Travelling Banner Exhibition | Strangers to Citizens
Illustration showing Kinsale harbour, the departure point for many Irish migrants. Pacata Hibernia, Thomas Stafford, London, 1633. NLI ref. - LO 1689
Explore the NLI collections through Strangers to Citizens, a brand new travelling banner exhibition on display for a limited time in Mayo and Clare.
The NLI is delighted to announce Strangers to Citizens, a new travelling banner exhibition created as part of the official Cultural Programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU 2026. We are delighted to partner with Clare Libraries, North Mayo Heritage Centre, and Claremorris Townhall Theatre in sharing the story told in Strangers to Citizens.
People, ideas and goods have always moved over and back between Ireland and Continental Europe. That exchange quickened after 1600 as profound social, religious and economic upheaval pushed successive waves of Irish migrants to the continent. This banner exhibition explores the story of the Irish in Continental Europe over centuries of migration.
For the latest information, including opening hours, click on the links below for each location:
- De Valera Public Library, Ennis, Co Clare | 1 – 22 July
- Edna O’Brien Library, Scariff, Co Clare | 23 July – 5 August
- Séan Lemass Public Library, Shannon, Co Clare | 6 – 26 August
- North Mayo Heritage Centre, Co Mayo | 1 September – 29 October
- Claremorris Town Hall Theatre, Co Mayo | 3 November – 13 January 2027
The National Library of Ireland acknowledges the support of the Culture Programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026 in helping to display these NLI exhibitions in various venues throughout the country during the EU Presidency, after which they will be available to borrow as part of the 'Borrow a Banner' initiative. 'Borrow a Banner' enables local venues around the country to borrow a banner exhibition featuring imagery of original NLI collection items. For further details and the range of exhibitions available see here.
Strangers to Citizens Online Lecture Series.
We are delighted to announce the Strangers to Citizens online lecture series, inspired by the new travelling banner exhibition of the same name. The series explores the story of Irish migration to Europe between 1600-1800, examining both the political and cultural context of this period, as well as the fascinating tales of individuals who made the journey from Stranger to Citizen. In keeping with the spirit of the official Cultural Programme for Ireland's Presidency of the European council, we look forward to welcoming attendees to this online talk series from across Ireland, the European Union and beyond. Free tickets can be booked for each lecture via the links below.
Tuesday 25 August at 3pm IST: Online Talk | Irish Migrants in Early Modern Europe | National Library of Ireland
Tuesday 8 September at 3pm IST: Online Talk | Sir Charles Wogan, knight-baronet of the Kingdom Ireland | National Library of Ireland
Tuesday 15 September at 3pm IST: Online Talk | The Irish Colleges in Early Modern Europe | National Library of Ireland
Tuesday 29 September at 3pm IST: Online Talk | The Irish and the European Empires | National Library of Ireland
Funded as part of the Culture Programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026.
