Exhibition serves up a slice of upper crust Ireland

Photo courtesy of the Linen Hall Library

The Linen Hall Library’s latest exhibition, Power & Privilege: Photographs from The Big House in Ireland, 1858–1922, allows us to peer over the high walls of the Big Houses to view the life of the upper classes. It exposes the enormous estates, the legions of servants and the grandeur enjoyed by wealthy before the old landlord system came crashing down around them.

The pictures have been selected from the National Library of Ireland’s photographic collections and concentrates on six main themes: gardens and landscape, employees, transport, entertainment and recreation, the arts and sciences, and family life. Many images are displayed for the first time.

It's a free exhibition. It's been running for most of this month and continues until 29 August 2012. Opening hours are: Monday – Friday 9.30am – 5.30pm and Saturday 9.30am – 4.00pm. Note that the Library will be closed Monday 27 August.

Address: Linen Hall Library, 17 Donegall Square North, Belfast, Co. Antrim BT1 5GB.

More information.