The exhibit focuses on the residents of the Liberties and their stories of how the Guinness family has shaped the local environment.
Photographer Peter Varga, the man behind Humans of Dublin, told the Irish Independent that he has been dedicated to this project since April.
Humans of Dublin is a photography project that documents the lives, stories, and experiences of people living in Dublin.
Founded by Peter Varga over a decade ago, the project aims to celebrate the rich diversity and personal narratives of the city’s residents.
Through his powerful portraits and interviews, Varga captures the essence of everyday individuals, illuminating their unique stories of joy, struggle, hope, and resilience.
The exhibition was finally unveiled on Saturday, September 21, coinciding with Dublin’s Culture Night on Friday, and everyone featured in the exhibition was invited to the launch.
“I was working on it for months, literally walking around the streets of the Liberties trying to find stories,” Mr Varga said.
“In the beginning, I thought it would be difficult because I didn’t realise how much impact Guinness had on the Liberties.”
“Some of the people I spoke to talked about growing up in poor conditions, but Guinness’s success trickled down into the community.
“It’s incredible to think how much they contributed, from social housing to public parks,” he added.
Originally from Hungary, he moved to Dublin 16 years ago at the age of 19.
Photographer Peter Varga behind Humans of Dublin and his wife Maria Souza at the launch of the exhibition
He spoke about some of the highlights of the exhibition, including one woman who said that living near the storehouse came with the “distinct smell of hops”.
“We grew up with that beautiful smell. Every time I feel it, it takes me back to when I was a child, hiding in tall grass, playing hide and seek next to the sheep with my sisters,” she said.
Mr Varga noted that, from what he gathered from speaking to people who had worked for the Guinness family over the years, it was described as a “job for life”.
Another woman, who worked for the Guinness family for two decades, said that it was “the best company” she could ever work for.
“We had parties on James’s Gate; I remember them like they were yesterday. I would sing at those parties and was told I should be in the orchestra because I had a beautiful voice, but I never gave it a second thought because I already had the best job,” she said.
One man who worked for the Guinness family for four decades said that getting the opportunity to work there was like “winning a lottery ticket for life”.
“To cut a long story short, I spent 40 beautiful years working for them. I ended up retiring at 55. Guinness made an offer that I couldn’t refuse,” he added.
Others featured in the exhibition spoke about how the brewery provided steady employment for generations of workers from the Liberties, offering stable jobs when poverty was widespread in Dublin.
The Guinness family, particularly figures like Edward Cecil Guinness (1st Earl of Iveagh), were renowned for their philanthropy.
They funded various social housing projects, including the construction of the Iveagh Trust buildings in the early 20th century.
These blocks provided affordable and sanitary housing for the working-class poor of the Liberties, significantly improving living conditions in the area.
Peter Varga behind Humans of Dublin interviewed people in the Liberties on the Guinness brewerys impact on their lives
As part of their efforts to improve the Liberties, the Guinness family funded the development of parks and public spaces, including St. Patrick’s Park near St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Their investments in the urban fabric of the Liberties helped alleviate some of the overcrowded and unsanitary conditions that plagued Dublin in the 19th century.
The exhibition features 14 stories of people who grew up in the Liberties or were impacted by the massive success of the Guinness Brewery.
Titled ‘A City Within A City,’ it will be a permanent fixture as part of the regular ticketed experience at the Guinness Storehouse.
