NLI's free photographic exhibition featuring Kerry celebrates the age of analogue photography in Ireland

The exhibition captures the social, cultural and technological changes that have taken place across Ireland from the middle of the 19th century up to the turn of this century, and has a number of photos charting Kerry life.

The exhibition includes images which give a glimpse into Irish history and the evolution of photography. The exhibition comprises 50 photographs taken between 1858 – 2001, representing the age of analogue photography in Ireland. Photographs on display include early forms such as salt paper print and stereo-pair up to more contemporary photography.

A featured  image taken in Kerry is a photo taken of Dublin versus Kerry, at an all-Ireland Senior football final in Croke Park, Dublin on 16 September 1979.

Another image taken at the Gap of Dunloe, Killarney, Co. Kerry features a young woman, by the name of Bridget Sweeney, who became known as the ‘Gap Girl’. This is part of a series of seven portraits of local women who sold refreshments at popular tourist sites Killarney. ‘Stereopairs’ are identical images taken by a camera with two lenses, creating a 3D image when viewed through a special viewer called a ‘stereoscope’.

The exhibition also includes a photograph from the World Ploughing Championships which took place in Killarney, County Kerry on 8^th October 1954. Competitors from 12 countries challenged for the championship which was won by Hugh Barr, from Coleraine, County Derry. The aerial photograph shows the stalls promoting and selling agricultural goods.

Commenting, Acting Head of Exhibitions, Learning and Programming at the NLI and curator of this exhibition, Sara Smyth said:

“What’s collected today becomes history tomorrow. As Ireland’s memory-keeper, the National Library of Ireland continues to collect and share a vibrant national collection that documents historical and contemporary life on the island of Ireland. The NLI houses over five million photographs, which are a visual record of the history and culture of Ireland.

“The exhibition will run until 2025 and phase one will feature framed photographs from 20 of our most popular collections. The images selected speak to the diversity of Ireland, with photographs representing almost every county, North and South of the Border.

“We highlight working-class and middle-class communities; women, who usually appear less often than men in history telling; and we juxtaposition rural communities alongside their urban counterparts. Themes, such as climate change and transport, are also addressed.”

Join the exhibition’s curator, Sara Smyth, for a free tour of the exhibition over the Summer, with a monthly tour on Thursday 20^th July and Thursday 17^th August from 1.00-1.40pm, no booking required.

If you are in Dublin with friends, young kids or family, you can pop into the free and accessible People and Places exhibition 10am-4pm Monday to Sunday, with last admission 3.30pm.

To check out more photographs which are part of NLI’s collections, log onto www.nli.ie.

ENDS