National Photographic Archive

The National Photographic Archive (NPA) is part of the National Library of Ireland (NLI), and houses the Irish national photographic collection. This collection consists of 5.2m photos, and is the world’s largest collection of photographs relating to Ireland. The collections dates from the 1840s to the present, covering almost every topic imaginable relating to Ireland between the 1840s and the present, and currently 47,000 photos are free to view on www.nli.ie and through the NLI’s social media links. The NPA opened in 1998, in the award-winning building on Meeting House Square designed by O’Donnell Toomey Architects. Four exhibitions are presented annually in the NPA, a number in collaboration with other institutions. These exhibitions are open seven days a week and are free to visit. The NPA attracts 65,000 visitors annually, For more information on the NPA and its current activities, opening hours, collections and resources, see www.nli.ie. The NPA is a living archive, and continuously adds to its collections, through purchase and through generous donation. A Reading Room is open by prior appointment only: contact npaoffice@nli.ie for more information.