Lawrence Collection

Taken by photographer, Padraig J. Laffan, who noted: "Catholic Church is on left where tress are, building in distance (Clerys) now gone."..You can compare this view of Bagenalstown with its companion photo ( n More

Hope none of you are eyeing the foreground uneasily to search for a severed limb, but in our catalogue, this image is titled: "Road approaching village, ruin to right, side-car, tourist party, a foot in foregro More

Side cars, or perhaps more correctly, Jaunting Cars at Glendalough, Co. Wicklow. We knew this was taken between 1860 and 1883, and the "bare headed" Round Tower has helped us to date it more accurately, as dera More

... was the Dublin School of Photography and Studio of Frederick Holland Mares.This gives us a much narrower dating window for this one than 1860-1883, as Mares moved to 118 Grafton Street ( http://jacolette.wo More

These are the premises of the legendary Guy's of Cork - photographers, stationers, and publishers of Guy's Cork Almanacs and Directories. At no. 69 to the left is Allen, a drapers perhaps as a sign in the windo More

Ships on the canal at Merchants Quay in Newry, alongside a nice brace of merchants' premises...Date: 1870s? (but definitely between 1860 and 1883)..NLI Ref.: STP_1179 ( STP_1179 )

Cheating a little with the title of this one, as there is no "Post No Bills" sign to be seen (although we know they existed in Ireland long before ( nlireland/8178145805 ) this photo was taken). However, I fel More

Featuring the shyest tram passengers ever.....Date: 1880s?..NLI Ref.: L_ROY_00775 ( vtls000325307 )

Does this location look familiar to anyone? Our catalogue information says "... possibly outside railway station"...Plus I'm wondering is that scaffolding or a railing on roof of the large establishment with th More

Thought that after our couple of "shippy" days, it'd be interesting to see what was available to passengers below decks on snazzy (technical term) vessels like the Brunel-designed S.S. Great Eastern, berthed in More

Very bustling scene at College Green in Dublin (at 13:16 o' the clock?). There are surely clues in this streetscape that can help us narrow down the date.....This photo was taken probably by Robert French, chie More

… taken from further back, showing all of the Rothesay Bay out of Glasgow (is that how it's termed?)...Date: Between October and December 1889 or between July 1890 and mid-1899..NLI Ref.: L_NS_01663 ( vtls000344666 )

Men working on tracks at the docks in Belfast beside the Pilot Office...Thanks to Gerry Ward ( gerryward/ ) for this great background information:."The Pilot Office stood on the north side of the Lagan at the More

Lovely view of Queenstown (now Cobh), and more evidence of harbour-side urinals, though perhaps not as fancy as the ones we saw at City Quay, Dublin ( nlireland/8042702091/ ) ...Date: 1890s? (between 1893 and F More

Barges and boats jockeying for position at the lock at the weir on the Shannon at Athlone, Co. Westmeath...Here's an interesting post on the Irish Waterways History site about this lock and its mechanics ( http More

Chose this curvy photo of the railway station in Cork for the bewildering multiplicity of signage. Most scenes in our early photos are blissfully uncluttered, but not this one!..Also chose it because it has a c More

Paddle Steamer in for repairs/re-fit? Either way, couldn't resist the amphitheatre effect of this working environment...N.B.: Had intended to ask you all to pace yourselves with these photos of Belfast, Cork, More

NLI Ref.: LIMP 2947 ( vtls000058720 ) Public domain photograph of a steam locomotive, engine, train, railroad, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

This photo was taken probably by Robert French, chief photographer of William Lawrence Photographic Studios of Dublin...We've seen the front of St. Nicholas' Church before with the Egg and Fowl Market ( nlirela More

Since we visited Kingstown yesterday, thought we might swing by Queenstown in Co. Cork today, now renamed Cobh...This photo lacks the usual impeccable clarity of our Lawrence Collection photos, but thought you More

Paddle steamer Bangor Castle en fête for some big event! We don't know where this was taken. Can just make out ...KLOW at extreme left on the prow of the steamer behind the Bangor Castle...Date: 1860-1883..NLI More

Taken at the harbour in Kingstown, Co. Dublin - now renamed Dun Laoghaire...Think we might get a bit nautical (not ruling out naughty either) for the next few days, in honour of the Dublin Tall Ships Races Fest More

Date: ca. 1891-1897..NLI Ref.: L_ROY_03114 ( L_ROY_03114 )

Happy tourists or day trippers loading up outside McNeill's Hotel in Larne, Co. Antrim, under the watchful eye of the local constabulary. We think McNeill's was near Dunluce Street. Have hazarded "charabanc" as More

