Vintage Posters

Iconic Irish Travel Posters from the Golden Age of Railways

2 April 2026

Tomkinson Churcher

Exploring the enduring appeal of Irish railway posters, this collection highlights the artistry, cultural significance and powerful sense of place that define the Golden Age of travel.

People are often curious as to why travel posters—particularly railway posters—have become so sought after and collectible. The answer lies in their remarkable ability to capture a sense of place, memory, and identity. Far more than advertisements, these works evoke emotional connections to landscapes and destinations, while their bold compositions and striking colours ensure they remain compelling visual statements in both private and public spaces.

This April, one of the finest known collections of Irish travel posters will be offered in the Travel & Vintage Posters auction on 29 April, presented in partnership with Vintage Poster specialists Tomkinson Churcher.

Travel & Vintage Posters

Explore the upcoming auction, taking place live online on 29 April 2026 from 18:00 BST.

The enduring appeal of these posters is rooted in the Golden Age of travel in the 1920s and 1930s, a period marked by the rapid expansion of leisure travel across the UK and Ireland. Railway companies and tourist offices, keen to attract a growing audience of holidaymakers, enlisted leading artists to promote destinations in visually striking and engaging ways. While the promotional text was provided, artists were granted considerable creative freedom, resulting in a rich diversity of styles and some of the most iconic images of the period.

From 1924, the London Midland & Scottish Railway commissioned a celebrated series advertising Ireland, many of which have come to define the visual identity of its unspoilt countryside. These works evoke a strong sense of Irish culture and romantic idealism, and were widely displayed in travel agencies and on station platforms, transforming public spaces into open-air galleries. At the same time, Great Southern Railways embraced this highly effective form of advertising, commissioning artists such as Walter Till to depict destinations including Glendalough, Killarney, Connemara, and Killiney, while figures such as Norman Wilkinson produced bold, highly sought-after designs.

New poster designs were eagerly awaited, with celebrated artists including Norman Wilkinson and Paul Henry producing highly sought-after images. Their work often depicted unspoilt landscapes, dramatic skylines, and Ireland’s lakes and coastlines. Previously exhibited in Donaghadee, this distinguished collection includes works by both Wilkinson and Henry, whose compositions exemplify these qualities and further reinforce the enduring artistic and cultural significance of the genre.

Today, these posters are valued not only for their artistic quality but also as cultural artefacts of a transformative moment in travel history. Assembled by a dedicated Irish collector, this collection offers a rare opportunity to experience these evocative works together—images that continue to resonate, capturing both the spirit of place and the enduring allure of travel.

Meet the Specialists

Sophie Churcher

Consultant Specialist in Vintage Posters

Nicolette Tomkinson

Consultant Specialist in Vintage Posters

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