70 Patrick Street, Cork - Victorian era public domain image
These are the premises of the legendary Guy's of Cork - photographers, stationers, and publishers of Guy's Cork Almanacs and Directories. At no. 69 to the left is Allen, a drapers perhaps as a sign in the windo... More
"... a foot in foreground" = Ruins of Olderfleet Castle, Larne
Hope none of you are eyeing the foreground uneasily to search for a severed limb, but in our catalogue, this image is titled: "Road approaching village, ruin to right, side-car, tourist party, a foot in foregro... 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
Merchants Quay, Newry. Northern Ireland
Ships on the canal at Merchants Quay in Newry, alongside a nice brace of merchants' premises...Date: 1870s? (but definitely between 1860 and 1883)..NLI Ref.: STP_1179 ( STP_1179 )
"possibly outside railway station"? No, it's Woodside Skating Rink!
Does this location look familiar to anyone? Our catalogue information says "... possibly outside railway station"...Plus I'm wondering is that scaffolding or a railing on roof of the large establishment with th... More
Bangor Castle I - Public domain image of steamship
Paddle steamer Bangor Castle en fête for some big event! We don't know where this was taken. Can just make out ...KLOW at extreme left on the prow of the steamer behind the Bangor Castle...Date: 1860-1883..NLI ... More
We're going on a bear hunt! - stereoscopic view, public domain photorp...
A cave deep in the woods would always hold the attraction of exploration and the thrill of danger, especially for the young at heart! Where is this one and has the scene changed much in the last 150 years?..Ro... More
Deep in the valley O! - stereoscopic view, public domain photorpaph
To end the week after some really lovely images, here we have one from our Stereo Pairs Collection of an unidentified valley. It has a cluster of houses nestling below the heavily wooded slopes of a hill. (Cong... More
Sure it would take me hours to walk over that stuff...
The catalogue description of this image suggests that it is a man standing on a castle, but the benefits of "Super Dooper Mega Zoom" (technical term) show that this is not the case. The man is sitting on a fai... More
Graveyards, memorials of Robt. Potter MP for Limerick, Fitzgerald of G...
A graveyard with Limerick people interred therein is probably in Limerick, or is it? Looking pristine and well tended I wonder how it looks today? Who was Robert Potter and Fitzgerald?..Photographers: Freder... More
The ruin and the cross - stereoscopic view, public domain photorpaph
For most of our old photographs the vegetation will have increased in the area since it was taken but in this case hope and suspect that it has actually reduced. An old overgrown building, in a marshy, reed co... More
A truly institutional institution!
To the Stereo Pairs collection today, and to a vast institution somewhere. These great building projects were intended to provide treatment and care for people in a region and have lasted for many years though... More
One man and his gun, Galway, Ireland
One with very few clues today to end the week and what looks like an early Stereo Pairs shot. A man on his own standing on a stone jetty with a heavy cannon gun beside him. In the background is a conical bare... More
Boxes, shovels and corner boys!
This is a cracker of a shot from the Stereo Pairs Collection with terrific detail and all kinds of jewels in the form of merchandise outside the doors of the shops. Where is English Street and where did Peter ... More
Sail and steam in harbour - stereoscopic view, public domain photorpap...
Returning to matters maritime once more we have a very busy harbour scene with steam and sailing ships berthed beside quays somewhere. In the background can be seen many stacks denoting industry and in the for... More
The street where you live... - stereoscopic view, public domain photor...
Starting the week with a Stereo Pairs image of a terrace of houses on a broad street many of them decorated with elaborate wrought (cast) iron balconies. I wonder where it is and if it appears on Streetview to... More
Out standing in his own field? - stereoscopic view, public domain phot...
We don't often get the chance to admire the Stereo Pairs Collection so it is great to be able to do so! This noble statue of a man on a plinth complete with a globe in a very fine setting should provoke some i... More
Somewhere in the West - stereoscopic view, public domain photorpaph
I know this scene, it is like the Delphi Fishery but I do not think it is, T. C. Kingsmill Moore, would know precisely. It is definitely associated with a fishery in the West of Ireland. We have the scotch pine... More
Castle on the hay covered hill
This beautifully restored(?) castle set in a field of early cut hay is this offering from the Stereo Pairs Collection. When you think how old these images are the quality and clarity is just remarkable. Where... More
NOT a "Gothic revival/restoration stone church, square castellated tow...
While this is NOT the exterior of a Gothic revival/restoration stone church it just may be the interior of just such a church. This appears to be one of a number of images of the same church in the archive. T... More
"Church with square tower of rubble masonry" is the original St Finbar...
