Minister for Gaeilge, Joe McHugh.

Corpas na Gaeilge (Irish language collection) 1600-1926 provides new insights into events such as the Flight of the Earls (1604) and the Irish Famine (1845) which were previously only available to academics.

While most of the texts are in old Irish, they have been edited for modern use by Dr Dillon’s team in Teelin, south west Donegal.

The works include reports of the Flight of the Earls, compiled in 1607. The event marked the end of Gaelic rule in Ulster when Hugh O’Neil, Earl of Tyrone and Rory O’Donnell, Earl of Tyrconnell left Ireland never to return.

The texts provide valuable information on Irish history, archaeology, language, culture and science, according to Mr McHugh.

“The Corpas covers a huge breadth of material and Irish history from the Flight of the Earls in 1607 to the writings of An tAthair Peadar Ó Laoghaire and Pádraig Mac Piarais in An Claidheamh Soluis, during the golden age of the language revival,” Mr McHugh said.

The minister paid tribute to Dr Dillon and his Donegal team which include Caroline Ní Chasaide, Pádraig Mac Con Uladh, Niall Ó Ceallaigh and Eithne Ní Ghallchobair.

The texts are available at the Royal Irish Academy website at www.ria.ie.