The Band Aid archives have been donated to the National Library of Ireland.

The Band Aid Trust made the donation today, with founder Bob Geldof in Dublin to formally hand over the documents.

It includes letters, photos and charity records from the iconic 1980s fundraiser, and the documents will now be "catalogued, preserved, selectively digitised and exhibited".

It is said to contain "letters, often witty and revealing, from well-known public figures" and "reports of projects in Africa, funded by the [Band Aid] Trust since 1985".

The archives should be open to the public by 2019.

Bob Geldof says he’s delighted the archive is going to be in Ireland, and hopes "we enable other generations to study and hopefully be inspired for the future".

He spoke about how he feels when he hears Do They Know It’s Christmas - the famous Band Aid charity single recorded by a 'supergroup' of iconic music artists - when he’s out and about:

President Michael D Higgins welcomed the donation of the archive.

He observed: "It is a most thoughtful and generous gesture that will be appreciated for generations.

“It is the decision of the National Library not to just accept the archive but to arrange a major exhibition at the National Photographic Archive that is to be particularly welcomed, as is the fact that the public will be able to view these unique archives free of charge.

"It is also heartening to learn that consideration is being given to a travelling exhibition of the archive.”

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, meanwhile, called it a 'huge gift to the State', observing: “This must also be a reminder that global hunger remains a challenge for all of us, and one on which Ireland continues to take an international lead. 

"The archive will play a significant role in engaging public discourse on resolving what continues to be a global plight."