Striking Roscommon image  becomes part of National Library collection

A photographic archive comprising almost 200 professional photographs taken during the pandemic, including a striking image from Roscommon, has been acquired by The National Library of Ireland.

The acquisition is an archive representing the Press Photographers Ireland (formerly PPAI) ‘Life under Covid-19 in Ireland' collection of press photography and videography.

Taken between 2020 and 2021, the collection comprises close to 200 digital images and features the work of more than 70 press photographers across the country.

Documenting life in Ireland during the pandemic, it includes photos of social distancing; widespread mask-wearing; vaccination centres; sports teams playing to empty stadia (and prospective spectators watching through locked gates); deserted streets; healthcare workers in full PPE, as well as how people communicated with the elderly or medically vulnerable, and communities coming together – in a socially distanced way – to pay respect to the work of Ireland’s frontline workers.

Among the collection is a photograph of a supporter watching the Roscommon SFC semi-final between St. Brigid's and Boyle on September 6 2020 at Dr. Hyde Park from outside the ground. At the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, no supporters were allowed into GAA grounds and photographer James Crombie captured the moment.

Commenting, Director of the National Library of Ireland, Dr Audrey Whitty said: “The National Library of Ireland is Ireland’s memory-keeper. In the 21st century, as the world embraces digital over print, it is essential that we evolve with technology so that culturally significant ‘born digital’ collections can be collected, managed, and made available for future generations. I am thrilled that this image from Roscommon was included in this project.

“The pandemic was a very difficult time in Ireland and across the globe and we all have our own experiences and memories of it. The ‘Life under Covid-19 in Ireland’ digital archive is an incredibly valuable visual historical record of this time. It will possibly be even more valuable in the coming decades as that period begins to fade from living memory. In an era when digital photos can so easily be deleted to make space for other content, it is important that such digital photographic records are collected, preserved, and made available for researchers – professional or amateur - for years to come.

“We are honoured that PPI has chosen to donate this archive to the National Library of Ireland. It will now become part of the national collections, alongside the books, manuscripts, newspapers, prints and drawings, music, and other physical items the NLI has been collecting since 1877.”