Campbell College: The Men Behind the Glass

An exhibition about the young men who died during the Great War 

Campbell College one of Belfast’s most prestigious institutions, was established in 1894. Throughout its history, the College, its staff, and its pupils have played an active and important role in society. The College ethos has centred around creating ‘men of character’ and the sacrifice made by 126 pupils and one staff member in the Great War stands testimony to this.

The Men Behind the Glass is a project that pays tribute to these lost men and boys, their families, friends, and those who fought and survived. Over 100 photographs have been embedded in the wood-panelled walls of the College’s Central Hall for decades.

The project involved the preservation of these images, with the support of the Public Record Office NI (PRONI) and funding from the National Heritage Lottery Fund In addition to preserving and digitising all these images, the project has opened the College archives and formed partnerships with community groups, schools, and organisations all over Ireland to allow the stories of these boys and men to be told.

The panels you are about to see outlines how they lived and died and how these stories were brought to life through this unique project.