Robert French

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 )

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

For original glass negative, attributed to Robert French, see the Lawrence Collection at the National Library of Ireland, vtls000325656 (Source: Flickr Commons Project, 2013) Title from the Detroit Publishing C 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

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

Army Maj. Gen. Karl R. Horst. U.S Central Command chief of staff Army Command Sgt. Maj. Frank A. Grippe, USCENTCOM senior enlisted leader, watch as Kaye French presents her husband, Army Sgt. Robert French, a More

Maj. Gen. Karl R. Horst, U.S. Central Command chief of staff, and Command Sgt. Maj. Frank A. Grippe, USCENTCOM senior enlisted leader, hold a shadow box commemorating Sgt. Robert French’s service to his country 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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

What a lovely day for a visit to the Banner County. Spring seems to have sprung in this Emerald Isle of ours. I have seen cattle in grassy (and reasonably dry) fields, apple trees with buds ready to bloom and y More

We are staying in the "Rebel County" today, just because it is a good thing to do. I believe all Corkonians will agree with the decision to present this wonderful landscape / cityscape...I am not very good on s More

I look forward to hearing all about Mr Windele, I for one have not come across that name before...It is a long time since we had a Limerick from our Chief Antipodean Contributor (CAC), and for some reason this More

They're not Fairy Rings of course, but rather enclosures to keep the sheep from eating the plants? To start the week we visit Valentia in Co. Kerry once again and this time to "Glenleam" and what appears to be More

Staying in Ulster again to end the week and today visiting the lovely city of Derry on the banks of the Foyle! The Quays have shipping tied up - but it does not look like a hive of activity. Looking at the ti More

From the top of Donard to below the Bloody Bridge and still in Newcastle, Co. Down! This looks like a major engineering achievement, not because of the size of the bridge or the fury of the torrent below it, b More

One can always tell when Mr. French had to get to someplace difficult or awkward, he used the smaller "cabinet" sized camera and slides! This beautiful scene taken on the slopes of Slieve Donard overlooking N More

This fine Royal Plate from the Lawrence Collection is our offering for today. A magnificent hotel taken on a sunny and calm day with lots of activity on the nearby pier and water makes it look the perfect vaca More

To the Lawrence Collection this morning and to "The Giants Ring", Kenmare, Co. Kerry. It is not easy to pick it out due to the more modern construction dominating the foreground but there appears to be a ring More

From the moving statue of King Billy to a big, a very big, house outside Mullingar in County Westmeath. This large building with extensions looks like yet another country house converted into a convent or scho More

Back to the old reliable Lawrence Collection today and a visit to the beautiful town of Boyle in County Roscommon. Titled "Tennis Court, Boyle" this image appears to be more about the statue than the tennis co More

Holywood, County Down is a great place to visit on this morning after the BAFTAs - given that they frequently indicate who might win the Oscars! Holywood looks pristine in this lovely cabinet sized shot. But h More

This fine Lawrence "Royal" sized plate of Kings Road, Whitehead in Co. Antrim shows a scene with what looks like a bombed out building on the right. The people are posed, the horses have been stilled and all i More

The week is off to a rocky start with visit to a brewery first thing on Monday morning. This fine Royal plate from the Lawrence Collection, taken on a still day, shows a fine enterprise seemingly in full swing More

The Queens Yacht at anchor (it is affixed to a buoy which means that it is moored not anchored) with what looks like its twin in the background. As Queenstown was the name given to Cobh in Co. Cork and this lo More

Glencar Lake, Glencar, brings us back once again to the lovely and much maligned County Leitrim. Jokes such as "even the snipe wear wellingtons in Leitrim" give the impression of an unlovely and unloved county More

This is a rare visit to the county of Longford and the pity is that it shows two institutional buildings rather than the many fine sights there! The Convent of Mercy beside the Union building on a rise must ha More

This posed cabinet sized image from Robert French looks like a picture postcard! It was probably taken for just that reason as Lawrence ran a commercial photography business producing cards and prints for publ More

Staying in Limerick but going down to the country town of Kilmallock and what appears an ancient castle/home nearby. Being out of doors today we will not have engravings and identifiable sculptures to assist u More

The statue of some cleric sitting in splendid isolation in St. Mary's Cathedral in Limerick City to begin the week. Last week we visited the beautiful county of Clare and today we go east to the gateway to the More

We have visited Lahinch in County Clare before with photographs showing its golf and aviation connections. This excellent shot from the Lawrence stable of the strand and the Town itself is an ideal one for this More

From a traffic blockage in Clonmel to Carrigaholt where the nearest thing to a traffic jam is two cows meeting at a crossroads! Mr. French appears to have discovered rush hour at the famous lighthouse at Loop More