Then and Now: Letters in the Library

On Friday, 15th November, The National Library of Ireland, in collaboration with Typography Ireland (Clare Bell and Mary Ann Bolger), enjoyed hosting a special event as part of Irish Design Week.

The evening began with a guided tour led by Emma Conway, Graphic Designer at the NLI, and Laura Ryan, Assistant Keeper of Visual Collections. Guests were given an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at a curated selection of prints and drawings from the library's collections, celebrating Ireland’s rich typographic and visual heritage.

The carefully chosen items set the stage for type designer Paul Barnes' talk, which brought the evening to a close.

Items discussed on the tour included:

1. Éire print, Arthur O'Murnaghan, 1922
2. Abbey Theatre poster, 1923
3. Abbey Theatre poster, 1914
4. Smock Alley Theatre poster, 1754
5. Conradh na Gaeilge poster, 1917
6. Cuirm-cheóil ticket, 1957

Conradh na Gaeilge
Founded in 1893, Conradh na Gaeilge (historically known in English as the Gaelic League) is a social and cultural organisation which promotes the Irish language. This poster is for a concert and céilí at Dublin’s Mansion House, as part of a week-long Halloween celebration, held in 1917. The poster features Gaelic lettering, a style commonly used until the standardisation of the Irish language in the 1960s. It is a lithograph printed by Colm Ó Lochlainn, whose printer’s stamp is visible in the lower right corner. Ó Lochlainn, a key figure in Irish typography, is also renowned for designing one of the first Irish typefaces, Colmcille.

Arthur O'Murnaghan
Art O’Murnaghan was a self-taught artist, born in Southampton to an Irish father. As an adult, he moved to Ireland becoming involved in Conradh na Gaeilge. In 1922, an Irish Republican Memorial Committee was established to commemorate the Easter rising – a commission won by O’Murnaghan. His illuminated book 'Leabhar na hAiséirighe', or 'Book of the Resurrection' became his life’s work. The existing 26 page volume (held by the National Museum of Ireland) took him 27 years to create, stopping on several occasions due to funding issues. This page titled ‘Éire’ is a print of a page from the book sold in an effort to raise money during one of these periods. The page lists various other names for ‘Ireland’ throughout history. 

Paul Barnes Lecture

Paul Barnes of Commercial Type wrapped up the evening with an engaging presentation of his work to date. He highlighted how historical designs, such as vintage playbills and posters, have served as key sources of inspiration.

He also delved into his creative processes and the ideas behind some of his recent projects, including designs for the V&A Museum, The Guardian, and Rolling Stone magazine.