Image gallery
Images from the PRONI archives are available to view on the photo-sharing website Flickr. Over 3500 images from various photographic collections are available to search and browse.
PRONI Flickr photostream
Images from three important photographic collections held by PRONI, plus a variety from other collections, are available to view online on the PRONI Flickr photostream. Many images have been digitised from original photographic prints or negatives dating from as early as 1855.
The photos in each collection are arranged in albums on Flickr. You can pick an album and browse through the images. Alternatively, you can use the search box to search for images – for example by family name or keyword.
Use of PRONI images on Flickr
PRONI's images on Flickr have no known copyright restrictions. This means that PRONI is not aware of any current copyright restrictions on the photographs, usually because PRONI owns the copyright or because the term of copyright has expired.
Images in PRONI's photostream are available for research for a non-commercial purpose or private study. When using the images, credit the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland and include the catalogue reference number of the item (you will find this in the description) to help others access the original image or document.
If you are interested in high-quality reproductions, or commercial re-use of these images email: proni@communities-ni.gov.uk.
The Allison Photographic Collection
The first collection of PRONI images to be made available on Flickr were wedding and family group portraits and other portraits and populated scenes taken by the Allison Photographic Studios, Armagh, between circa 1900 and 1950.
The Allison Collection provides a good photographic account of urban and rural life in Armagh and the surrounding counties from the early 1900s until the Second World War.
The PRONI Reference for the Allison Collection is D2886.
The Cooper Photographic Collection
PRONI holds over 70,000 original glass plate negatives originating from the Cooper Photographic studio in Strabane, County Tyrone. They date from circa 1901 to 1960.
A sample set of around 900 previously unseen portraits from the Cooper collection were cleaned and digitised by PRONI staff during 2013-2015. They are now available for the public to view via the PRONI Flickr Photostream.
Unfortunately, no written records exist to identify the people captured in the images. PRONI would be very grateful if you can help to identify any of them. Add any information you may have to Flickr as a photo comment, or email proni@communities-ni.gov.uk.
The PRONI Reference for the Cooper Collection is D1422.
The Annesley Photographic Collection
During 2021 and 2022, a collection of early photographs taken by the Honourable Hugh Annesley (5th Earl Annesley of Castlewellan) are being added to Flickr. They are from albums held by PRONI which date from the mid-1850s to the 1880s.
Hugh Annesley was a pioneering amateur photographer who used the early 'wet collodion' process to create his glass plate negatives. The earliest photographs in the Annesley albums date from the early 1850s, when the young Hugh Annesley served in the Southern African War. Photography was an activity that would interest him for the rest of his life. Subjects represented include portraits of Grenadier Guards and other military contemporaries; scenes of Castlewellan Castle and the estate; the family's other residence, Donard Lodge in Newcastle, County Down; family members and household staff.