Inspiring Ideas from the Emerald Isle: An Overview of Open Science and Scholarship Initiatives in Ireland

Abstract

Ireland is making significant progress toward establishing a fully open research ecosystem with a target of 100% open access to all publicly funded research by 2030. This paper outlines major national and institutional initiatives, focusing on the role of the National Open Research Forum (NORF) in driving Ireland’s open research agenda through policy development, stakeholder engagement, and the implementation of the National Action Plan for Open Research 2022–2030. Distinctive features of Ireland’s approach include the collaborative, government-supported model of NORF, and the establishment of national infrastructures such as the Digital Repository of Ireland (DRI). These are reinforced by policy alignment through Ireland’s innovation strategy, Impact 2030, and grassroots engagement at institutional level. This paper explores practical and strategic actions at Maynooth University and Dublin City University libraries, highlighting developments in institutional repositories, library-led publishing, open monograph publishing, and research data management (RDM). The libraries at both institutions are central to supporting sustainable scholarly communication, increasing research visibility, and promoting FAIR data practices. Quick wins identified based on this experience include optimising existing repository infrastructure and providing basic RDM support. Suggestions for longer-term goals include a focus on scaling monograph publishing and embedding open research into academic culture. The need for a sustainable, central, coordination body is also identified. Ireland’s collaborative approach, in which libraries play a central role, serves as a compelling model for others seeking to implement cost-effective, scalable Open Science and Open Scholarship practices that align with evolving global standards. Keywords: Open Access, Open Research, Institutional Repositories, Research Data Management (RDM), Library Publishing.