Robert French - Steamboat, Lough Erne
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
Robert French - Picnicking at Lough Gill
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
Robert French - Irish water buffaloes?
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
Robert French - Fahan in Lough Swilly.
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
Robert French - The wheels fell off the wagon!
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
Robert French - In splendid isolation
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
Robert French - Lead kindly light...
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
Robert French - Sir John Gray all shiny and new
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
But the last shall be first and the first shall be last: May the Lord ...
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
Robert French - Sunday at the Well?
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
Robert French - Main Street, Longford on a market day
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
Robert French - Camlin Falls, Longford, Co. Longford
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
Robert French - Edenvale, Ennis, Co. Clare
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
Robert French - Lawn, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
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
Robert French - Lord of the rocks and the crevices
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
Robert French - General View, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
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
Robert French - Sidecar in Glencar
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
Robert French - Tynan Abbey, Co. Armagh
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
Robert French - Bringing light into darkness
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
Robert French - On the beach
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
Robert French - Mud, boats and quays - the Barrow at New Ross.
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
Robert French - Metropole Hotel, Cork
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
Robert French - An hotel, omnibus, loiterers and ... a chicken!
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
Robert French - Sure it's a Grand place to stay!
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
Robert French - Charabanc at the Lake Hotel
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
Robert French - Callow Hill, Roundwood, Co. Wicklow
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
Robert French - Railway Station House, Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow
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
Robert French - Around the rugged rocks the ragged rascal ran?
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
Robert French - The place where true happiness can be found
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
Robert French - The Kingdom in all its glory!
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
Robert French - Go west young man, go west!
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
Robert French - A hive of activity - Main Street, Roscrea, Co. Tippera...
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
Robert French - Main Street, Cashel, Co. Tipperary
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
Robert French - Pier, Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare
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
Robert French - Drumcliffe, Co. Clare
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
Robert French - Sunday's Well, Cork City, Co. Cork
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
Robert French - John Windele's Tomb, Cork City, Co. Cork
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
Robert French - Fairy Rings and Flagpoles.
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
Robert French - Quays, Derry City, Co. Derry
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
Robert French - Bloody Bridge, Newcastle, Co. Down
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
Where the mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea!
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
Robert French - A Royal Plate for a Royal Hotel in Valentia
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
Robert French - The Giants Ring in Kenmare
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
Robert French - Clonhugh, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
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
Robert French - Tennis Court (with slight obstruction) in Boyle
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
We finally got to Hollywood, hurrah! (Actually it is Holywood but near...
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
Robert French - Kings Rd, Whitehead, Co. Antrim
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
Robert French - Right leaning chimneys in Rathdowney!
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
Robert French - The Queen's Yacht but not in Queenstown?
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
Robert French - Rugged mountain and calm day at Glencar!
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
Robert French - A very rare visit to County Longford
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
An ass, a dog and a poster - everything for everybody?
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
Robert French - Ashill Tower, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick
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
Robert French - Sitting in splendid isolation?
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
Robert French - Strand, Lahinch, Co. Clare
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
Robert French - Lighthouse, Carrigaholt, Co. Clare
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
Robert French - Main Street, Tipperary, County Tipperary
Welcome back to everybody and we hope that you all had a most enjoyable Christmas and wish you a Happy New Year! To begin 2018 we have a view of Main Street, Tipperary Town with lots of activity, commerical an... More
Robert French - St. Helens Bridge, Crawfords Burn
Having spent some time recently down in the sunny South East, or over in beautiful Sligo, it seems appropriate that we visit the wee North. This fine manorial style bridge looks a formidable crossing over a ve... More
Robert French - Wanted Dead or Alive
Another visit to Sligo Town but with a very different view and skyline to that of our visit to "The Quays"! With the detritus of a recent market lying about it doesn't look very attractive but Sligo - the town... More
Robert French - Gridlock in Mallarany
Down the "Wesht" today to Mallarany which I suspect is also known as Mulrany? Mr. French appears to have brought traffic, police, the dogs and the local population all to a standstill. The great saviour of al... More
Robert French - Three lovely lassies
This charming cabinet sized shot from Mr. French shows a street in Enniskillen including three young(ish) ladies with their bicycles in the foreground! I have noticed, though I don't remember anybody commentin... More
Robert French - The Waterfall, Poulaphouca, Co. Wicklow
A beautiful Royal plate of the Waterfall at Poulaphouca, Co. Wicklow. Over the years I have been in that area many times but have never seen this so perhaps it has been inundated?..While not inundated, today's... More
Robert French - The difference between an "N" and an "L"?
