Celebrating LGBTI+ Stories at the National Library of Ireland

Happy Pride 2025!

Thursday, 26 June 2025

Collage of LGBT + Yes Equality collection materials

At the National Library of Ireland (NLI), we are proud to preserve LGBTI+ history as part of Ireland’s story.

We house the Irish Queer Archive, Yes Equality Visual Digital Archive, Christopher Robson Photographic Collection, The Michael Barron Papers, and more.

This Pride month, we invite you to explore a range of resources available at the National Library, from archival materials to digital exhibitions and panel discussions.

1) Explore the Irish Queer Archive

The Irish Queer Archive is Ireland’s most comprehensive collection documenting LGBTI+ history, culture, and activism. Housed by the NLI, this living archive captures decades of Irish and international queer life from the mid-20th century onwards.

A curated selection is now available online — featuring 88 items and over 700 digitised images, including photographs, posters, letters, flyers, books, and more.

Materials from the Irish Queer Archive

Poster entitled 'Building a Future; a Task for Gay Youth Groups' for the International Gay Youth Congress, 7th - 14th July 1985 (MS 45,956/5/1)

Promotional flyer for the Lonely Gays Society, circa 1974-2005 (MS 45,949/8/1)

Candidate information for Tonie Walsh for an upcoming election (MS 45,936/2/2)

Dancing at the Crossroads: Glamour Rooted in Despair; Alternative Miss Ireland book

Dancing at the Crossroads: Glamour Rooted in Despair; Alternative Miss Ireland, 1989-2004. (MS 46,006/2/1)

Programme for Gay Pride, June 1980 (MS 45,955/2/2)

2) Discover the Yes Equality Campaign: Digital Archive

Relive the energy of one of Ireland’s most transformative social movements. The Yes Equality archive includes more than 1,000 photographs documenting the campaign for marriage equality, and is one of the Library’s earliest born-digital collections.

Browse the collection here.

Ten thousand people unite for Yes Equality National Canvas Day. PIC PAUL SHARP/SHARPPIX — Ten thousand people unite for Yes Equality National Canvas Day. Photographer: Paul Sharp

3) Revisit a Decade of Marriage Equality

Marking ten years since Ireland voted ‘Yes!’ to marriage equality, we recently hosted a commemorative event: 'Revisiting the Yes Equality Campaign: A Decade of Marriage Equality.'

This panel discussion, held on May 15th 2025, brought together campaigners and advocates to reflect on the journey to equality and the legacy of 2015.

Watch the full event:

3) View the Online Exhibition Living with Pride

Photographer and activist Christopher Robson captured decades of LGBTI+ life and protest, including Dublin Pride, in a stunning collection of over 2,000 images.

Donated by his partner, Bill Foley, the collection is now featured in an online exhibition, available in both English and Irish.

Interested in displaying the exhibition Living with Pride in your venue? Learn more here or contact exhibitions@nli.ie for more details and our exhibition pack brochure.

Photograph of people walking as part of the Pride March 2001 on Parnell Stret — Dublin Pride 2001 (NPA ROBS1032)

**4) Tune into the Living with Pride Discussion Series**

Visit the NLI's YouTube channel for a series of thought-provoking conversations on Irish LGBTI+ identity, activism, and community - past, present, and future.

Watch the series:

At the NLI, we believe in the power of preserving history, especially the histories that were once hidden.

This Pride, we honour the resilience, creativity, and courage of Ireland’s LGBTI+ communities. We invite you to explore these important national collections, and to revisit and reflect on the milestones along the way.