Exploring some of the earliest photographic images of Ireland

A new TG4 series explores some of the earliest photographic images of Ireland, writes Marjorie Brennan.

We are all photographers now: it barely costs us a second’s thought or effort to pick up our smartphones and tap our screens for a snapshot or selfie, which is processed and stored in the blink of an eye. A fascinating new series on TG4 looks back at a time when photography was a far from accessible pursuit in Ireland, only practised by a wealthy and educated elite.

Tríd an Lionsa (Through the Lens), produced by Sibéal Teo and presented by Dr Úna Ní Bhroiméil, returns for a second series to explore Irish photographic collections at the turn of the century and what they reveal about society at the time.