Last week, the PhotoIreland festival was launched at the Gallery of Photogarphy in Temple Bar located in Dublin, Ireland.  The photographic exhibition chooses to emphasize the reality of migration around the world.  Part of this exhibition is the legacy of the Irish emigration to Argentina which mainly started during the 1830s.  The PhotoIreland festival features 323 Artists and 73 Exhibitions that shall be displayed all over 50 venues which already commenced last week and shall end on the 31st of July 2012.

Credits: Sean Hillen/ Irish Times

According to the festival director Ángel Luis González, the main theme of the exhibition is the bittersweet experience of migration when the people decided to leave their country of origin in order to venture on possible opportunities that the new territory can offer for them and their families.  The exhibition highlights the reasons why these people leave their home and what happens to them afterwards.

Credits: Evelyn Hofer/ Irish Times

The fact that photography is capable of immortalizing historical events makes the whole exhibition a rich experience to the viewers.  It does not take nationality to appreciate the people who had the courage to leave and face a new journey in their lives.

Part of the exhibition is the project of Maurice Gunning on the Argentine Irish Diaspora.  It will be displayed at the National Photographic Archive in Meeting House Square.  In addition, the exhibition will also feature the lives of Irish emigrants through Leaving Dublin, a project of David Monahan.

Credits: Evelyn Hofer/ Irish Times