HAROLD ADRIAN BARBOUR (1874–1938) was a leading member of the co-operative movement in Ireland. He came from a family of industrialists, his grandfather being the founder of a famous thread-linen works, Barbour & Sons. His father, John Barbour, was instrumental in helping a group of workers set up a consumer co-operative in Lisburn in 1881. Harold, himself, became President of the Lisburn Co-operative Society in 1900. He was very active in IAOS (Irish Agricultural Organisation Society) and was a good friend of its founder, Sir Horace Plunkett. He was also active in IAWS (Irish Agricultural Wholesale Society) and UAOS (Ulster Agricultural Organisation Society) and helped set up many co-operative societies throughout Ireland.

The following photographs are a selection taken from an album (P168) of images captured by Barbour on his trips throughout the north and west of Ireland. The photographs reveal the conditions in rural Ireland in 1909-13, and the importance of co-operative societies to farming and fishing communities at this time. Barbour also annotated the album with interesting captions about the success of these co-operatives.

The album was deposited in the Archives Department by George and Sandra Holland, relations of Barbour, in 1999.