University of Limerick’s new exhibition highlights a photographic archive that captures Shannon’s growth from a rural landscape to a lively industrial and tourism centre.
A new photographic exhibition, Developing Shannon –displayed at the University of Limerick’s Glucksman Library, offers an in-depth visual journey through the historical development of Shannon. The archive, which holds approximately 250,000 items, displays decades of development, capturing Shannon’s shift from an agricultural area to an area of industries and tourism.
The exhibition was launched by the Acting President of the University of Limerick, Professor Shane Kilcommins. This exhibition is centered around Shannon’s Development through a Photographic Collection, donated in 2014 by the Shannon Airport Group. The collection includes photographs, press cuttings, reports, and brochures that show the growth of the area over five decades.
Professor Kilcommins expressed the importance of this project, saying, “This exhibition is not just a collection of photographs; it is a testament to the vision, hard work, and dedication of many individuals and organizations. It is a celebration of Shannon’s rich history and its promising future”.
The Glucksman Library received significant funding from the Welcome Trust in 2021 to digitize and improve accessibility to 25,000 – 36,000 images specific to Shannon’s development. This initiative is part of The New Jerusalem’s: Post-War New Town Archives in Britain and Ireland.
University Librarian and Director, Ciara McCaffrey, highlighted the international importance of this collection, stating, “This collaborative project on post-war new town archives in Britain and Ireland brings the vibrant history of Shannon town and 1960s Ireland to a global audience through thousands of digitized images freely available from the University of Limerick Digital Library”.
“We continue to seek funding and cultivate partnerships that will further elevate the cultural heritage of Limerick, Clare, Munster, and Ireland, showcasing it on the international stage,” she says.
The archive showcases a range of images from the late 1950s through the 1970s, documenting Shannon’s transformation. Scenes range from the construction of new homes and industries to the expansion of local businesses and the development of Shannon Town Centre. Beyond the growth of local infrastructure, the exhibition provides a lens into the fashion and community life in Ireland during this period.
The exhibition is on display in the Special Collections & Archives Department of the UL Glucksman Library and can also be visited online at https://digitallibrary.ul.ie/shannon-development-collection
For more information:
Alan Owens, Communications Manager University of Limerick
Phone: +353 87 908 6633
Email: alan.owens@ul.ie