A visit to the Stereo Pairs Collection today and to a country church(?) with "square tower of rubble masonry". The shot has been reduced to a single image for ease of viewing on Flickr. In the past we have bee... More
Who lives in a Fairy Castle? - stereoscopic view, public domain photor...
Yet again we have a case of deja vu! We seem to have seen aspects of this estate in the past though not the castle itself. A renaissance style castle set in the North of Ireland must have seemed pretty preten... More
A fine collection of ivy? (on 'St. Columb's House')
The title for this Stereo Pairs image goes "Celtic Oratory - very overgrown" which is somewhat of an understatement! Looking at the door and the stonework I would not have recognised it as a Celtic church buil... More
No place like home!. Northern Ireland
The original title for this stereo pairs shot is "Institutional building, open University, wings 3 bays wide, 4 deep, main obelisk 3 a side 3 to central portion, cart foreground" and I suspect that it won't las... More
Beauty on the double - stereoscopic view, public domain photorpaph
Good morning and a happy Monday to you all! I have a sense of deja vu all over again on this shot - though the one I am imagining is a Lawrence photo rather than this magnificent Stereo Pairs image. The scene ... More
Small church with square battlemented tower in graveyard, showing grav...
With a catalogue heading such as that above, identifying this church should perhaps be a doddle(?) On the morning of the winter solstice, the true new year perhaps, we can look forward to longer days, brighter... More
India in Ireland! The "Hindo Gate: Dromore, Co. Waterford"
The catalogue title here tells as much about the passage of time and changes in spelling, as the fantastic design of the bridge and gate tell us of the changes in power in the island. A beautiful if somewhat i... More
Hatters Castle in the trees! - stereoscopic view, public domain photor...
The original title of this Stereo Pairs image is "Long shot over trees, mountain in background, Co. Wicklow" and it is a long shot and a glimpse rather than a full view of a castellated house. No doubt if the ... More
"Long shot, rocky fields, hills slated cottages spare trees" is Lough ...
For a change we have an image from the Stereo Pairs Collection today with a rocky road surrounded by rocky fields and rocky walls in various states of repair. There is no indication where this might be though ... More
Statue of Frederick, east of Belfast, d.1858, College Square, Belfast,...
A Stereo Pairs image today and a fine example of how a typo by a cataloguer can send the innocent researcher off on a wild good chase. This time into the waves of the Irish Sea :) "Frederick, east of Belfast" ... More
"Modern Gothic church or institutional / ecclesiastical building much ...
A Gothic masterpiece to end July and welcome August! This looks very institutional today but may have been the height of architectural fashion in its day? Where is it and who built it?..Derangedlemur ( /photo... More
"River, single arch bridge in foreground, small modern church, adjoini...
I just love putting up these images from the Stereo Pairs Collection! There is something other worldly about them, a really distinctive view into the past and in stereo to boot! This image with its long and c... More
"Unidentified castle on seashore" is Blackrock Castle
This somehow familiar (yet so far unidentified) castle on the shore of the sea or an estuary is todays fare. I know I've seen it before, and have an idea where it might be, but I would be guessing. Whereas it ... More
"Unidentified photograph from the Stereo-pair collection" is Theatre R...
This fine, multi storey, building with a Royal coat of arms on the pediment should be readily identifiable - yet it remains labelled as unidentified in the NLI archives. Now is the chance to begin the week on ... More
"Large public building, railings, steps, 6 columns in portico, 2 guns ...
Another stereo pair image in single format for better viewing! This fine building defended by two unworkable cannon on high plinths looks very impressive and imposing whereever it may be. A nice way to end th... More
"Church ruins with pointed arches" is Kildare Cathedral
"Church ruins with pointed arches and 3 light window adjoining maintained, or possibly modern, square tower, glazed windows"..When is a Stereo Pair not a Stereo Pair? When someone cuts it in two and shows it a... 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
Howth Harbour and Irelands Eye - stereoscopic view, public domain phot...
