Shaped by History | National Photographic Archive
National Photographic Archive, Meeting House Square, Temple Bar.
Exhibition dates: 1st of August 2014 – 5th of January 2015
Launch event: Friday 1st of August by Riverdance composer, Bill Whelan.
Curated by Gerry Andrews
Shaped by History was an exhibition of photographs in the National Library of Ireland’s National Photographic Archive (NPA). The exhibition ran in the NPA from the 1st of August 2014 until the 5th of January 2015.
Shaped by History consisted of 95 black and white photographs of Limerick Milk Market taken between 1971 and 1978 by the Limerick award winning social documentary photographer, Gerry Andrews. Limerick Milk Market was founded in 1852, as the west of Ireland was emerging from the famines of the 1840’s. In the 1970’s, Limerick Milk Market was at a crossroads in its long history, as the Shannon/Limerick region began transforming into a national and international model for development. Gerry Andrews photo’s are portrait studies of the community of merchants, traders and characters of Limerick’s historic quarter at this period of transformation. The portraits are stunning, evocative and challenging. A set of prints was donated to the National Library of Ireland’s photographic collection, home to the worlds largest collection of photographs relating to Ireland.
Shaped by History was presented in collaboration with Limerick City of Culture, the Hunt Museum, Limerick Milk Market and the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.
