Gallery: The Big House

Updated: 18:08, Thursday, 26 August 2010

Power and Privilege: Photographs of the Big House in Ireland 1858-1922 is a new exhibition at the National Photographic Archive in Temple Bar, Dublin.

Featuring a selection of photographs taken from the National Photographic Archive's collection of 630,000 images, the exhibition runs until spring 2011.

Website: National Library of Ireland

  • Women participating in otter hunt, Curraghmore, Portlaw, Co. Waterford, May 1901. Life at Curraghmore revolved around various types of hunting activities
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    Women participating in otter hunt, Curraghmore, Portlaw, Co. Waterford, May 1901. Life at Curraghmore revolved around various types of hunting activities

  • A day's shoot, Ashford Castle, Cong, Co Mayo, 1900. Birds were beaten out of their hiding places towards the guns of the tweed-suited shooting party
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    A day's shoot, Ashford Castle, Cong, Co Mayo, 1900. Birds were beaten out of their hiding places towards the guns of the tweed-suited shooting party

  • House party, Oak Park, Carlow, October 1901. Oak Park was home to the Breun family. House parties were a significant feature of big house life.
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    House party, Oak Park, Carlow, October 1901. Oak Park was home to the Breun family. House parties were a significant feature of big house life.

  • Two of Lord Clonbrock's labourers, 1836
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    Two of Lord Clonbrock's labourers, 1836

  • Family group, Maretimo, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, 1865. Maretimo House was built as a summer residence for Lord Cloncurry in the 1770s.
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    Family group, Maretimo, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, 1865. Maretimo House was built as a summer residence for Lord Cloncurry in the 1770s.

  • Tennis match, Bessborough, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny, August 1910.
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    Tennis match, Bessborough, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny, August 1910.

  • Boat harbour, Rockingham, Boyle, Co. Roscommon (undated). Tunnels ran from Rockingham to the harbour so staff would move from the house unseen.
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    Boat harbour, Rockingham, Boyle, Co. Roscommon (undated). Tunnels ran from Rockingham to the harbour so staff would move from the house unseen.

  • Lord Clonbrock, Ambrose Congreve, Augusta Congreve and two of the Dillon sisters at Mount Congreve, Kilmeadan, Co. Waterford, 1865.
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    Lord Clonbrock, Ambrose Congreve, Augusta Congreve and two of the Dillon sisters at Mount Congreve, Kilmeadan, Co. Waterford, 1865.

  • Departure of royal party, Adare Manor, Co Limerick (undated) Here, the Royal party had a police escort
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    Departure of royal party, Adare Manor, Co Limerick (undated) Here, the Royal party had a police escort

  • Horse and carriage, Bellamont Forest House, Cootehill, Co. Cavan, 1870. The carriage here, a Tilbury, was designed in the 1820s.
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    Horse and carriage, Bellamont Forest House, Cootehill, Co. Cavan, 1870. The carriage here, a Tilbury, was designed in the 1820s.

  • Bellamont Forest House`, Co Cavan, 1870. The carriage here, a Victoria, was fashionable among wealthy families from 1869.
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    Bellamont Forest House`, Co Cavan, 1870. The carriage here, a Victoria, was fashionable among wealthy families from 1869.

  • The garden under snow, Clonbrock, Ahascragh, Co. Galway , December 1870. Luke Gerald Dillon (1834-1917), 4th Baron Clonbrock.
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    The garden under snow, Clonbrock, Ahascragh, Co. Galway , December 1870. Luke Gerald Dillon (1834-1917), 4th Baron Clonbrock.