National Library launches Easter Rising photo exhibition

The National Library of Ireland has launched an exhibition of their collection of photographs documenting the events and locations of the Easter Rising in 1916.

The free exhibition at the National Photographic Archive (NPA) – entitled ‘Rising’ – has 60 photographs, as well as accompanying audio recordings, letters, diaries from the period.

The photographs showcase the damage to Dublin city centre in the wake of the Rising and the arrests, court-martials and internments that took place after. (Click each picture to see the description.)

View of the General Post Office from above, showing the destruction to the building interior. Image: National Library of Ireland

George Reynolds and other Irish Volunteers who fought at Mount Street Bridge. Image: National Library of Ireland

The façade of the Imperial Hotel, Clerys department store and a view of Sackville Street looking south-east from Nelson’s Pillar. Image: National Library of Ireland

A crowd gathered at Westland Row to welcome internees recently released. Image: National Library of Ireland

Volunteers from the 3rd Battalion marching down Grand Canal Street Lower under escort carrying their weapons and a flag after their surrender at Boland’s Bakery. A white ‘x’ has been marked above the head of Éamon de Valera, commandant of the 3rd Battalion. Image: National Library of Ireland

Dr Edmund J. McWeeney inspecting a copy of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic on railings at 84 St. Stephen’s Green, Easter Monday, 1916. Image: National Library of Ireland

Michael O’Hanrahan being escorted into his court-martial, Richmond Barracks, 3 May 1916. Image: National Library of Ireland

The ruins of Henry Street, workmen clearing rubble with armed soldiers on duty. Image: National Library of Ireland

Fianna Éireann scouts with Countess Markievicz (centre), including Fianna Éireann flags. Image: National Library of Ireland

Curator Sara Smyth said: “‘Rising’ paints a very vivid picture of the events and locations of 1916 and brings visitors into the world of those who experienced the Rising first-hand.

“When we selected the content for the exhibition, we were keen to address certain questions:  How did Dublin look during Easter Week 1916, as fighting raged and buildings fell? What kind of landscape, physical and political, was left after the surrender?”

Photographs feature famous names like Countess Constance Markievicz and Éamon de Valera.

The NPA officially opens the exhibition on Tuesday 2 February and it is being held at Meeting House Square in Temple Bar, Dublin. It runs until October and is open seven days a week: Mondays to Saturdays, 10am to 5pm, and Sundays from 12 noon until 5pm.

A version of this post written by the author appeared on the UTV Ireland website.