Datasets are collections of raw data. Data gathered for a specific purpose can be used many times over, from different angles, and to satisfy different research questions - this is particularly true when a data set is shared. Researchers and public bodies are increasingly choosing to share the data they gather in accordance with "FAIR principles", making it: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. This FAIR data policy has several clear benefits, not least the fostering of new relationships and collaboration among researchers (Popkin, 2019).
Below are some sites dedicated to the sharing of open data sets. It's not an exhaustive list, and the number and breadth of data sets will surely increase as more and more researchers choose to share their data.
Irish National Open Data Portal
Datasets made open for reuse by some 111 publishers, including: Central Statistics Office, city councils, government departments, Environmental Protection Agency, EuroStat, Fáilte Ireland, Geological Survey of Ireland, Health and Safety Authority, Heritage Council, Met Éireann, National Transport Authority, Office of Public Works, Ordnance Survey Ireland, Revenue Commissioners, Road Safety Authority, TUSLA, and more. New datasets and publishers are being added all the time.
Dublinked: open data for the Dublin region
Search for Dublin data under headings: Arts culture and heritage, Environment and energy, Planning and land use, Government and participation, Recreation and amenities, Population and communities, Public health and safety, Economy and innovation, Transport and infrastructure.
Galway County Open Data Portal
by Maynooth University. Tidy data sets on demographics, economy, housing, and the environment
Data sets shared by public bodies in Northern Ireland.
Data sets published by Transport Infrastructure Ireland
An OSI initiative providing access to spatial data from over 35 public sector organisations
Datasets relating to townlands, baronies, parishes and counties of Ireland
Whilst Accessible, Interoperable, and Resusable are not guaranteed, Google's Dataset Search works along the same lines as Google Scholar.
Brock, J. (2019) '"A love letter to your future self": What scientists need to know about FAIR data', Nature Index, 11 February. Available at: https://www.natureindex.com/news-blog/what-scientists-need-to-know-about-fair-data (Accessed: 15 January 2020).
Wuttke, U. (2019) '"Here be dragons": open access to research data in the humanities', Digital Humanities Methods and Tools, 22 April. Available at: https://dhmethods.hypotheses.org/262 (Accessed: 15 January 2020).
Want to know more? Check out the Open Data Handbook