Completely stealing the title for this one from Little Women where Amy uses the term that the March family's household helper, Hannah, used for Mr. Laurence's Char-a-Banc...This gorgeous touring car is pictured More

This photo was taken probably by Robert French, chief photographer of William Lawrence Photographic Studios of Dublin...You can compare this view of the The Square at Rathdowney with its companion photo ( nlire More

And could this be anywhere other than Cork with all those Beamish & Crawfords (at nos. 31-35 and no. 39)?..One of my favourite Lawrence market photos. We have a framed version of this up on a wall inside in the More

Yesterday's photo of the S.S. Hazel showed hundreds of people bundled on board. Today, a rather more orderly group are disembarking the S.S. Shannon at Cappagh Pier, Kilrush, Co. Clare...P.S. Did we ever come t More

Bad spelling over the door aside, surely a Temperance Bar is a bit of a contradiction in terms?..The main focus here is Thomas Strand's establishment at no. 5 Tivoli Terrace in Lisdoonvarna (lovely lamp lurking More

Thought this was probably on the River Shannon somewhere, but excellent that we now have a proper location for this Lawrence Collection photo that previously had only the rather sad title of Unidentified on our More

It looks as if some quite stylish ladies have just alighted from a train at Limerick Railway Station, though they're of no interest to local children who are completely focused on the photographer...Delighted t More

Think this is a good shot of Sackville Street, the G.P.O. and Nelson's Pillar in and of itself (and certainly tram heaven for transport enthusiasts), but like it also as it's "No. 1" of the Lawrence Cabinet-siz More

Wonder if that's the proprietor of the Fair Head Hotel in Antrim, Isabella McLaughlin, lurking in the doorway with ducks around her feet? Now known as "Hunter's Bar in Ballyvoy. The Torr Road starts here and ru More

Not sure if we've seen St. Stephen's Green in Dublin from this angle before. There isn't the usual clarity of a Lawrence Collection photograph, but when I spotted the Penny Farthing, this one was irresistible.. More

Locomotive 107 at Valentia (Valencia) Harbour Station in Co. Kerry…..Photographer: Robert French of Lawrence Photographic Studios ( http://catalogue.nli.ie/Collection/vtls000313414 ) , Dublin..Date: Between 190 More

These are the stables on the Rockingham Estate in Boyle, Co. Roscommon - home to the King family (the Estate, not the Stables!). It looks as if real horse-drawn conveyances and horse power as we know it today w More

Companion photo of an archetypal Robert French/Lawrence Collection street scene of the Albert Memorial in Belfast, but now with added electrification... ( nlireland/12170051564 ) ..Photographer: Robert French o More

Crew sunning themselves in Castletownbere, Co. Cork. Infuriating that the ship's name is not clear on any of the caps.....Photographer: Almost certainly Robert French of Lawrence Photographic Studios ( http://c More

Lovely location for a railway station, at the foot of the Rock of Cashel in Tipperary. Am I raving or have we seen engine 74 somewhere else? And was this part of the Great Southern and Western Railway?..Date: C More

Parts of this photo may not be pin sharp, but it's a great high view along Sackville Street (now O'Connell Street) in Dublin, with lots of details to feast on…..Photographer: Almost certainly Robert French of L More

Gloriously sunny day (even in black and white) at Howth, Co. Dublin...Date: Circa 1905? (info. from the excellent Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio ( https://sites.google.com/site/hurdygurdymuseum/home ) in More

Don't think we've come across one of these newfangled exemption licences before, have we?..Photographer: Almost certainly Robert French of Lawrence Photographic Studios ( http://catalogue.nli.ie/Collection/vtls More

... a-dredging in Courtown Harbour, Co. Wexford...Photographer: Almost certainly Robert French of Lawrence Photographic Studios ( http://catalogue.nli.ie/Collection/vtls000313414 ) , Dublin..Date: Between circa More

Thanks to everyone for confirming that this wasn't the Great Northern Railway Station in Belfast as it said in our catalogue, but rather York Road Railway Station!..Really love the chap striding towards the cam More

Very ominous clouds moving in on these tourists in Kerry. Looks as if they're going to get pelted with rain...From the sign post, Sneem is 15 miles behind them, and they've 14 miles to to to Killarney.....Date: More

Sticking with the same collection as yesterday, the catalogue lists this image as "Steam Boat on Lough Erne, Belturbet, Co. Cavan" - implying that it was taken in County Cavan. However, we have a similar Lawren More

Wondering if this is the earliest sighting of a "Post No Bills" warning in our photos (in the archway at the right - no. 18). This is Shop Street, Galway obviously bathed in glorious sunshine, with a horse-draw More

This was taken just around the corner from our 1798 Memorial on Market Street ( nlireland/9182730208 ) . Good vista, good mix of businesses, very clear registration number on that motor too (IK 833)…..Wonder wa More

