Travelling Banner Exhibition | Photo Detectives

The NLI is delighted to announce Photo Detectives, 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 Photo Detectives.

The NLI’s online Flickr community has grown to over 35,000 followers worldwide and amassed over 125 million views. In that time, this online community of photo and history enthusiasts have helped the NLI to uncover some of the fascinating stories and details behind the photographs posted. This banner exhibition celebrates the ingenuity, generosity and humour of the NLI’s Flickr community, and the remarkable stories revealed by their research.

For the latest information, including opening hours, click on the links below for each location:

• Claremorris Town Hall Theatre, Co Mayo |  1 July – 27 August
• Séan Lemass Public Library, Shannon, Co Clare | 1 – 22 September
• Kilrush Public Library, O'Gorman Street, Kilrush, Co Clare | 23 September –13 October
• De Valera Public Library, Ennis, Co Clare | 14 –28 October
• North Mayo Heritage Centre, Co Mayo | 3 November –  16 December

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.

Funded as part of the Culture Programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026.