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
Robert French - National Museum, Dublin City, Co. Dublin
Library Towers stands on one side, the National Museum stands on the other and the adage "Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet" applies! A very old view of the Museum which will n... More
Robert French - The Grand Stand Hotel, Curragh Camp
The deep treasure chest that is the Lawrence Collection is the gift that keeps on giving. Today we are treated to a lovely cabinet sized plate of the Grand Stand Hotel at the Curragh Racecourse in County Kilda... More
Robert French - Ice House, Ballina, Co. Mayo
Today we will leave politics aside for a while as we visit Ballina in Co. Mayo and a fabulous house on the banks of the beautiful Moy! I spent a lot of time there as a child but I must admit that this house do... More
Robert French - Peelers and Bailiffs at Somers Fort
An eviction or rather a destruction at Somers Fort, Coolroe. When I first saw the title I thought of a military fort in the fastnesses of Donegal but looking at the construction of this substantial farmhouse a... More
Robert French - Blackwater River, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford
A fine stretch of river at Cappoquin with sidecar, driver and observer. I think that the beauty of the Blackwater is oftentimes overlooked. Perhaps as it is not as storied as rivers such as the Lee, the Liffey... More
Robert French - Posers in the sunny South East
If you feel a sense of 'déja vu' or even if you feel you have seen this all before then you are correct. It is Wexford but taken from the other bank of the Slaney and showing the town and its skyline in the di... More
Robert French - No dogs will dine here by God!
The Royal Hospital Kilmainham dining hall in all its splendour with the panoply of war (in case anyone might forget its residents former calling)! A building that seemed destined to be made derelict, but has b... More
Robert French - Cemetery, Glasnevin, Co. Dublin
Back to the dead centre of the capital this morning, to the cemetery at Glasnevin in North Dublin. A place that not so long ago nobody bar mourners visited, which has since become a considerable tourist attrac... More
Robert French - Camp, Birr, Co. Offaly
And faithfully following French's journey in the Faithful County we have a military camp with serried lines of "bell tents" inside/outside a military base. This was either when the army were on a war footing o... More
Robert French - The Ponte Vecchio, Birr, Co. Offaly
Today we are staying in the Faithful County with a fine photo of the Old Bridge at Birr. I have been to Birr a few times, and I do not remember seeing a bridge like this - I wonder if it is still there?..Sharon... More
Robert French - Kinnetty Village, Birr, Co. Offaly
The Lawrence Collection and the work of Mr. French really is a joy to behold! Each day seems to offer a view of a new place, a new element of an Ireland long gone and a charming insight into a country before t... More
Robert French - Main St. Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford
'A soft day thank God', with the wet roads giving proof of a recent rainfall. Edgeworthstown is a charming wee town with a good sized main street set in an emerald green countryside. The growth of traffic rend... More
Robert French - Laurence's Gate, Drogheda, Co. Louth
Laurence by Lawrence? Not quite (as Mr. French was the photographer), but this is a view that we can still replicate. Apart from the intrusion of the ubiquitous car that is. Drogheda is a town with a long and... More
Robert French - Bridge St. Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo
A fine royal plate from the ubiquitous Mr. French to end the week, and a visit to the Wesht, to Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo (God help us). A nice view down a long, straight street apparently leading to a bridge, with... More
Robert French - Fitzwilliam Square, Wicklow, Co. Wicklow
Now I am having a touch of "deja vu". I think mainly because I was down in Wicklow recently, though I didn't know that this was called Fitzwilliam Square. Not quite as elegant and expensive as the one in Dubli... More
Robert French - Courtown Harbour, Co. Wexford
Staying down in 'yellowbelly country' once again, but this time the tourist attraction that is Courtown rather than the thriving port of Wexford. This is a beautiful image with great clarity showing the natural... More
Robert French - The Quay, Wexford, Co. Wexford
Leaving the politics of the early 20th century behind we begin this week with an image by Robert French of the Quays in Wexford. Masts, handcarts, ropes, idlers, cargo, sailing ships, paddle steamers - the pla... More
Robert French - Main Street North, Cahirciveen, Co. Kerry
Where better to go on a Friday than the Kingdom of Kerry, Cahirciveen to be precise. We are right on the Wild Atlantic Way and I bet all of the people we see in this photo would be fascinated by the whole conce... More
Robert French - Lady Louise's Bridge, Lismore, Co. Waterford
Today we have a very pleasant landscape from Waterford. I know Lismore is famous for the Munster Blackwater, but this river seems far too small to be it? All details on Lady Louise will also be very welcome. .... 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 - Bryansford House, Newcastle, Co. Down
For a dull and wet Thursday morning in Dublin we head up to the "Wee North" today to gather some sunshine in Newcastle! Bryansford House looks like a significant pile with a certain symmetry to its frontage su... More
Renmore Barracks, Galway City - once home to the Connaught Rangers.
