Northern Ireland

In Pictures: Decades of life in Ireland captured in photo collection

A donkey cart ride in Bangor, Co Down in 1932. Images from Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive
A donkey cart ride in Bangor, Co Down in 1932. Images from Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive A donkey cart ride in Bangor, Co Down in 1932. Images from Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive

A collection of prints and photographs offering snapshots of Irish life spanning almost three centuries will go online for the first time today.

The images from photo agency Getty range from the Land Wars of the late 1800s to the 1916 Rising as well as many everyday scenes from rural Ireland.

More than 120 prints and photos, dating from 1704 to 1989, have been digitised by family history firm Ancestry.

Subjects include people at work, fashion, hobbies and holidays, as well as major events including the Lusitania disaster in 1915.

Searchable by location, date and subject, many of the images have detailed captions including full names to aid family research.

There are numerous prints of daily life in Northern Ireland down the decades including a St John's Ambulance competition in Belfast in 1935 and donkey cart rides in Bangor in 1932, as well as holidaymakers in Groomsport and fishermen in Ardglass around the same time.

Other Irish images show a family portrait outside a thatched cottage in Gweedore, Co Donegal and May Day in Dublin as well as Trinity College graduates and British guards outside the barricaded Four Courts in Dublin.

Russell James, from Ancestry, said: "Captured forever in time, these black and white prints and photos are a journey through the decades and document almost every aspect of life, from daily routines through to occasions of national celebration.

"This sizeable collection is a historical reminder of an ever-changing world, as seen through the lens of photographers working for the most famous name in the field.

"Scenes of children playing, families visiting a local fair or long-forgotten hobbies are just as invaluable as written records for understanding our ancestors."

The collection can be accessed for free at ancestry.co.uk between March 30 and April 2.

Fishermen returning to the harbour in Ardglass, Co Down in August 15 1935. Picture from Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive
Fishermen returning to the harbour in Ardglass, Co Down in August 15 1935. Picture from Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive Fishermen returning to the harbour in Ardglass, Co Down in August 15 1935. Picture from Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive
Kelp gatherers near Eris Head in Antrim in 1890
Kelp gatherers near Eris Head in Antrim in 1890 Kelp gatherers near Eris Head in Antrim in 1890
Natives of Gweedore, Donegal outside their thatched smallholding
Natives of Gweedore, Donegal outside their thatched smallholding Natives of Gweedore, Donegal outside their thatched smallholding
Girls cycling around Groomsport in Co Down
Girls cycling around Groomsport in Co Down Girls cycling around Groomsport in Co Down
A St John's Ambulance competition in Belfast on May 21, 1935. Photo by Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive
A St John's Ambulance competition in Belfast on May 21, 1935. Photo by Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive A St John's Ambulance competition in Belfast on May 21, 1935. Photo by Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive
European Pipe Band Championship on June 26, 1935. Photo by Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive
European Pipe Band Championship on June 26, 1935. Photo by Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive European Pipe Band Championship on June 26, 1935. Photo by Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive
Members of Scottish Boys Brigade at Ganaway, Co Down on July 25 1935
Members of Scottish Boys Brigade at Ganaway, Co Down on July 25 1935 Members of Scottish Boys Brigade at Ganaway, Co Down on July 25 1935
Irish Homespuns, carding wool and spinning in the Donegal Highlands
Irish Homespuns, carding wool and spinning in the Donegal Highlands Irish Homespuns, carding wool and spinning in the Donegal Highlands
1916 - British guards at one of the entrances to barricaded Four Courts, Dublin. Photo by Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive
1916 - British guards at one of the entrances to barricaded Four Courts, Dublin. Photo by Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive 1916 - British guards at one of the entrances to barricaded Four Courts, Dublin. Photo by Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive
1916 – People flock to see the ruins on Sackville Street, Dublin
1916 – People flock to see the ruins on Sackville Street, Dublin 1916 – People flock to see the ruins on Sackville Street, Dublin
1916 – A block of buildings destroyed by fire in Dublin
1916 – A block of buildings destroyed by fire in Dublin 1916 – A block of buildings destroyed by fire in Dublin
A soldier signalling ‘line clear’ during the Irish railway strike in September 1911
A soldier signalling ‘line clear’ during the Irish railway strike in September 1911 A soldier signalling ‘line clear’ during the Irish railway strike in September 1911
Mail held up at Knightsbridge during the Irish railway strike in September 1911. Photo by Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive
Mail held up at Knightsbridge during the Irish railway strike in September 1911. Photo by Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive Mail held up at Knightsbridge during the Irish railway strike in September 1911. Photo by Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive
Trade Union meeting at O'Connell Street, Dublin in September 1913. Photo by Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive
Trade Union meeting at O'Connell Street, Dublin in September 1913. Photo by Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive Trade Union meeting at O'Connell Street, Dublin in September 1913. Photo by Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive
Puck Fair in Killorglin, Co Kerry in 1951. Photo by Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive
Puck Fair in Killorglin, Co Kerry in 1951. Photo by Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive Puck Fair in Killorglin, Co Kerry in 1951. Photo by Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive
May Day traditions in Inchicore, Dublin in 1936. Photo by Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive
May Day traditions in Inchicore, Dublin in 1936. Photo by Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive May Day traditions in Inchicore, Dublin in 1936. Photo by Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive
Nuns board a ship to the US from Galway in 1940
Nuns board a ship to the US from Galway in 1940 Nuns board a ship to the US from Galway in 1940
Trinity College graduates in Dublin in 1935. Photo by Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive
Trinity College graduates in Dublin in 1935. Photo by Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive Trinity College graduates in Dublin in 1935. Photo by Ancestry.co.uk and Getty Images Archive
Tourists in Belfast in July 1949
Tourists in Belfast in July 1949 Tourists in Belfast in July 1949