Michael O’Dowd Director of My Streets Ireland, and Cllr Declan Power Mayor of Drogheda, pictured at the UN Poverty Day and Housing Poverty Exhibition at the Barbican Centre in Drogheda, with exhibition photographs on display.
A new photographic exhibition exploring poverty, disadvantage and social exclusion has opened at the Barbican Centre in Drogheda.
The exhibition was officially opened by Mayor of Drogheda Cllr Declan Power on Saturday, 17th October, to mark the United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
Organised by My Streets Ireland, with sponsorship from the Department of Social Protection, the exhibition features nine images from Drogheda looking at the different ways poverty can affect people and communities.
The photographs cover issues including housing conditions, food poverty, disability, access to play and public space, charitable support and the impact of war on children.
Nine images from Drogheda
Among the photographs is an image of a Society of St Vincent de Paul collector, highlighting the often hidden financial pressure faced by families and individuals who rely on charitable assistance.
Other images look at deteriorating housing, residential living conditions and the difficulties faced by people with disabilities in finding suitable and accessible accommodation.
One photograph focuses on the lack of adequate play areas for children living in apartment developments, while another looks at access to usable outdoor spaces.
Food poverty is also represented through an image of shopping trolleys containing food and essential goods.
One of the most striking pieces in the exhibition is a drawing by a young Ukrainian child living in Drogheda and taking part in a My Streets Ireland programme.
The drawing shows a missile destroying a school, with the sun depicted shedding tears, and is intended to reflect the impact of war on children and the loss of education, security and normality.
‘Poverty is not somebody else’s problem’
Michael O’Dowd, Director of My Streets Ireland, thanked those involved in supporting the exhibition.
“I want to sincerely thank Mayor Declan Power for officially opening the exhibition. I am equally grateful to the Barbican Centre for making its facilities available and helping us bring these important issues to public attention,” he said.
He also thanked photographer Karen Smyth, her assistant Conor O’Dowd and the Department of Social Protection for its sponsorship.
“I would encourage people in Drogheda and the surrounding area to drop into the Barbican Centre between now and Thursday to see the exhibition,” he said.
“These nine images are intended to make us think differently about poverty and recognise how it affects people in so many different circumstances.
“Poverty is not somebody else’s problem. It exists across every strand of society, and understanding its many forms is an essential first step towards addressing it.”
The exhibition will remain open to the public at the Barbican Centre, William Street, Drogheda, until Thursday, 22nd October 2026.
Members of the public can visit during the centre’s opening hours.