The home station of the Connaught Rangers Regiment of the British Army is today's image from the Lawrence Collection. Once a proud and distinguished regiment with many battle honours, it became famous in the I... More
The folks that live on the hill - in Renny, Co. Cork
I'm not sure where "Renny" is, but it seems an ideal situation for a farmstead that might fear attack from the natives. Water in plentiful supply, trees and grass aplenty and a high stance for lookout and defe... 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 - Lady's Island, Co. Wexford
Believe it or not this photo was selected because it was felt that it would sit well in our "Focus on our Photographers" album. I will leave it up to you to discover the reason for its inclusion. As a bonus we ... 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
Robert French - Marconi Calling
Marconi Station Clifden, Connemara..I received a lovely gift of a biography on Marconi at Christmas. The book by Marc Raboy is subtitled "The man who networked the world". What an interesting man he was, I was... More
Croagh Patrick, Westport, Co. Mayo and a whole lot more.
Down the Wesht today to Co.Mayo, God help us, with a distant view of Irelands Holy Mountain and a whole lot more! This lovely Royal sized glass plate has some excellent detail on the coastal location, with mix... More
Robert French - Ulster Hall, Belfast, Co. Antrim
Having enjoyed a week celebrating the life and photography of the late Elinor and Reginald Wiltshire we are back this week with an image by the legendary Robert French. This fine cabinet sized glass plate of t... More
Robert French - Grand Parade, Cork City, Co. Cork
Grand Parade as I've never seen it, half empty, no buses, no crowds and with the fountain in a different place! Cork has proven to be a happy hunting ground for us in the past, so for this week's final contrib... More
Robert French - St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin City, Co. Dublin
This amazing shot of St. Patricks Cathedral taken by Mr. French could probably never be repeated. Not at least short of knocking down buildings and recreating others! It creates a vision of a very open and spa... More
Robert French - But where's the Recess?
This beautiful landscape of Lough Inagh in Connemara in cabinet size by Lawrence is todays image! I always wondered about the name 'Recess' and where it came from. Perhaps today we might learn more?..While we ... More
![Robert French - GNR [i.e. Great Northern Railway] Station, Belfast](https://cache.getarchive.net/Prod/thumb/cdn2/L3Bob3RvLzE5MzAvMTIvMzEvZ25yLWllLWdyZWF0LW5vcnRoZXJuLXJhaWx3YXktc3RhdGlvbi1iZWxmYXN0LTVlZTAzNS0xMDI0LmpwZw%3D%3D/40/30/webp "Robert French - GNR [i.e. Great Northern Railway] Station, Belfast")
Robert French - GNR [i.e. Great Northern Railway] Station, Belfast
For such an important city on the island this station looks somewhat modest and unassuming, not quite what one might expect for so fine a city as Belfast. There is certainly plenty of activity there however, w... More
Robert French - Traffic Jam in Main Street, Delgany, Co. Wicklow
This Lawrence image of Main Street, Delgany is in considerable contrast to today's reality. This was taken when it was a tiny village, the centre of a rural community with few people, and when three horses and... More
Robert French - General View, Bruckless, Co. Donegal
This is the second time in recent weeks that Bruckless has been mentioned on this stream! This fine Royal sized plate taken by Mr. French shows the remote rural area of the time in fine detail. The other pass... More
The Court is not in Session! The Courthouse, Dundalk, Co. Louth
The court may not be in session, but there is a lot of business taking place outside its precincts! A market taking place in the shadow of the Courthouse in the centre of Dundalk town seems a little incongruou... More
Robert French - Old Church, Co. Galway?
An iconic if pooly captioned(?) image from the Lawrence Collection today. Galway is famous for many things and the window in the foreground is one of those, perhaps even more than the beautiful church in the b... More
Robert French - Chains, corner boys and a rookery?
This unusual church at Monkstown ( Monkstown_Church,_Dublin ) , County Dublin is beautifully captured by Mr. French in this shot. The swinger on the chains, the sitter on the wall and the seeming flock of rook... More
Robert French - Harbour, Queenstown, Co. Cork
This Lawrence Cabinet sized glass plate shows a great view of Queenstown Harbour with Spike Island, a corner of Haulbowline and the Royal Yacht (I think?) on a fine clear day! Should it be the Royal Yacht then... More
Robert French - Crusader, XIII Century, Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny
From long gone golf clubs, to long gone glory hunters in Graiguenamanagh, County Kilkenny. This fine stone effigy, with superb detail, looks like an interesting subject for a day in which the rain is belting d... More
Robert French - Inver, Co. Donegal - Introducing Jaunty?