The question of the day, apart from the where, when, who of most days is whether the name contains an "N" as in Kincara or and "L" as in Kilcara? I suspect that dating this will not be easy with the lack of id... More
Robert French - Poor Clare's Carlow Convent Congregation Carefully Con...
This fine Royal sized image from the Lawrence Collection of what appears to be a shiny new Poor Clare Convent in Carlow has a gathering of people in their finery for the photograph! We can probably establish t... More
Robert French - The Quays in Sligo - Public domain map
A lovely Lawrence image of the Quays (pronounced in those parts as the "kays") in Sligo town. Taken around the time of the transition from sail to steam, we have a nice mix of sailing vessels and steamers. Ev... More
Robert French - Ducats Grove, Carlow, Co. Carlow
This fairytale castle in Co. Carlow looks more like a child's dream than a mature person's reality. Lines of statues leading to a door guarded by armoured spear bearers. All this was bound to deter the faint ... More
Robert French - Edermine, Co. Wexford
Unusually for a Lawrence Royal plate this image is not quite tack sharp, but it does have a hazy beauty and suggestion "other times" to it! Edermine in County Wexford would appear to be a very big house with w... More
Horses with carts attached, a bicycle and an agricultural implement!
Tullow Street, Carlow, Co. Carlow on a fine day with not too much happening. Dominated by a large religious institution on the right and with a T-junction in the distance this must have been a quiet street out... More
Robert French - Ballsbridge, Co. Dublin
I keep thinking I have seen this photograph before? We are back in Ballsbridge with this fine shot from Mr French. There is a lot going on which would suggest Spring Show or Horse Show? From a dating point of v... More
Robert French - Donnacomper, Celbridge, Co. Kildare
On this Monday we present a fine Lawrence shot of Donnacomper. What can you tell us about it?..And the main things that our contributors "told us about" were the house/estate, and the lads (in the cart) by its ... More
Robert French - What are they all looking at?
Labelled "Castle, Throne Room, Dublin" in the catalogue, no throne room ever looked so airy and informal. But then, of course, this is not Dublin Castle's Throne Room! Instead, a market/fair is in progress so... More
Robert French - Down by the Sea
The title in our catalogue is "Castle, Throne Room, Dublin City, Co. Dublin", which is obviously incorrect. I am not even sure that this is a Lawrence shot, at lease not a typical Lawrence shot. I will list it ... More
Robert French - Vice-Regal Lodge, Dublin City, Co. Dublin
We have a very special edition for you today - we are posting 3 photos for you to enjoy.. .Sabina Higgins, wife of President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins, officially launched our “Photo Detectives” exhibition ... More
Robert French - Vice-Regal Lodge, Dublin City, Co. Dublin
We have a very special edition for you today - we are posting 3 photos for you to enjoy.. .Sabina Higgins, wife of President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins, officially launched our “Photo Detectives” exhibition ... More
Robert French - Vice-Regal Lodge Boudoir, Dublin City, Co. Dublin
We have very special edition for you today - we are posting 3 photos for you to enjoy.. .Sabina Higgins, wife of President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins, officially launched our “Photo Detectives” exhibition in... More
Robert French - Long Quay, Kinsale, Co. Cork
We are off to the Rebel County today. A fine shot of Kinsale from the Lawrence Collection. It is a shame about the crack in the plate but I do not think that it takes too much away from the photo. ..We have a l... More
Robert French - Roundwood, Co. Wicklow
Roundwood as none of us will have seen it. Irelands highest village looks like a tiny hamlet dominated by a fine stone church with maidens dancing at the crossroads (sorry, I got a bit carried away there)! Ch... More
Robert French - Hotel, Pontoon, Co. Mayo
This was the shot that should have been posted for Halloween and we might have discovered the man with the cloven hoof? Having said that, this shot by Mr. French shows a heavenly scene. And, way back when this... More
Robert French - Heavy traffic expected soon
As you can tell from the ladies in the centre of the road, heavy traffic is anticipated any day soon! This beautiful photograph of the Market Square in Dungannon, County Tyrone shows traders all set up in anti... More
Robert French - A little bit misty out there!
Appropriately on Halloween a misty scene, this time in west Kerry, to remind us that summer is well and truly gone and winter is coming with darkness and cold. When this image was taken Halloween was a time fo... More
Robert French - Valencia - Valentia? A storm in a tea-cup?
