The National Library of Ireland’s National Photographic Archive (NPA) is home to the world’s largest collection of Irish photographs. This collection has been acquired through purchase and through generous donation. While most of the collections are historical there are some contemporary collections. Subject matter ranges from topographical views to studio portraits and from political events to early tourist photographs.
The NPA is an award-winning architectural building. We opened in October 1998 with the exhibition, Into the Light. Since then some 50 exhibitions have been hung in the NPA gallery, a number in collaboration with other institutions. Our exhibitions are open seven days a week and they are free to visit.
Taking Stock: the National Photographic Archive from 1998 opens at the National Library of Ireland’s National Photographic Archive (NPA) in Temple Bar on 5 October. This exhibition, is the NPA’s first retrospective and is about what and how the NPA has exhibited since we opened in 1998.
Since 1998, we’ve displayed some 3,000 prints, using a variety of presentations. Taking Stock re-presents just 68 of these original copy prints, as hung in their original frames. Taking Stock reflects the amazing richness of the NPA collections, which range in date from the beginnings of photography in 1839, to the present. They photos capture almost every imaginable topic. As well as viewing photographs from the Library’s photographic collections, visitors can also see examples of NPA curatorial and preservation activities and plans for future projects.
Taking Stock is presented around four broad though inter-connected themes: Employment and Travel; Notable Occasions; Photographic Process; and Leisure and Creativity. We’ve also presented a range of historic photographic equipment for you to compare with how you take photographs today.
The exhibition is free to visit, and continues until Summer 2013.
Opening Hours
Mon - Sat: 10am - 4.45pm
Sunday: 12pm - 4.45pm
Admission is free.
Saturday 2nd to Tuesday 26th oFacilities:
Exhibition, Wheelchair accessible
How To Get There:
BUS: all routes to city centre
DART: Tara Street Station.
LUAS: Red line to Jervis