U2, Sinéad O’Connor and Rory Gallagher are among the Irish music legends set to feature in a major new photography exhibition celebrating 50 years of Irish rock through the eyes of Dutch photographers.
The exhibition, titled “50 YEARS OF IRISH ROCK THROUGH THE LENS OF DUTCH PHOTOGRAPHERS”, is being curated by Ramon Music Exhibitions and brings together work from six well-known Dutch music photographers who have spent decades documenting Irish artists on stage and in candid moments.
The project highlights what organisers describe as a long-standing creative connection between Irish musicians and Dutch audiences, with many Irish acts finding early international success in the Netherlands before breaking further into Europe and beyond.
The collection includes rare and iconic images of some of the biggest names in Irish music history, including U2, Sinéad O’Connor, Rory Gallagher, Van Morrison, Bob Geldof, and Hozier, alongside other contemporary Irish artists. The photographs span roughly five decades, tracing the evolution of Irish rock from the 1970s right through to the modern era.
'50 Years Of Irish Rock' Ramon Music Exhibitions
All six photographers featured — Paul Bergen, Gijsbert Hanekroot, Govert de Roos, Patricia Steur, Andreas Terlaak and Rob Verhorst — are expected to attend the opening in Dún Laoghaire.
Curator Ramon Muntjewerff, founder of Ramon Music Exhibitions, said the project reflects the deep cultural link between Ireland and the Netherlands when it comes to music exposure and touring history.
He said: "Throughout the years Irish music has always resonated strongly with Dutch audiences. Often bands and artists from Ireland had their first international successes in the Netherlands."
He added that Irish acts such as The Boomtown Rats, U2, and Sinéad O’Connor all benefited from early European interest, with newer generations of artists continuing that trend today.
Each photographer brings a different perspective to the archive. Paul Bergen has spent nearly four decades capturing Irish and international artists in live settings, including U2 and Damien Rice. Gijsbert Hanekroot, often described as a pioneer of Dutch rock photography, documented early careers of artists like Van Morrison and Rory Gallagher during a time when musicians were far more accessible to photographers.
Govert de Roos, known for his stylised portrait work, famously photographed John Lennon and Yoko Ono at just 15 years old and later became known for high-profile studio sessions with global music stars, including iconic images of Rory Gallagher.
Patricia Steur, one of the few prominent female figures in the rock photography scene, has shot everything from album covers to intimate portraits, including work featuring Bono.
Younger photographer Andreas Terlaak represents a newer generation, capturing both established acts like U2 and Sinéad O’Connor, as well as more recent Irish bands such as Kodaline, The Script, and Inhaler.
Meanwhile, Rob Verhorst has built a long career photographing musicians on and off stage, with a reputation for capturing both the intensity and vulnerability of performers such as Sinéad O’Connor.
The exhibition will first open at the dlr Lexicon in Dún Laoghaire on May 28, 2026, running until June 30.
It will then move to the Cork City Library from July 4 to August 29, before returning for a final run at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre in Dublin throughout November 2026.