Perhaps the spot with the most exotic name in Ireland Valencia/Valentia (which ever way you choose to spell it). It looks delightful in the sun, and suitably Mediteranean with the steamer berthed close by! The... More
Robert French - Square, Coalisland, Co. Tyrone
I am weary of Dublin/Cork photographs, and so today I made an executive decision to go up to the "Wee North" today :) This fine Royal plate showing the Square (not the Diamond mind you) in Coalisland. It may b... More
Robert French - Schools, Artane, Dublin City, Co. Dublin
A fascinating view of the Artane Schools with an early iteration of the iconic band on display. The Musical Director appears to be front and centre and many of the typical band instruments are on display but I... More
Robert French - Protecting his friend or standing over the vanquished?
The calm after the storm gives us time to visit the National Museum - our sister institution across the yard. The title of this shot is "Museum, Dublin" and of course it is likely in the museum in Dublin. A f... More
Robert French - College Green, Dublin City, Co. Dublin
King Billy on his horse, horse trams, horse cabs, a very clean College Green and apparently a bright sunny day, all add up to a very different shot to yesterdays DeValera train! Having said that to provide a ... More
Robert French - Dublin Castle and the State Apartments from the lawn
This fine view of the rear of Dublin Castle and the facade of the State Apartments by Robert French keeps us in Dublin city for yet another day! Very little has changed in this scene in the intervening 100+ ye... More
Robert French - Liffey, Dublin City, Co. Dublin
Monday morning should be somewhat dismal as the start of yet another week, but this Lawrence image should cheer people up! The River Liffey as none of us has ever seen it - with a bridge that no longer exists (... More
Robert French - Fair Day, Bantry, Co. Cork
To end the week we have a Lawrence Cabinet sized image of a Fair Day in Bantry, Co. Cork!. I can see creels and carts, horses and donkeys, men and women, bowlers and flatcaps but it will take some searching to... More
Robert French - Feltrim Hill, Swords, Co. Dublin
Feltrim Hill in Swords looking down on Charles J. Haughey's old home and the Swords, Malahide and Howth in the distance. This was a prominent landmark in its time and was built on a rare (for Ireland) outcrop ... More
Robert French - Glen of Imaal, Co. Wicklow
The Glen of Imaal - Gleann Uí Mháill - the Bare Glen but not the Glen itself but rather Leitrim Castle in the Glen. If you are not confused by now then I hope that there will be clarity by the evening? As the... More
Robert French - General View, Dalkey, Co. Dublin
A Monday morning with a view! Dalkey from the heights was a small village at that time, scattered and with a great sea view. At first I thought those rocks in the foreground were fence height but looking at t... More
"Quays, Derry City, Co Derry" is actually Derrylin, Co Fermanagh
Confusion reigns, the Quays in Derry have changed direction, instead of running along the river Foyle it appears that they now run out into Lough Erne? Or perhaps the cataloguer is in error on this shot or eve... More
Robert French - R.I.C. Depot, Dublin City, Co. Dublin
Situated just inside the North Circular Road gates to the Phoenix Park these lovely, old, red bricked buildings always seemed separate from the old RIC Depot. Was Mr. French correct in his assertion that it wa... More
Robert French - John and Andrew Fox's house, after eviction, Clongorey...
I know we have been in this area about five years ago, but, I think these eviction photos are so important that they deserve their own day in the spotlight. The research on our eviction related images has been ... More
Robert French - Harbour & Parade, Portstewart, Co. Derry
We are staying north of the border today, in Portstewart to be precise. Having had a good look at the photo I am struck by the three hard working (is that the correct word?) men on the middle pier, they seem to... More
Robert French - Cemetery, Belfast, Co. Antrim
Good morning everyone, the excitement is palpable, the activity is corybantic, preparations are nearing an end, only two more sleeps until the opening of our Flicker exhibition "Photo Detectives" ( http://www.n... More
Robert French - Royal Infirmary, Dublin City, Co. Dublin
For Friday we find ourselves visiting an old friend. I worked with a man once who constantly mixed up his metaphors and he would say of this that it was a case of "veja du"! The Royal Infirmary on Infirmary R... More
Robert French - Crosthwaite Park, Kingstown, Co. Dublin
A shot of a suburban scene in an exclusive area of Kingstown, as it was then known, in County Dublin. The beauty of the seascape, the proximity to the city centre and the easy access to the first railway in Ir... More
Robert French - Dunluce Castle, Giant's Causeway, Co. Antrim
We are somewhat regular visitors to Antrim's Causeway Coast, but had not visited Dunluce Castle ( Dunluce_Castle ) before. As BeachcomberAustralia ( /photos/beachcomberaustralia/ ) points-out, we've ridden th... More
Robert French - Victoria Castle East Gate, Killiney, Co. Dublin
Had I not seen the caption on this image I would have thought that I was looking at a castle in Spain or some far land! A beautiful scene that is nearly on the doorstep of Library Towers! Killiney has changed... More