The collection comprises 200 digital images and features the work of more than 70 press photographers across the country.
Documenting life in Ireland during the pandemic, it includes photos of social distancing, widespread mask-wearing; vaccination centres; sports teams playing to empty ground, deserted street and healthcare workers in full PPE.
The images also illustrate how people communicated with the elderly or medically vulnerable, and how communities coming together – in a socially distanced way – to pay respect to the work of Ireland’s frontline workers.
The photo of Fr Conlon administering a blessing to a kneeing parishioner on the Cooley peninsula was taken on Holy Thursday 2020 by Dundalk photographer Arthur Carron.
Fr Conlon stood in the back of the Pope-mobile used by Pope John Paul II during his visits to Britain and Africa circa-1982 to bless his parishioners while still maintaining social distancing.
The converted British Leyland truck was the prized possession of the late vintage machinery enthusiast John Hanlon, from nearby Greenore, Co Louth.
Mr Hanlon, the former owner of Hanlon’s Transport, paid £37,000 (€42,000) for the vehicle up in an auction in 2006.
“I am thrilled that this image from Louth is included in the project,” the Director of the National Library of Ireland, Dr Audrey Whitty said.
“The National Library of Ireland is Ireland’s memory-keeper. In the 21st century, as the world embraces digital over print, it is essential that we evolve with technology so that culturally significant ‘born digital’ collections can be collected, managed, and made available for future generations.
“The pandemic was a very difficult time in Ireland and across the globe and we all have our own experiences and memories of it. The ‘Life under Covid-19 in Ireland’ digital archive is an incredibly valuable visual historical record of this time. It will possibly be even more valuable in the coming decades as that period begins to fade from living memory. In an era when digital photos can so easily be deleted to make space for other content, it is important that such digital photographic records are collected, preserved, and made available for researchers – professional or amateur – for years to come.
“It is said that journalism is the first draft of history, and press photography has an important place in documenting our nation’s story,” President of Press Photographers Ireland, David Branigan said. “We are dedicated to showcasing the extraordinary work of our members and promoting the role of the press photographer, which has provided this unique view of Ireland during the pandemic.”
The ‘Life under Covid-19′ digital archive will be made available to the public later this year, when it has been catalogued.
