The Photo Album of the Irish: England is a digital archive project that records and preserves the ordinary and extraordinary histories of the Irish people in England, reflected in family photographs. Photo Museum Ireland, in partnership with the London Irish Centre, presented an exhibition and publication featuring selected extracts from the family stories. The event took place at 6 pm on 28 October 2025, at the London Irish Centre in Camden.
Installing the exhibition.
The project worked with 25 families with Irish heritage to digitise their family photographs, creating a unique digital archive that reveals how people lived, worked, travelled, and enjoyed themselves. The family stories contributed to this archive offer a poignant glimpse into the experiences of the Irish in England. It uncovers the rich and diverse social histories, bringing to light often-overlooked aspects of our past. These visual records of private life reflect the close and deeply intertwined relationship between England and Ireland. This process of sharing family histories is deeply personal. The complex tapestry of family life means that sharing personal histories requires time, care, and sensitivity; for many, it is an emotional journey. Understandably, the process of publicly sharing family stories is not for everyone. The absence of certain narratives itself tells a story, reflecting the intricate and sometimes challenging historical relationship between Ireland and England.
The exhibition displayed photographs collected from Irish families throughout London, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham – each image tracing generations of migration, connecting and belonging.
The event brought together families, contributors, and visitors from across the Irish diaspora for an evening filled with memory, laughter, and shared history.
Thanks to the participating families for their generous contributions. Thanks to our partners at the London Irish Centre, Gary Dunne, Hannah Pender, and Rebecca Dorothy, and Huddersfield Irish Centre, Hammersmith Irish Centre, Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool, Manchester Central Library, Birmingham Irish Association, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Embassy of Ireland: Great Britain.
Funded by The Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme.
