Several thought-provoking photographs captured in Kerry during the Covid-19 pandemic form a key part of an important collection acquired by the National Library of Ireland from Press Photographers Ireland – formerly the PPAI.
Picture: Domnick Walsh
Life under Covid-19 in Ireland is collection of photography and videography taken between 2020 and 2021 and the archive comprises close to 200 digital images, featuring the work of more than 70 press photographers across the country.
The images include 20 taken in Kerry during the lockdown, mainly by well-known press photographers Domnick Walsh and BrendanMoran.
Documenting life in Ireland during the pandemic, it includes photos of social distancing, widespread mask-wearing, vaccination centres, sports teams playing to empty stadia, deserted streets, healthcare workers in full PPE, as well as how people communicated with the elderly or medically vulnerable.
It also captures images of key officials, such as Taoiseach Simon Harris, who was then Minister for Health, former Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Houlihan, and immunologist Professor
Director of the National Library of Ireland, Dr Audrey Whitty said the pandemic was a very difficult time in Ireland and across the globe and everybody has their own experiences and memories of it.
Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
“This 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,” Dr Whitty stated.
“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”.
Picture: Domnick Walsh
“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.”
President of Press Photographers Ireland, David Branigan said: “It is said that journalism is the first draft of history and press photography has an important place in documenting our nation’s story”.
He added: “We are dedicated to showcasing the extraordinary work of our members and promoting the role of the press photographer, which has provided this unique view of Ireland during the pandemic.
The Life under Covid-19 in Ireland digital archive will be made available to the public later this year.
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