A NEW exhibition celebrating the history of Shannon Town has been unveiled at the University of Limerick (UL).
‘Developing Shannon – Exposing Narratives from Negatives‘ was unveiled at UL’s Glucksman Library this week, with acting UL President Professor Shane Kilcommins saying that the exhibition shows “a remarkable journey captured through the lens of history”.
The showcase is based on the Shannon Development Photographic Collection which was donated to UL in 2014 by the Shannon Airport Group.
The collection comprises over 250,000 items including photos, press cuttings, reports, brochures, and other documentation spanning over five decades since Shannon Town was established.
Professor Kilcommins unveiled the exhibition at UL’s Glucksman Library, saying that the show marks a milestone in efforts to collect and preserve the history and heritage of Shannon Town.
“(The exhibition) marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to preserve and share the rich heritage of Shannon Town and its hinterland and indeed much of the activity that has gone in to shaping and forming the rich tapestry it holds in our region,” Prof Kilcommins said.
The acting head of UL added that “this exhibition is not just a collection of photographs; it is a testament to the vision, hard work, and dedication of many individuals and organisations. It is a celebration of Shannon’s rich history and its promising future”.
As part of the exhibition launch, photos and documents have been digitised and can also be viewed by the public online.
Ciara McCaffrey, University Librarian and Director, said that “this collaborative project on post-war new town archives in Britain and Ireland brings the vibrant history of Shannon Town and 1960s Ireland to a global audience through thousands of digitised images freely available from the University of Limerick digital library”.
The exhibition is on display at UL’s Glucksman Library, and can be viewed online on digitallibrary.ul.ie/shannon-development-collection.
