Armagh Man (William Stickers?) laughs in the face of "Post No Bills" s...
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
Robert French - Eyre Square, Galway
Featuring the shyest tram passengers ever.....Date: 1880s?..NLI Ref.: L_ROY_00775 ( vtls000325307 )
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
Train station Robert French - Curves in Cork - Public domain photograp...
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
Robert French - The Docks, Belfast
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
Robert French - Drung Hill, Co. Kerry
NLI Ref.: LIMP 2947 ( vtls000058720 ) Public domain photograph of a steam locomotive, engine, train, railroad, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Queenstown, where soldiers found a home, and sailors their rest
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
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 - Alexandra Graving Dock, Belfast (2)
… 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 )
Robert French - Pilot Office, Belfast
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
Robert French - St. Nicholas' Church, Galway, 1890(?)
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
Robert French - H.M.S. Warspite at Queenstown, now Cobh
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
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
Horse Trams at corner of Bachelor's Walk and O'Connell Bridge
Date: ca. 1891-1897..NLI Ref.: L_ROY_03114 ( L_ROY_03114 )
Robert French - All aboard the "Cherry-bounce"
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
Robert French - S.S. Shannon - Public domain image of a steam boat
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
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 - Cherry Bounce, Galway, Ireland
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
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 - Paddy's Market, Cork City
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
Robert French - Temprance Bar! postcard
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
Robert French - Fast Excursion to the International Exhibition
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
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 - Not Licensed to Sell on Sunday
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
Robert French - Next stop, America!
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
Robert French - A lot of horse power in these stables!
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
Albert Memorial in Belfast at 14:25 - Now you don't see the horse-draw...
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
Robert French - First Class Battleship
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
Exemption Licence at the Anchor Hotel in Moville, Co. Donegal
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
Robert French - No. 74 - Steam locomotive, Public domain image
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
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 - Hair Cut for thruppence
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
Robert French - Post No Bills, Galway, Ireland
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
Robert French - Moll's Gap, Kerry
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
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 - Castle Street in Sligo Town
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
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 - Nineteen minutes past 11 o'clock
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
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