Market Square, Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow, 1991
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
Glendalough before Round Tower was restored
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
79 Grafton Street..., Leinster, Ireland
... 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
Robert French - Dining Saloon on the S.S. Great Eastern
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
Robert French - Traffic Jam, Shannon at Athlone, Co. Westmeath, Irelan...
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
Robert French - Trinity College Dublin, late 19th century
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
Robert French - H.M.S. Melampus in all her glory
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
Unidentified = Eel Weir taken from Town Bridge in Athlone, Co. Westmea...
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
Robert French - Penny Farthing - Victorian era public domain image
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
Robert French - The Square, Rathdowney, Co. Laois, circa 1900
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
Robert French - Lawrence No. 1, Leinster, Ireland
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
Robert French - Lovely lamp posts
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
Robert French - Howth-on-Sea, Leinster, Ireland
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
Robert French - No. 2 Dredger...
... 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
Robert French - What's all this then?
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
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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - Trinity College, Botany Bay, Dublin City
I have never heard of "Botany Bay" in the context of Trinity College. Of course the real Botany Bay holds an important position in Irish history - more for transportation of convicts rather than anything to do ... More
Robert French - Slums, Dublin City, Co. Dublin
You would have to class this as an atypical Lawrence shot, we see very little interest in the camera or the photographer. I notice that the photo is labeled Brown Street, a street which is not immediately famil... More
Robert French - Lucan steam train
This photograph reminds me of a painting by Jack B. Yeats titled "In the Tram" I have also seen it described as "In the Lucan Tram" and "The Merry Wives of Lucan" The painting is owned by our near neighbours t... More
Gothic style institutional building, Dublin City, Co. Dublin
This building looks quite new. The catalogue says Dublin City and it does look familiar to me, but I have the distinct impression that something is missing. The chimney "sweeper" has had his way with this one ... More
Robert French - Prince Albert's statue, Leinster Lawn
Prince Albert and four others, this could make for an interesting Friday. I wonder where it is now? I am intrigued by the orientation of this Lawrence photo, we do not get a portrait presentation very often. (E... More
Robert French - 12:07 in Dalkey
Main Street, Dalkey, Co. Dublin..The lad with the basket on the left, looks very like the lad with the basket in the photograph from Gorey :)..The leafy suburb of Dalkey beckons and requires your attention. You... More
Robert French - Sea Park House, Malahide
On a bright if cold day in Dublin we have a shot taken on a bright summers(?) day in Malahide. I admit to not knowing if Seapark House still exists...The sad news is that the house no longer exists, It was dem... More
Robert French - The Quays, Wicklow, Co. Wicklow
To finish this week we turn to matters maritime! The quays in Wicklow as we could only imagine them. That wee ship is a nice neat vessel and obviously well cared for OR brand spanking new?..Niall McAuley ( /p... More
Moving statue of O'Connell, Italy
A different day and a different hero, The Liberator in a spot we never saw him in our liftimes?..This photograph of Hogan's Statue of Daniel O'Connell "The Liberator" brings us an interesting story of a Civic ... More
Robert French - Parnell's Grave, Glasnevin, Co. Dublin
A visit to what has now become a tourist attraction, Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin where the "uncrowned King of Ireland" is buried...Charles Stewart Parnell (Irish: Cathal Stiúbhard Pharnell; 27 June 1846 – 6 Oc... More
Robert French - Main Street, Swords, Co. Dublin
Here we are in Swords the home of Fingal County Council. .It would be fantastic if we could tie this photo in some way to the parish registers of the area see - Parish Registers ( http://registers.nli.ie/parish... More
Robert French - General View, Tallaght, Co. Dublin
This view of Main Street, Tallaght in South County Dublin has changed dramatically in the meantime..If anyone feels inclined to try out the Parish Registers ( http://registers.nli.ie/parishes ) to find the par... More
Robert French - Main Street, Naas, Co. Kildare
This morning we bring a particularly bright view of the Main Street in Naas, Co. Kildare! I doubt that any one of us has ever seen this street so clear of traffic:-).Continuing our promotion of the Parish Regi... More
Hevey Institute, Mullingar, Leinster, Ireland
This single slide from a stereo pair shows a large institutional building and a railway line in the bottom left hand corner...It was quickly/skilfully identified by sharon.corbet ( /photos/129555378@N07/ ) as ... More
International Hotel, Bray, Co. Wicklow
An unusual shot today with a Stereo Pair in its full and glorious double to give you twice the pleasure:-) These were remarkable images for the time and the technology available and it is good to show one now ... More
Robert French - The Netterville Institute, Meath.
Though listed in the catalogue as "County Louth", sharon.corbet ( /photos/129555378@N07/ ) was quick off the mark to establish (with derangedlemur ( /photos/8468254@N02/ ) confirming) that no only does the bu... More
Robert French - Regatta Season on the Liffey
I think this is one of the nicest photos we have had for a while, there is so much going on, it is a real shame that we do not have the notes feature as I have no doubt that there would have been at least 20 ne... More
Salthill Railway Station and Hotel
Salthill Railway station, people, including girl with pram, Monkstown, Co. Dublin...I am a great admirer of the Stereo Pairs Collection, I think that many photographers today would be very happy to take photogr... More
Robert French - Long Cars, Gorey, Co. Wexford
What a lovely photograph, it even has not one but two dogs!!...It seems that Long Cars are a type of early public transport (strike free perhaps?) Carol Maddock ( /photos/47297387@N03/ ) refers us to an adver... More
My hat is better than yours!, Leinster, Ireland
Block of buildings in park-land with people, modern Gothic style church, linked to main wing of eight bays width, porch...I'm not sure how she did it but sharon.corbet ( /photos/129555378@N07/ ) identified th... More
Robert French - Vartry Lake, Roundwood, Co. Wicklow
I would think reservoir is more correct than lake as it is man made. It took a long time to get a streetview but OwenMacC ( /photos/91549360@N03/ ) seems to have gotten it nearly spot on, thanks Owen...Befor... More
Robert French - Hare Island Lodge, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
This Robert French shot of Hare Island Lodge in Lough Ree close to Athlone might look right in colonial Africa, India or even in 80's Ireland...I am surprised there was no mentioned of the 3 small cannons - I w... More
Robert French - At Woodstock County Kilkenny
A beautiful statue of a lady (without hat) in the house "Woodstock" in Co. Kilkenny!..Thanks to Seuss. ( /photos/90124154@N00/ ) who tells us that the Sculpture is of Mary Blachford Tighe (1772-1810) as scu... More
Robert French - Barracks, Naas, Co. Kildare
On parade at the Barracks, Nass, Co. Kildare...Horrendous stories from WW1 - in one Comment it is reported that only 45 of 600 returned to Nass after the war, and a story from our own beachcomberaustralia ( /ph... More
Robert French - Good Day at Blackrock
The canny billh35 got in his request to see this one just under the wire. It's Blackrock in Co. Louth...Traffic-wise, a rather more relaxed scene than yesterday's photograph of Dame Street/College Green ( nlire... More
Robert French - Robert French, Leinster, Ireland
If that name sounds familiar, then so it should. This gentleman is Robert Griffith French, son of our photographer Robert French, whose photos ( nlireland/tags/robertfrench/ ) we've been exploring and enjoying... More
Robert French - Death at Chappoo
Royal Irish Regiment memorial in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin. Leaving this one quite large to help any of you who want to find out more about any of the named combatants "who fell during 1840 - 41 - 42 in t... More
Robert French - Winter, Leinster, Ireland
A succinct and apt title for this photograph of the fountain beside the Mansion House on Dawson Street, Dublin in a be-icicled state...Photographer: Almost certainly Robert French of Lawrence Photographic Studi... More
Robert French - What's all this then?
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
Robert French - The Obelisk aka Conolly's Folly
Never even knew of the existence of this very impressive structure at Celbridge in Co. Kildare. Did you? Where exactly was it and is it still there? Who built it and why?..Photographer: Almost certainly Robert ... More
Robert French - The Cupola Affair
This Blue Coat School building is on Blackhall Place in Dublin, and here it has been captured without its "hat" on. I don't know how long it was in this unadorned state, but hopefully one of you will (or will f... More
Robert French - Our first Chimney Sweep?
Think this might be our first spotting of a chimney sweep in the wild - or at the very least his brushes, in front of Lipton's Market on Church Street in Athlone…..Photographer: Almost certainly Robert French o... More
Robert French - No. 2 Dredger...
... 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
Robert French - The Hall at Powerscourt House, Co. Wicklow
Was tempted to call this one The Killing Fields…..Photographer: Almost certainly Robert French of Lawrence Photographic Studios ( http://catalogue.nli.ie/Collection/vtls000313414 ) , Dublin..Date: Circa 1900??.... More
Robert French - Lovely lamp posts
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
Robert French - Coral and Copper Snow
… of 49 Amiens Street! Could not believe my good luck when I spotted these two ice cream carts alongside the statue of Thomas Moore on the corner of College and Westmoreland Streets. If I haven't said it often ... More
Robert French - Detail of swanky postbox?
Zoom in on our Market Cross in Kells, Co. Meath scene ( nlireland/9682531809/ ) - to see if we can work out if this is a post box, or some other wondrous contraption.....Date: Circa 1900??..Detail from NLI Ref... More
Robert French - Our swankiest post box ever?
The eye is immediately drawn to the ancient Cross here in the middle of the town of Kells in Co. Meath, but I don't think we've come across such an ornate post box before. (Or if it isn't a post box, what is it... More
Robert French - Surgeon Major Parke, I presume!
This is a statue erected in memory of Surgeon Major T.H. Parke (Thomas Heazle Parke) on what was Leinster Lawn at the "back" of Leinster House, and now is part of the grounds of the Natural History Museum. That... More
Robert French - Uniform Detail, Leinster, Ireland
Hope this detail will help us find out more about this photo... ( nlireland/9288919635/ ) ..Date: Circa 1905?..Detail from: L_ROY_06807 ( vtls000320605 )
Robert French - Changing of the Guard?
Taken at Dublin Castle. If you recognise regiments, ceremony, anything at all really, please let us know…..Date: Circa 1905??..NLI Ref.: L_ROY_06809 ( vtls000320607 )
Robert French - Grafton Street in all its glory
One moment in the life of late 19th/early 20th century Grafton Street in Dublin captured - just in front of Sibley's booksellers and stationers, and proud purveyors of Stylographic Pens! Apologies for the missi... More
Mystery of the Missing Minerva! Turns out she now lives under the Angl...
This was the entrance arch to Leinster House (next door to Library Towers) back in the days when it was home to the Royal Dublin Society, whose original collections formed the basis of ours here at the National... More
Robert French - Gas Lamp no. 313
Couldn't resist the clarity of this one - so sharp that you can see the number on the gas lamp. Plus it's great to see the original position of our beautiful "bollards" ( nlireland/6509876797 ) . And a clear ru... More
Horse-drawn Omnibus, Westmoreland Street, Dublin
Today we have the battle of the horse-drawn tram versus omnibus photos. It's Cork ( nlireland/9003944871 ) (the real capital of Ireland?) versus Dublin (the real capital of Ireland!)...Which is the best image?... More
Any knives need sharpening, Mrs?
Thrilled to spot this mobile cutler! Either he's Mr Burns or he worked for Burns, Cutler...Didn't know where this was, and in fact, thought it might be somewhere in Co. Down, but derangedlemur identified it in ... More
Robert French - Good King Billy
Statue of William III aka William of Orange on College Green/Dame Street in Dublin...This statue is long gone from the Dublin streetscape. When did he appear? When did he disappear? Where did he go?..Date: Circ... More
Robert French - Athboy Railway Station, Co. Meath
Our regular roving railway reporter Flying Snail ( flyingsnail/ ) asked to see this one - he's nearing the end of his college work (a photographic project on the former railways in Co. Meath)...Love the Statio... More
We're a Couple of Swells - Two men standing next to a statue in front ...
Two gentlemen admire the statue of Edmund Burke outside Trinity College Dublin... ..Date: Between Tuesday, 21 April 1868 (unveiling) and circa 1870. ..NLI Ref: STP_1257 ( vtls000564570 ) . .You can also view t... More
Robert French - Uh oh!, Leinster, Ireland
More maritime misadventure for you today - this time in the harbour at Arklow, Co. Wicklow...Date: Circa October 1886..NLI Ref.: L_ROY_00416 ( vtls000326007 )
Robert French - Who fears to speak of '98 (or Consumption)
Love this one for the way the boy in his lovely stripy geansaí has mimicked the stance of this 1798 commemorative statue in Wexford town...The poster in the background may be useful for dating purposes. I can't... More
Robert French - The Hell Fire Club
Home of debauchery and devil worship or a gentleman's club? (Maybe the two aren't mutually exclusive!) Generations of Dubliners have been regaled with lurid tales of the goings-on in the Hell Fire Club at Killa... More
Robert French - Penny Farthing, Leinster, Ireland
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
Robert French - Dublin Bread Company revisited
We recently saw the Dublin Bread Company ( nlireland/8491917382/ ) building at 6-7 Lower Sackville Street (now O'Connell Street) in a state of chassis after the Easter Rising of 1916...I think that this photog... More
Very Grand Stands, Leinster, Ireland
This is almost certainly where our Dandies from Friday ( nlireland/8412718703 ) were headed, or headed home from (bad grammar, but you know what I mean) - a race meeting at Punchestown - very distinctive stand... More
Roulette Wheel, Leinster, Ireland
Looks as if the woman with her back to the camera was operating a roulette wheel at this race meeting at Punchestown...Plus, wouldn't it be lovely if that picnic was clearer?..Date: Circa 1868..NLI Ref: STP_11... More
Black Church, Leinster, Ireland
Gentlemen at the Black Church Hotel in Kildare. We're fairly sure they were heading to or from a race meeting at Punchestown (see Very Grand Stands ( nlireland/8422393425/ ) and Roulette Wheel? ( nlireland/842... More
Robert French - Queen Victoria "visits" Library Towers, Boer War
It's a while since we saw a photo featuring our lovely building here in Dublin, even though we're just playing a supporting role to the star of this one - a statue of Queen Victoria. Uploading this because gerr... More
Robert French - Pig Fair, Edenderry
How could none of you tell me that we'd been sorely neglecting Co. Offaly? So here's the pig fair at Edenderry, Co. Offaly or (King's County, as was)...Difficult to make out the time from the clock, but the pre... More
Robert French - Presenting Davy Stephens, late of Kingstown
Really unusual for us to find a named person in our Lawrence Collection photographs, but here is Mr Davy Stephens. A really cursory Google search reveals that he was a very famous news seller around Kingstown (... More
Shop Street, Drogheda, Leinster, Ireland
This is from our Stereoscopic Collection, which was bought over by William Lawrence in Dublin, and then came to us. The photographers involved were James Simonton and Frederick Holland Mares...It looks as if on... More
Robert French - Shop Street, Drogheda, same day?
This is from our Lawrence Collection. Looks as if Lawrence's chief photographer, Robert French, was in town around the same time as James Simonton or Frederick Holland Mares who took the photographs in our Ster... More
Robert French - People's Purveyors & Providers
Our Joefuz ( joefuz/ ) asked to see more of Maynooth, so here's a nice view down Main Street, with a good capture of a quite modern looking M.P. O'Brien's shop, a Branch Depot of U.P. Stores - The People's Pur... More
Weir on the River Dodder below Orwell Bridge
This snowy and icy scene from Rathgar in Dublin was also requested by Niall McAuley ( gnmcauley/ ) as he thinks he used to play around this area as a child...Wondered if perhaps we'd be able to date this photo... More
Robert French - Lighthouse at Greenore
Please forgive another lighthouse photograph (and the poorer than usual clarity two days in a row), but have had my beady eye on this one of the Lighthouse at Greenore, Co. Louth for a while. Special flags, ban... More
79 Grafton Street..., Leinster, Ireland
... 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
Robert French - Portobello Barracks, Dublin
This reminded me of the poem "Naming of Parts ( http://www.solearabiantree.net/namingofparts/namingofparts.html ) " by Henry Reed. Hope ye like it…..Incidentally, had a look at the two "walls" to the left of th... More
Robert French - Ladies should visit the...
The S.S. Great Eastern as gargantuan advertising billboard at North Wall, Dublin.....Thanks to all for great research on this one, and to nintytwo ( nintytwo/ ) for helping us uncover that this was taken at th... More
Robert French - Saloon on the S.S. Great Eastern
This "saloon" on the S.S. Great Eastern looks more like a bar to modern eyes. Love the ropes tethering the chandeliers here and in the dining saloon ( nlireland/8204527865 ) - testament to rough crossings........ More
Robert French - Lawrence No. 1, Leinster, Ireland
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
The Tholsel, Kilkenny, Leinster, Ireland
Very definitely the earliest sighting of a Post No Bills sign in our photos, way earlier than this Galway one ( nlireland/6988679474/ ) ! Although by the looks of the shopfront visible through the arches, nobod... More
Robert French - "Houses not burnt on account of the corn..."
Certainly one of the more unusual titles for a photo in our catalogue. This is part of a series of eviction photos ( http://catalogue.nli.ie/Search/Results?lookfor=clongorey&type=AllFields&filter[]=format: ) t... More
Robert French - The Square, Rathdowney, Co. Laois, circa 1900
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
The Square, Rathdowney, Co. Laois, 1990
Taken by photographer, Matilda Cooney, who noted that the scene was "pretty much unaltered"...You can compare this view of The Square at Rathdowney with its companion photo ( nlireland/8166240548 ) taken appro... More
Bridge over untroubled water, Leinster, Ireland
Spooky quality about this one, between the ruins and the bridge and the water… Also rather an odd mix in the group atop the bridge - rich, or at least well-to-do young women, alongside barefoot children.....We ... More
Robert French - O'Connell Monument under Construction
You can see from the hoardings, complete with people peeping through them, that construction seems to have started on the O'Connell Monument...We did some work on dating this photo ( nlireland/7919928868 ) tha... More
Robert French - Queen Elizabeth at City Quay, Dublin
I love this one! A great shipping photo, but look at that structure on the quay - are they public toilets? Love the children sitting on barrels while one appears to read to the others from a newspaper. There ar... More
Stephen's Green, Dublin - Victorian era public domain image
This corner in Dublin is relatively unchanged, I think. Wish it were possible to make out some of the business names along the left side, but they're just too unclear...Fascinating to see so many women using um... More
Robert French - Court House, Kilkenny, 1908
Ladies and Gentlemen, I can finally die a happy woman. 15 months on Flickr Commons and at last a poster in a Lawrence Collection photo with a clear date! It reads:."14th Great Annual Show.Kilkenny.Thursday, Jul... More