Travelling Banner Exhibition | Strangers to Citizens

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.

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