Taken on Parkgate Street in Dublin.....Photographer: Almost certainly Robert French of Lawrence Photographic Studios ( http://catalogue.nli.ie/Collection/vtls000313414 ) , Dublin..Date: 1910-ish??..NLI Ref.: L_ More

Love when our photos clearly show the time, and that's the case with this great capture of St. Patrick's Hill in Cork City.....Thanks to guliolopez ( achesonblog/ ) who did so much work on Barriscale's Jewelle More

This one is for those of you who've been complaining over the past few weeks about the modern photos being crowded or cluttered by cars - you know who you are, not looking at anyone in particular - well, maybe More

Taken by photographer, Eugene Clerkin, who reported that there was a Town Festival in progress on this day. Let the battle of car identification commence.....You can compare this view of Belturbet with its comp More

Yet another visit to beautiful Lough Gill to end this week and a view to die for! Mr. French appears to have brought a few of his drinking partners to share the view with him on this occasion though the top ha More

This smashing shot from the lens of Mr. French looks so crisp and clear that one could imagine that you were looking at it live! Lough Gill in Sligo is beautiful at any time and this captures the atmosphere an More

The pier at Fahan on Lough Swilly, Co. Donegal looks a lonely place in this beautiful Royal plate from the Lawrence Collection. Lough Swilly is famous for many things and one of the most famous is the kidnappi More

A cave deep in the woods would always hold the attraction of exploration and the thrill of danger, especially for the young at heart! Where is this one and has the scene changed much in the last 150 years?..Ro More

To end the week after some really lovely images, here we have one from our Stereo Pairs Collection of an unidentified valley. It has a cluster of houses nestling below the heavily wooded slopes of a hill. (Cong More

Reading the catalogue description of this I thought that it would be like a "Cardall" image, an idealised bit of Paddywhackery but when I looked at the image my reaction was WOW! This is so different, almost E More

The catalogue description of this image suggests that it is a man standing on a castle, but the benefits of "Super Dooper Mega Zoom" (technical term) show that this is not the case. The man is sitting on a fai More

A graveyard with Limerick people interred therein is probably in Limerick, or is it? Looking pristine and well tended I wonder how it looks today? Who was Robert Potter and Fitzgerald?..Photographers: Freder More

We rejoin Mr. French on his sojourn in Kerry though a further south in this case in Waterville. Holy Island sounds like a great place to sit in the ruins in quiet contemplation?..Thanks all for confirmation of More

Having lugged his "Royal" camera down to the beach, Mr. French persisted and took this unusual shot of the light entering a cave at Ballybunion in County Kerry. Unusual for a number of reasons - not least of w More

This beautiful shot of Sir John Gray's monument and a pristine Sackville Street, (O'Connell Street) taken in the early morning, The street is clear apart from some hackneys waiting for fares with Nelsons Pilla More

A monument to Sir E. J. Harland in Belfast takes us up north of the border (which is in the news) today, and gives me an opportunity to quote from Maurice Craig's wonderful poem. Harland is a name that is syno More

This beautiful Royal plate from the lens of Mr. French makes Sundays Well in Cork look the way most Cork people see their city and county! The beautiful scene with that tranquil water is absolutely perfect.... More

For most of our old photographs the vegetation will have increased in the area since it was taken but in this case hope and suspect that it has actually reduced. An old overgrown building, in a marshy, reed co More

To the Stereo Pairs collection today, and to a vast institution somewhere. These great building projects were intended to provide treatment and care for people in a region and have lasted for many years though More

Starting this week with a Lawrence image of Main Street, Longford on a busy market day! I love shots like this with a wealth of detail, lots of people, animals, carts and produce on display. It will be diffic More

These unusual water falls in County Longford are today's offering from the Lawrence Collection. Obviously part of a river management system and I imagine an adventure for kayakers if it still exists. I love t More

Here we are in County Clare. August is always a good time to go to Clare. In fact, any month is a good time to go to County Clare! Eden Vale, a very fancy house. I presume it was either destroyed in the early 1 More

A lawn with a DesRes in Castlebar would always be a most attractive proposition and this fine house is no exception! I seem to remember a previous shot from Castlebar with an open area/square in the town with More

The entrance to Lord Bantry's estate in Glengarriff looks trim and proper while just outside the wild rocky country of West Cork looms large like an impending disaster! This beautiful image from the Lawrence c More

This general view of Mullingar is one where it may prove difficult to identify places or indeed the location. As we try to oblige our viewers where possible this is in response to a request by "Jack the Stroll More

This beautiful scene from County Sligo is today's offering. Not as musical as yesterday's, as political as the day before nor as tragic as Tynan Abbey. Benbulbin must be one of the most photogenic mountains f More

