A fascinating exhibition of material from the Irish Queer Archive opens today in Dublin, giving a taster of some of the gems that are hidden in the Irish Queer Archives.

Entitled ‘Road To Equality’, the exhibition celebrates 40 years of activism leading up to marriage equality in Ireland, and features a host of material from the Irish Queer Archives (IQA) based at the National Library of Ireland, combined with the archives of many LGBT activist groups.

Organised by GCN and The Outmost publishers, the National LGBT Federation, in partnership to Dialogue & Diversity, the exhibition highlights the importance of remembering, archiving and sharing our history.

“The exhibition is an opportunity to acknowledge the courage and activism of those activists who helped reshape Ireland over the last 40 years,” says Chairperson of the National LGBT Federation, Olivia McEvoy. “We are simultaneously acknowledging that this is but a stop on the ‘Road to Equality’ and that the legislative advances of 2015 merely give us a platform on which to build a wider culture of equality for both LGBT people and for all of Ireland; an Ireland where equality and diversity are truly championed and celebrated.”

The exhibition will be formally launched today (May 23) by the Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Daithí Doolan at Wood Quay Venue, Dublin City Council. It will then move to the main building of Dublin City Council until June 5, after which it will go on a countrywide tour starting in Waterford, then Cork, Clare and beyond.

“The Irish Queer Archives is currently deposited in the National Library of Ireland in boxes, says Piotr Gawlik co-curator of the exhibition. “By hosting the exhibition we are giving tasters of some of the gems that are hidden in the archives. It is crucial that we document, protect and share our history.”

The organisers will be calling for funding support to help properly archive the material gathered from the community. The intention is then to make this material secure and accessible at the National Library for all to enjoy and learn from.

‘Road to Equality’ will be launched at Dublin City Council’s Wood Quay today at 6pm