National Photographic Archive

The National Photographic Archive is a modern building in Meeting House Square that houses over 600,000 photographs and provides exhibition spaces and reading areas. The collection spans from the 1850s to the present day and records Irish society across many different aspects.

The archive opened in 1998 as part of the National Library of Ireland's efforts to preserve photography collections. The photographs it holds begin in the 1850s and continue to the present, covering Irish history across more than a century of change.

The collection reflects Irish life across different subjects: landscapes, studio portraits, political moments, and early travel photographs that capture how the nation changed over time. Walking through the gallery, you encounter images that show the everyday world of past generations.

The exhibition gallery is free to enter and open daily, reachable from Wellington Quay or Jervis Luas Red Line station. Reading rooms are available for those who want to explore the collection in more detail, and the building offers comfortable facilities for browsing.

The building was designed by O'Donnell + Tuomey and combines specialized rooms such as darkrooms and photo studios with exhibition spaces. The architecture carefully considers how photographs need to be stored and used, making it as much a functional work of design as a place to view images.