This material first displayed publically as part of the ground-breaking Rainbow Revolution Trail in 2019 at the National Museum of Ireland- Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, highlights the stories of the LGBTQ+ community. This ongoing project will ensure that screens displaying this content will now be available across participating members of the LAMN. With the additional Local Authority Museums, the National Museum of Ireland and the LAMN hope to provide greater access for people to explore these stories. This is the first historical exhibition, which spans, both national and regional Museums, focusing on LGBTI+ history.
The exhibition includes the oral histories of some 42 people, many of them previously unseen, which were captured by RTE film-maker Edmund Lynch in 2013 for his documentary, A Different Country. Many of those interviewed are household names, aged between 50 and 80, and share their personal experience witnessing the growth of the LGBTI+ rights movement in Ireland. Amongst the well-known people featured are Nell McCafferty, Lydia Foy, Ailbhe Smyth, Rory O’Neill, Tonie Walsh, Sara R. Phillips, Gay Byrne, Mary McAleese and Mary Robinson.
Also profiled are a range of photographs, video footage and documents illustrating the emergence of the LGBTI+ rights movement in Ireland, shedding a light on themes such as building the community, law reform, early activism, the AIDS Memorial Quilt project, Pride Through the Years, Marriage Equality, Gender Recognition and historic Irish trans people.
The LAMN launched its Strategic Management Plan in 2022, with the support of Minister Malcolm Noonan at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. As part of this new plan, the LAMN plans to strengthen and advance their strong relationship with their diverse communities and the National Museum of Ireland.
Lynn Scarff, Director of the National Museum of Ireland,
The Rainbow Revolution project reflects our commitment to working with the LGBTQ+ community to ensure the experiences and history of this community are reflected and celebrated in our national collection. It is only the start of what we hope is a longer relationship where we can engage, listen and understand the needs of this community and how we can reflect that in the National Museum of Ireland. It is wonderful to work with our colleagues throughout the Local Authority Museums Network to bring this exhibition into the heart of communities across Ireland.
Emer Ni Cheallaigh, Registrar of the National Museum of Ireland
Collaborating with members of LAMN in the national rollout of the Rainbow Revolution screens has been a real privilege. I am delighted to have an opportunity to work with LAMN to further share these amazing stories and memories of Irish LGBTQIA+ activists and allies to a wider audience.
Marie McMahon, Chair of the Local Authority Museum Network,
“The support of the National Museum of Ireland and the Rainbow Revolution Committee has afforded us the opportunity to house this incredible project and ensure our local LGBTQ+ communities are an intrinsic part of the histories reflected in our museums.”
The trail has expanded to the following Local Authority Museums: Carlow County Museum, Cavan County Museum, Clare County Museum, Cork Public Museum, County Museum, Dundalk, Donegal County Museum, Galway City Museum, Limerick Museum, Monaghan County Museum, Tipperary Museum of Hidden History, and Waterford Treasures.