The Photo Album of the Irish digital archive project works with people of Irish heritage in Ireland and around the world to record and preserve their histories, as reflected in family photographs. Begun in 2014, this growing digital archive celebrates the ordinary and extraordinary histories of people with Irish heritage, often recording details that official histories often overlook, creating a uniquely democratic visual record that is at once personal and universal. Initiated by Photo Museum Ireland, the project is funded by the  Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade/Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme and the Arts Council of Ireland.

Latest Edition: The Photo Album of the Irish: England edition.
Launched in October 2025, our latest ‘England Edition’ of the project reflects on the diverse experiences of England’s Irish Diaspora across generations, as seen through their own family albums. The project has 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. The programme was developed in partnership with the London Irish Centre, 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. 

The Photo Album of the Irish Project is funded by the Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme.