Man talking to woman in cobbled square, church visible in background, ...
Now this is the way to start a week! A dog, cars, a very different location, cobbles, tram lines, a spire and buildings. The piece-de-resistance for me is the couple chatting in the middle of the road. Can i... More
Marking a family's tragedy the gravestone of Jane and Jane Alice Purve...
When deaths in infancy and childbirth were a regular and real threat to the lives of both women and children, families had tragedies all too frequently. Jane and Jane Alice are remembered on this fine obelisk ... More
Stereo view of tennis court with a doubles match taking place, large h...
Apologies for the delay in posting this morning! This image had me fooled, as if I needed it, as I took it to be from the "Stereo Pairs" collection. It is, as you can see, from the Clonbrock Collection and po... More
No 41: Swiftbrook Upper Mill, with shaft
A very industrial premises in a seemingly dilapidated condition to end the week. Swiftbrook Upper sounds like it may be up in Ulster (to me)! Mr. Mason has presented some very different images to the world - ... More
A fine set of fetlocks: Commissioned by Mr. T. Widger
The full title on this is "Meet at Gracedieu(?) - commissioned by Mr. T. Widger". Maybe Mr. Widger rode to the hunt, and perhaps wanted an image of both he and his steed recorded for posterity(?) It certainly... More
"One-storey building, possibly a railway station, with steps, and 4 co...
Though the catalogue description implies this classical style building was in Limerick City, this Stereo Pairs image is going to take some identifying! Because, it is certainly not the railway station in Limer... More
"Institutional style building in an unknown location" is a military ho...
Not much information to go on here, it looks like it may be a school with a monastery / convent alongside?. I am sure as usual you will provide all the details needed. Good luck with the investigations :)..And ... More
"Castle and Ruins near Dublin" - is actually Bective Abbey, Co Meath
I've been in Dublin for a long time now but this is not a castle or ruins that I am familiar with. It looks like it was a significant establishment in its day and would be a real attraction today(?) I look fo... More
Arthur Henri Poole - Woof, woof, woof! Friday's child is loving and g...
No, Morning Mary has not gone barking mad! Mr. Poole's generosity in providing three dogs in full living detail just made her feeling like a good roll in the grass! The Poole collection really does have some... More
Road near Botanic Gardens (Finglas Golf Club), Glasnevin, Co. Dublin
From yesterdays funeral in "God Knows Where" to today's location close to Irelands best known cemetery! If ever there was a location that has "changed, changed utterly" then this surely is it! Finglas Golf Cl... More
"Street, Dublin City" .... is actually Navan
A street in Dublin City? While this is what the catalogue says, I really don't think so! But, if not Dublin, then where is it or even where was it? A busy hilly street somewhere in Ireland, where a Taoiseach ... More
The march of the Archbishops - Bishops etc., outside Pro Cathedral, Co...
The Eucharistic Congress in Dublin during 1932 ( Eucharistic_Congress_of_Dublin_(1932) ) was a source of many images for different photographers - but this one is an up close and personal view of church dignit... More
Arthur Henri Poole - Row, row, row your boat!
A Poole commission (for a Mr. O'Leary) of a rowing four with coxswain. Possibly captured at the end of the season with the spoils on display. The trophies appear to be displayed on an old sewing machine, and th... More
Robert French - Bazaar, Blackrock, Co. Louth
"Bazaar" a word much used in past years and seldom seen now! An ancient Persian name for an enclosed market, the Bazaar enabled the development of cities in the ancient world. An example in Blackrock therefore... More
Robert French - Admiralty Recreation Grounds, Castletownbere, Co. Cork
It just isn't cricket, at the moment, with football pitches laid out at the Admiralty Recreation Grounds in Castletownberehaven, County Cork. Today, when the presence of the British fleet is hardly a memory, t... More
Arthur Henri Poole - National Seamens and Firemans Union, Waterford
To end the week we have a group photo from Poole of the Waterford Branch of the National Seamens and Firemans Union. It comes complete with reminders of the perils of their trades! Once a form of employment com... More
Arthur Henri Poole - Bow only from W. Nichols
High, dry and handsome! This ship -which has been allowed to rest on the bottom after the tide went out- looks so different from the sleek and powerful creature of the sea! To me, a landlubber, there seems a ... More
Arthur Henri Poole - Passengers going to Graiguenamanagh in brakes
Why? I mean why would you want to go to Graiguenamanagh in the first place? Why go there in the buckets of rain? In an open car, late in an Irish summer? In any event, this fine Poole shot captures groups o... More
"Austria in Ireland" is actually Switzerland
The catalogue title for this image is: "Chapel at Banim?. Small chapel with clock tower Eastern design, with an interesting plaque/ crest over the doorway."..Wherever located, it is certainly unusual looking. W... More
Irish Boundary Commission's first sitting in Ireland
In another rare visit to a seldom visited collection. As with other images in the Hogan-Wilson collection, typically this is from the period of the War of Independence/Civil War and aftermath. Indeed, some his... More
Town or village with church tower visible in the distance... is Ennisk...
A rare visit to the Clonbrock collection with a beautiful sylvan scene of a town or village and in the background a spire and a pointy (Technical term) mountain. The fencing along the paddock makes me wonder i... More
Robert French - Gap of Dunloe, Mrs. Moriarty's, Killarney, Co. Kerry
This fine shot of a cottage in the Gap of Dunloe for a frosty Tuesday morning. Riding up the Gap from here on a day like today would take away any cobwebs away and concentrate the mind. Robert French really c... More
Arthur Henri Poole - Swiss Cottage?
A funny looking house all cobbled together making what somebody thought was a Swiss Cottage? This fine, carefully posed photograph from Mr. Poole has a family showing off their finery and their toys! Their dr... More
Close-up of doorway of large, cruciform, modern romanesque church (is ...
A double image of a double door in a church somewhere in Ireland. Given the extreme age of the stereo pairs collection some of the images, such as this one, are remarkably clear and 'new' looking!..Early colla... More
Mansion near Navan, Co Meath - is Boyne View House
A mansion (that was perhaps converted into a convent?) near Navan in the lush plains of County Meath. It looks like a white house - on the day when the new occupant of "The White House" may be decided. Good l... More
Pembroke Prep? School, Motor Engine Shop: Cars x 4
A motor engine shop in a Prep school? That seems (A) a little bit extravagant and (B) aimed at a different class of student at a time when class seemed to be everything? This image from the Mason collection i... More
Hat trick - Royal visitors in the Picture Gallery, Kilkenny Castle
A royal group in Kilkenny Castle, that beautiful castle in, arguably, Ireland's most beautiful city - but can we name this lot?..And indeed it seems we can. With thanks in particular to some our regular stalwar... More
Hallowed walls and halls, Killarney, Ireland
I am willing to bet that this mornings offering is not Ashford Castle though is is very impressive and that ivy overcoat does add to the sense of time and majesty! I cannot speak this morning as my mouth is ful... More
"Galway by Edward" is actually Warwick Castle, England
From the urban and exotic Turkish Baths in Dublin, to a verdant country scene for todays shot. This image, labelled as possibly being in County Galway, is from the the Clonbrock collection and features a beaut... More
"Durrow Viaduct, Stradbally, Co. Laois" is probably not...
This is labelled as the "Durrow Viaduct, Stradbally, Co.Laois", and a very fine shot it is. One wonders if it is now disused or perhaps abandoned for some years? It may surprise that this is from the Eason Coll... More
"A bridal pair in Cork" is Emmet Dalton and Alice Shannon
When I selected this from the archive I thought I recognised the man but I was not sure. Now getting the photo ready to post I see the following from the archive Photographic print of Major General Emmet Dalto... More
Church (Ruins), Waterville, Co. Kerry
Labelled as "St. Fininan's Church (Ruins), Waterville, Co. Kerry", we have an interesting photo from the Eason Collection to start off the week. We are in the Kingdom, and as a Dub I am happy to visit Kerry at... More
"Scene near Rathfarnham, Dublin" - is Grange Golf Club
We are off to the leafy suburbs of South Dublin today courtesy of the Eason collection. I am fully expecting that we can identify the location, the names of the 3 men, the make and model of the fancy motor car... More
Grotesque and Ghastly Gothic or Soaring Spiky Spires?
This stereo pairs image of a church with lots and lots of spiked abutments and spires on a Y shaped avenue was selected to finish the week. For me its appearance is both unwelcoming and forbidding - having a da... More
The Rileys - Survivors of the sinking of the Lusitania, Cobh (former...
With thanks to our amazing contributors, it seems that this really is the Riley family: Annie and Edward Riley and their 4-year-old twins Ethel and Sutcliffe. Given that only 764 of the nearly 2000 souls aboard... More
A Parish Church in County Kilkenny (is Templeorum RC Church)
From the Poole collection comes this image of a small parish church with an unusual belfry/gateway to the premises. I wonder is that particular feature still standing, given the growth of motorised traffic in ... More
Arthur Henri Poole - The Lodge, Spa, Ballynahinch : commissioned by Te...
To start the week is an unusual image from the Poole Collection. Labelled as "The Lodge, Spa, Ballynahinch, Co. Down : commissioned by Terence G.Johnson, Esq", this is unusual in that it is far from his normal... More
Elephant Rock, lantern slide. Northern Ireland
The aptly named Elephant Rock on a rocky shore is our Mason shot today. It has probably been eroded a little more in the past 100+ years, but it certainly looks like an elephant to this observer. But where is ... More
An "Outside car" outside the gates! - Public domain map
The description on this image states that this is an "Outside Car" and goes on at length to describe the gates and pillars! But are they still there? Where are/were they? They certainly are very ornate and o... More
All eyes on the charabanc! - stereoscopic view, public domain photorpa...
For Friday we have a stereo-pairs image of a seafront with houses above a shingle beach, boats pulled up to the hard stand and a most peculiar charabanc with a large group of people on board! While there are p... More
Hopefully everything is "Ship Shape and Bristol Fashion"
Here two small ships lie on the mud where the tide has gone out and to prevent the cargo and fittings from moving and tipping the vessel over it was necessary to have them "Ship Shape and Bristol Fashion"! The... More
Robert French - Castle Street, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary
Three shots from Tipperary on this week of all weeks may appear more than coincidence, but we had these lined-up several weeks ago. The subject of today's image is Nenagh, the town of the fair, with its great ... More
Robert French - Knocka Castle, Templemore, Co. Tipperary
Back to County Tipperary once more - but to the North Riding this time. Knocka Castle in ruins near Templemore looks to have been once a great house with a Norman tower nearby for refuge (perhaps in case the W... More
Robert French - It's a long way to Tipperary!
The day after Tipperary are crowned All Ireland Hurling Champions we go to Tipperary Town! Rolls of linoleum, bolts of material, stacks of travelling cases this well stocked drapery, haberdashery and general go... More
Driver, A. McGrath, 46 Mile cabin, Co. Westmeath.
From the opulence of a goldsmiths in Belfast city centre to the basic comforts of a drivers cab in a locomotive. O'Dea, the great chronicler of change in Ireland's railways during the 1960s and 1970s, has this... More
Shop Interior: silver, gold goods - indicative of wealth/trade.
A Goldsmiths/Silversmiths/Jewellers fine display of opulence, fine workmanship and exclusive showrooms - as a contrast to yesterdays rustic bridge and rural setting! Where was it and who was the owner? Answer... More
Robert French - On the bridge below the mountain!
While this scene is idyllic, the water looks perfect for fishing and that mountain in the background looks ideal for walking, it is the timing that makes this for me. Either Mr. French timed it perfectly to ca... More
Navigation bridge (iron) on curved lock, dock on canal entrance, anoth...
On a dull and dreary morning in Ireland a bright and sun filled stereo pairs image of a canal/dock. The young man leaning over the railing looking at the water is doing what young men have done across the ages... More
"Big House with figures" is Government House, Isle of Man
The "Big House", which was a significant presence in Irish communities down the years, is what we feature today. Labelled in the catalogue as "Big House with figures - adults and children - on lawns", we wonde... More
Lord Dunlo in garden with stereo camera
Down the 'Wesht' today to the Clonbrock collection with a true "Golden Oldie". Lord Dunlo with a stereo camera in 1864 makes this so interesting for all kinds of reasons. The camera looks quite intriguing and ... More
Arthur Henri Poole - Horses, hairdos and hats (aka "the real McCoy")
Staying with Poole for the last shot of the week we have a Mr McCoy and his family with pony and horse. In this instance the fabulous hat is on the baby rather than on the mother but what a hat it is. We espec... More
"Bridge of three arches over river in foreground" is Portadown
The somewhat long catalogue label for this image is "Bridge of three arches over river in foreground, street with terraces of chequered front houses in middle ground". While I must admit this seems desperately ... More
Arthur Henri Poole - Group at Hugginstown
A fine group of gentlemen gathered to commemorate something at Hugginstown. Looking at the related images which appear on the NLI catalogue it is clear that this was an annual event but what was it and who wer... 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
"Railway bridge, in an unidentified location" is likely on the Dublin/...
Today another Hargrave image and yet another railway bridge but this time no known location! This looks like a fine piece of engineering and some excellent cast iron work. If it is still in place today then t... More
Arthur Henri Poole - Remembering the Mammy and Daddy!
An Irish boy who did well in the US remembers his Mother and Father with a beautifully crafted tombstone! The workmanship on this is really fine work at a time when machines did very little of the work...Thank... More
Y-junction with people - is Newcastle, County Down
"Y-junction with people, wooded and bare hills in background mile post '4 miles' outside large suburban style villa at junction"..After declaring "Over to you!", another look at the mile post (via megazoom) sug... More
"Man and 5 children posed about felled tree in foreground.; in backgro...
Today we have a carefully posed shot with boys sprinkled like raisins in a currant bun and a man, a teacher perhaps, sitting on a tree! In the background is what appears to be an enormous institutional type of... More
Non-Irish unknown: fountain, with onlookers... is le Parc Brussels
Today another "Magic Lantern" image from the Mason collection with a "foreign" scene on display! A large fountain in a pond with numerous well dressed adults and children enjoying the sights...In typical light... More
Buildings by sea. Men and women, fish, barrels, pile of salt. Smoking ...
On a visit to the collection of the esteemed Mr. Mason today with a pong of fish hanging over all. This old lantern slide shows a scene of great industry with lots of barrels and busy people under the watchful... More
Unidentified image? Not for long! It's Cork of course
This urban scene dominated by that distinctive tower is listed in the catalogue as "Unidentified Photograph from the Fergus O'Connor Collection" but that won't last too long! It is a particularly pleasant shot... More
Modern building, possibly an hotel with "Butler" shop attached (is Lis...
This morning we have a rather bleak looking building, apparently in the middle of nowhere, with a goodly supply of horse manure and a bowler hatted corner boy for local colour...And with thanks to today's contr... More
Exterior of church surrounded by trees.
This O'Connor shot of a fine church surrounded by trees with no leaves to start the week...With thanks to O Mac ( /photos/91549360@N03/ ) and derangedlemur ( /photos/8468254@N02/ ) who almost simultaneously i... More
"Lake surrounded by mountains in an unknown location" (is lakes of Kil...
We are with Fergus O'Connor today. I find this a most fascinating photograph. Can you please tell me two things, firstly I would like to know the location and secondly I would like to know what exactly is going... More
Cat on a hot rope leash?
This fine Clonbrock image shows Mary with her menagerie and Edith Dillon with a cat on a leash in one hand and a fine box camera in the other!..With thanks to all of today's contributors, but perhaps sharon.cor... More
"Been's Pillar, Liscannor, with figures" is actually O'Brien's Pillar....
From matters locomotive to matters firmly fixed to the ground for Towering Tuesday. This is "Been's Pillar, Liscannor" according to the catalogue, but I admit that I don't remember seeing it there in my many v... More
'Irish life' paying 'for the jaunt'. One woman and four men, with vari...
For Friday we have a Mason shot with some ruins - the ruins of a tower and the ruins of a coat. I have a feeling that, though we may not have met the tower before, did we meet that coat?..While related catalog... More
Robert French - Bathing Strand, Co. Wicklow
From the Rocky Road to Glencar to the "golden sands" of Wicklow today. A glorious summer scene with a broad strand dotted with occasional seasonal visitors. I suspect that modern transport has made this a lot... More
Robert French - Tablet at Abbey, Galway City
Labelled in the catalogue as "Abbey Trench's Tablet, Galway City, Co. Galway", this is the kind of detail that Morning Mary loves to find and shoot herself - so really looking forward to finding out more about ... More
Three men at bridge - ads on wall for Lyons cafe and goods.
In Lyons you pays your money and takes your choice, cafe, furniture or funeral, all available here! An interesting shot but where????..B-59 ( /photos/66311327@N05/ ) receives all the plaudits for his investi... More
116 St James's Street - Probably Guinness owned
Ornate arch and gateway, Charlemont House, Parnell Square North, Dublin - Catalogue description..Todays shot looks more like the entrance to a Spanish Grandee's dwelling in Madrid than Dublins North side with t... More
Arthur Henri Poole - Egan Heffernan Wedding, Seskin, Clonmel.
Wedding group, Egan-Heffernan wedding : commissioned by Mrs. Heffernan, Seskin, Clonmel..A handsome wedding group from Poole today and still in Clonmel! I get a sense in this that the grooms family feel the yo... More
Arthur Henri Poole - Estate and property outside Clonmel
This idyllic rural scene taken from a great height is an unusual one from the Poole Collection. Describing it as an estate seems a bit grand as it looks more like a farm or small holding but where is it?..I ex... More
The Old Man of the Holy Well
If ever there was a photograph of a man taking his ease in beautiful surroundings this must be it. A holy well in Sligo from the Eason collection...Well done to B-59 ( /photos/66311327@N05/ ) for identifyin... More
Thomas MacDonagh in uniform, half-length portrait
Picryl description: Public domain image of a portrait photograph, free to use, no copyright restrictions.
"Salthill Hotel" - but not in Co Galway, it's Co Dublin
The recent scenes from Salthill in Galway are in marked contrast to the beautiful still conditions in this lovely Lawrence image of (allegedly) the same spot. We thought it was perhaps too calm to be the west ... More
Full length picture, Kevin O'Higgins, Minister of Home Affairs
Kevin O'Higgins standing close to a building, a victim of assassination after the Civil War...With thanks today to swordscookie ( /photos/swordscookie/ ) , DannyM8 ( /photos/79549245@N06/ ) , O Mac ( /photos/... More
Arthur Henri Poole - Judge Sealy, Barristers and Solicitors outside co...
A Poole group shot of a Judge and the other players in a court including a fine looking young Garda outside a courthouse somewhere...With thanks to today's contributors, in particular Niall McAuley ( /photos/gn... More
Children chatting to troops passing through to an attack on Irregulars...
From matters architectural to matters martial today. Troops on foot and mounted on trucks with some children during the Irish Civil War...With thanks to all (especially coffee robbie ( /photos/freakyrobbie/ ) ... More
Government House, Cork City, Co. Cork
Back to the Holy Ground today and a bit of grandeur with a building titled "Government House" no less! This beautiful building wasn't familiar to us, and we did hope that it is still extant. However, the commun... More
Modern Gothic church in open country, square tower and spire, statue o...
This morning to start the Christmas season we open with a church described as "Modern Gothic". It looks a solid construction and of dark limestone, but we hadn't confirmed the location...With thanks especially... More
Modern house, balustraded porch of 3 rounded arches, drive, lawn
For Thursday we have a "modern" house with a good description but (originally) with no location...With thanks especially to derangedlemur ( /photos/8468254@N02/ ) , the location of this image has been identifie... More
Robert French - Battering Ram "Back with them, away with them"
We return to a harrowing and tragic scene today to mark the latest Tríd an Lionsa ( http://www.tg4.ie/en/programmes/trid-an-lionsa/ ) programme on TG4. This programme uses several of our "Bodyke Eviction" and... More
Elevated view of buildings in a town, one of the buildings has the sig...