While searching our catalogue for suitable photographs to share on this stream, I came across this one. Nothing exceptional I hear you say! But then I had a look at: General View, Bruckless ( vtls000324930 ) , ... More
Robert French - Wolf's Arch, Kilkenny City, Co. Kilkenny
From the childish charm of Monday to the rustic history of Tuesday! ..This building in Kilkenny is a very distinctive, and captured in a particularly fine image, with good detail of the arch and adjacent build... More
Robert French - There's a hairy ass fair in the County Clare
Kilkee in Co. Clare rather than Spancil Hill, but lots of asses/donkeys on display! A favourite holiday resort for people from Limerick City and others, it has a beautiful crescent beach with sparkling blue wa... More
Robert French - Boyne Valley: Lake House, Boyne Valley, Co. Louth
This fine shot of two canal boats at the lock in a canal would seem appropriate to many counties. While County Louth may not seem the most obvious candidate, yet that is the caption on this lovely Lawrence imag... More
Robert French - Biddy Gray's Crooked Wood, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
For many in the past (who were not Irish or who were more than one generation away from the island) this might appear to be an idyllic Irish scene. The thatched cottage, the granny sitting on the wall outside ... More
Robert French - Bellevue Conservatory, Delgany, Co. Wicklow
A rival to the National Botanical Gardens in the heart of Wicklow? This fine series of glasshouses and conservatory seem to have a strikingly modern design to rival those of the Botanic Gardens! If they still... More
Robert French - Photography School
An idyllic summer's day. Captured (not once but twice it seems) on the lawn at Ballinskelligs, I am intrigued by the two "barber shop" poles in the background. What were they for? Happy Fotografic Friday every... More
Robert French - Arcade, Rosscarbery, Co. Cork
On Monday we had a Bazaar from ancient Persia and today we have an "Arcade" from old Latin meaning "Arcata" - 'arch of a bridge' and taken to mean a market in a series of arches! Todays grand arcade is in Ross... 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
Robert French - Guns and Poses during World War I
This crisp and clear shot from the interior of the National Museum of Ireland from Lawrence for today. Four striking pieces of artillery tastefully arrayed among classical sculptures in a round room make for a... More
Robert French - Church, Interior Memorial, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal
A day to remember with a memorial in a church in Ballyshannon in Co. Donegal. At first sight the figures would appear to be police but other services also wore similar helmets at times. It is obviously a memo... More
Robert French - Williamsgate Street, Galway City, Co. Galway
Having been to Graigue by brake and back last week we start this week in Galway looking at the makers of the beautiful Claddagh Ring on Williamsgate Street in Galway City...Almost single-handedly, Niall McAuley... More
Robert French - Belfast Bank in Coleraine - an Oxymoron?
Though the doors are shut, we're going to the bank today - in the hope that we will get (a) some old money and (b) goods at the prices that prevailed when this image was taken. The Belfast Bank in Coleraine wa... More
Robert French - Nassau St, junction with Kildare St, Dublin
While the cataloguer has focused on the junction of Kildare St. and Nassau St, it is likely that the photographer's main subject was the building in the centre of the shot, the Kildare Street Club ( Kildare_Str... More
Robert French - Dame Street in the centre of Dublin
So much has changed and so little has changed! This shot of Dame St. in Dublins city centre is still recognisable today despite perhaps 100 years that have elapsed. Mr. French must have obtained access to a bui... More
Robert French - Lynchs Castle, Shop Street, Galway
In a New Year of promise and expectation we have the old reliable Robert French of Lawrence Photography to start us off. Here is Lynch's Castle, Shop Street in Galway ( http://galwaycivictrust.ie/downloads/Lync... More
Robert French - Changed, changed utterly!
The cattle market on North Circular Road in Dublin taken from a high PoV by Robert French. This landscape was well known to Joyce and at least one of the buildings in view was mentioned in "Ulysses" (along wit... More
Robert French - Health Offices, Dublin City, Co. Dublin
While this beautifully ornate building is familiar to me I would never have known it as the "Health Offices"! Finding it on Streetview shouldn't take too long in any event!..And indeed B-59 ( /photos/66311327@... More