This fine looking building in County Armagh will start our week. It would not look out of place in any of our near British or European neighbours. Does it still stand or has it fallen victim to time and 'prog More

One with very few clues today to end the week and what looks like an early Stereo Pairs shot. A man on his own standing on a stone jetty with a heavy cannon gun beside him. In the background is a conical bare More

This is a cracker of a shot from the Stereo Pairs Collection with terrific detail and all kinds of jewels in the form of merchandise outside the doors of the shops. Where is English Street and where did Peter More

Standing proud and distinctive on Wicklow Head the lighthouse was an essential beacon for the many ships sailing along the Irish Sea. Our great hope is that we can get a little more information on it than we d More

Returning to matters maritime once more we have a very busy harbour scene with steam and sailing ships berthed beside quays somewhere. In the background can be seen many stacks denoting industry and in the for More

A scene from a beach, apparently in Achill, where the locals are gathered with tins, buckets, boats and nets. What is really unusual and demands some explanation is the man inspecting the nets while holding a More

Starting the week with a Stereo Pairs image of a terrace of houses on a broad street many of them decorated with elaborate wrought (cast) iron balconies. I wonder where it is and if it appears on Streetview to More

We don't often get the chance to admire the Stereo Pairs Collection so it is great to be able to do so! This noble statue of a man on a plinth complete with a globe in a very fine setting should provoke some i More

I know this scene, it is like the Delphi Fishery but I do not think it is, T. C. Kingsmill Moore, would know precisely. It is definitely associated with a fishery in the West of Ireland. We have the scotch pine More

From the Liffey in Dublin yesterday, to the Barrow in New Ross today. And, from the elegant Elinor Wiltshire, to the burly Robert French. The quays are impressive but empty - which is rather surprising given More

This Wednesday we take a trip south to the City of Cork. Have you ever wondered what the word Metropole actually means? We have seen hotels in Dublin and now Cork using it. Well wonder no more I have found tha More

This delightful shot of an hotel in Westport, County Mayo is a great way to begin a week that promises to be a scorcher here in Ireland. The trees are offering plenty of shade for those who sit and await the d More

The Grand Central Hotel in Belfast is the subject of todays image from the Lawrence Collection. This fine Royal sized plate shows great detail not only of the hotel but also of the street with its range of tra More

This beautifully restored(?) castle set in a field of early cut hay is this offering from the Stereo Pairs Collection. When you think how old these images are the quality and clarity is just remarkable. Where More

This delightful shot shows a "Charabanc" or "Omnibus" loading up with happy trippers outside the Lake Hotel in Inchigeela, County Cork. The image is full of detail including hats, horses, people - but any dogs More

While this is NOT the exterior of a Gothic revival/restoration stone church it just may be the interior of just such a church. This appears to be one of a number of images of the same church in the archive. T More

A visit to the Stereo Pairs Collection today and to a country church(?) with "square tower of rubble masonry". The shot has been reduced to a single image for ease of viewing on Flickr. In the past we have bee More

Having assumed that yesterday's "location unknown ( ...nlireland/41519532814/ ) " image would keep everyone busy for a few days (how wrong I was), I hadn't really prepared anything for today. And hence have not More

Back when railway stations were designed with a sense of style and purpose, this confection was landed in Bagenalstown in County Carlow. The symmetrical design was to cater for the vast flow of passengers in a More

The triumphant pose of the figure above those boulders reminded Morning Mary of the old tonguetwister. Shot by Mr. French on a cabinet sized camera it would appear to be in a not so accessible position at Carr More

This beautiful Royal plate from the Lawrence collection was taken by Robert French in "Happy Valley" near Newcastle, County Down. The scene is idyllic (if rather rugged for true happiness) but then the road to More

From Mayo (God help us) to the Kingdom of Kerry and more specifically to Dingle Harbour on a beautiful clear day. This lovely cabinet sized shot was taken from a high PoV giving a great vista of water and land More

Killala Bay, Kilcummin, Co. Mayo looking pristine with a sharp horizon line is todays offering from the Lawrence Collection. Given the size of Killala Bay this could be looking North, South, East or West and w More

It's a long way from Tipperary South Riding and Cashel to Tipperary North Riding and Roscrea but only if you are trying to walk it! We started the week with a visit to Cashel of the Kings and here we have the More

It may be a "Long way to Tipperary" but today we are going right into the heart of it! Specifically to Cashel of the Kings, the seat of the kings of Munster for many years and later of bishops. The main street More

We stay in County Clare and with the Lawrence Collection for the last photo of the week. For a while, Ballyvaughan was the official capital of this region of Clare, sporting its own workhouse, coastguard stati More