NLI's free photographic exhibition featuring Monaghan 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 includes a snapshot of Monaghan life.

The exhibition includes images of women in the 1860s selling refreshments in Killarney; Go-Kart races in Donegal; and scenes of family, rural and urban life. They 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 from Co. Monaghan is of the ‘Goods train’ at Clones East in July 1959. The photograph showcases a steam train passing the signal cabin. By 1959, only freight trains ran on this line serving Clones, Cavan and Monaghan. Clones passenger trains had serviced Dublin, Belfast and Derry lines but ceased in 1957 when the Northern Irish government closed the lines in that jurisdiction. The freight service ended in 1959.

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 NLI 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