An unusual Clonbrock shot today that I would have guessed was a Lawrence or even part of a Stereo Pair had I not seen the catalogue. There are a few more clues than S. Silk so this may be easier to crack.....A... More
"S. Silk builder, decorator yard, Co. Dublin" - is actually Woking in ...
From the Strand in Rosslare to suburban Dublin Woking and a silky builder. ..The scene looks familiar but we wondered where it was. And, for the first time in a long time, it took a while to establish a defini... More
"Street, Dublin City" is actually in Navan
Happy Toffee Tuesday to all. Today we've an image labelled as "Street, Dublin" from the turn of the 20th century. In one of those shops they will have sold my favourite hard rock toffee to stick the teeth toge... More
People strolling and sunning themselves in a park (Phoenix Park)
Labelled as "People strolling and sunning themselves in a park : location unknown", today's image took us from war to peace. Having seen the result of military reprisals yesterday, todays sylvan scene is a welc... More
Beside the seaside. Northern Ireland
We've travelled further afield for our next image of "Clarke Week". Based on the poster in the shot it seems clear that we're close to Bundoran, County Donegal. The bucket and spade and sun-hats might suggest a... More
"Reelan Bridge, Lifford" is actually the "Dry Arch" in Straboy, Co Don...
Though labelled as "Reelan Bridge, Lifford, Co. Donegal" in the catalogue, after some initial location theories that were closer to Lifford, it was confirmed that we are a little further afield. Within a short ... More
O'Donovan Rossa funeral committee
Though recent sleuthing ( ...nlireland/20866908436/ ) has meant we've had to change the tag ( 100ishyearsago ) for our recent series to "100ish years ago", we are a little more confident of the date for this ... More
Happy Anniversary to Erin's Hope!!! 100 years ago this month!
Today we have a wonderful Poole shot taken exactly 100 years ago this month. It features the "Erin's Hope Prize Flute Band" from Waterford taken on 1st August 1915 but where?..The location was identified as th... More
Cross at Blackrock, Co. Dublin.
This reminds me of the Spencer Tracy film, "Bad day at Blackrock" so the question is which Blackrock is it. A really nice Mason shot to start this week...sharon.corbet ( /photos/129555378@N07/ ) Identified ... More
9 men in front of ornate door, Trinity College, Dublin
Another from the Clonbrock collection today with a group of men outside a "grand" building with a pair of ornate and formidable doors behind them. ..As usual, sharon.corbet ( /photos/129555378@N07/ ) was very... More
Robert French - Belvelly Castle, Fota, Co. Cork
For our Cork supporters today we have an old and very clear shot of the castle at the bridge from Fota. ..This shot generated a number of good stories today - leaving us with a tough job to select the most int... More
Top Hats and Bowlers at Oldtown, Naas
Photographers: Dillon Family. .We end this week with an image from the Clonbrock Collection. The caption says there are tram lines here but I think their eyes deceive them!..Our summary remained fairly short f... More
Gothic revival castle, Galway, Ireland
Today we have a fine shot from the Stereo Pairs collection showing a "Toy" castle somewhere! These always remind me of AJ Cronins classic novel "Hatters Castle"..Leonard Bentley ( /photos/31363949@N02/ ) ide... More
St Gallen, Cathedral, Switzerland
This Mason shot of a church interior has the look of a set from a Stephen King book with the degradation on the plate. It looks to be a vast and beautifully decorated interior but where is it?..I thought this ... More
Couple seated by a weir - River Dodder
Taking a break from the County Towns and the Parish Registers today with a beautiful and previously "unidentified location" in a Fergus O'Connor shot! A fine weir with a river in full flood to whet your appeti... More
Parish Registers for Nenagh, Co. Tipperary
Listed in the catalogue as "Street, Nenagh, Co Tipperary", we selected this image (with others to follow later) to highlight the Parish Registers at NLI launch. ..We wondered whether anyone in this turn-of-the-... 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