A visit to the Stereo Pairs Collection today lets us stay in Howth, and gives a view of the area that perhaps neither you nor I has ever seen in reality. Today's fashionable suburb of Dublin is seen in its rus... More
Deja Vu? - stereoscopic view, public domain photorpaph
While I believe that this scene was visited before, I think it was not in the Stereo Pairs format nor was it of this quality! This outstanding image with so much going on is always worth a second visit...And s... 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
A strange and somehow familiar building - is Sligo Townhall
This very fine Stereo Pairs image of a familiar building shows it in great detail and clarity in a way that we will probably never see it again? I love the windows in particular and the imposing majesty of the... 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
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
A Belfast scene! - Public domain botanical illustration
The full title/description for this shot was too long and confusing for use on a Monday morning so I summarised it slightly :) A Belfast scene with lots to view and plenty of life going on. It immediately bro... 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
Buckingham Palace, London (with French sub-titles)
A rare visit to the Stereo Pairs collection takes us out foreign, to Bucks House no less and the "Picture Gallery". The titles as inserted on the slide are in French which may raise questions as to its provena... 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
'Turkish-style' building, Bray, Co. Wicklow
In my lifetime I must have visited Bray over 100 times, I am sad to report that I have never seen this building or anything which resembles this building. Then again I did not think that there was a significan... 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
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
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
Badly in need of a landscaper! - stereoscopic view, public domain phot...
This fine old building looks neglected and abandoned all those years ago, is it even there now?..And the short answer is: yes - it's Assembly's College ( Union_Theological_College ) (now part of Queens Univers... More
Two-storey classical style modern building - is Crumlin Road Courthous...
This splendid building can hardly be a Railway Station? We thought it must surely be a municipal building like a parliament, senate office or even art gallery........ and with thanks to Niall McAuley ( /photos... More
Cushendall County Antrim - stereoscopic view, public domain photorpaph
A very Happy St. Brigids day to you all! This, the feast day of Irelands female deity/saint is the herald of Spring and a day for women to celebrate. Labelled in the catalogue as "Antrim, possibly County Glen... More
Down by the rocky pool! - stereoscopic view, public domain photorpaph
This Stereo Pair shot of a man standing by a pool in County Clare to end this week. In a week with at least two storms, the waters in this shot are calm and still, perhaps we will have a storm free weekend?..L... More
A meeting of waters... is Belleek, Co. Fermanagh
This beautiful scene with a stream joining a larger river just above a bridge makes a scene that many photographers would love to shoot today!..With thanks especially today to the keen eyes and memory of O Mac ... More
Keeping up with the Jones's?
The domestic dwelling to the right of this shot must have felt that nothing they could do would enable them to keep up with the Jones's! The actual title for this was "Large domestic or institutional building ... More
Full-length portrait taken at the Gap of Dunloe, Killarney, Co. Kerry
We have a few photographs which we had readied for the Tríd an Lionsa program. We felt that we would not get the opportunity to post them in the normal course, therefore we have decided to post a number of them... 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
Cottage with fine tied down, thatch, F Kane, licensed tobacco dealer, ...
How times have changed, the establishment was required to have a sign above the door showing that they were licensed to sell tobacco. Today they could not even consume tobacco in the premises...With thanks to ... More
Square obelisk by footbridge with iron railing over wide stream, woods...
Today we change from the misery of a downtrodden people to a memorial to someone long dead. Drogheda is an historic and fascinating town and we really looked forward to finding out more about this obelisk...An... More
Gap of Dunloe, Dunloe, Co. Kerry
Today we have an image from the Stereo Pairs collection featuring a group in the Gap of Dunloe in Kerry. The Gap is shown in all its rugged beauty with a multitude of rocks. In the near foreground a trio of y... More
Full-length portrait taken at the Gap of Dunloe, Killarney, Co. Kerry
For Friday we have one from the Stereo Pairs collection, a young Kerry woman taken at the Gap of Dunloe...This image - and others in the related series - will feature in TG4's "Tríd an Lionsa" ( http://www.tg4.... More
River and weir at Ballyshannon - stereoscopic view, public domain phot...
Leaving the French nobility behind, today we visit rural Ireland in the Stereo Pairs collection. This fine view of a river with bridge and weir has a super POV and is very nicely composed. The masses of wild ... More
Seymour Street Methodist Church, Lisburn, Co. Antrim
Today we have two for the price of one in the Stereo Pairs collection. An ornate church with an even more ornate fountain before! Identified as Lisburn's Seymour Street Methodist Church, we suspected the fount... 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
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
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
Anyone for cricket? Academical College, Coleraine
"School building, 2 storey (3 in central wing) 3 bays deep, 11 wide, professors in foreground boys with cricket bats"..Keeping with our academic theme, the "zoomed" view of this stereo-pair (or at least one hal... More
Majiculations, Machicolations or Bartizans?
Fortified house (majiculations at Corner) 1 bay deep, adjoining ivy grown building of same height..This is Monkstown Castle, Monkstown Co.Cork, the location was identified courtesy of derangedlemur ( /photos/8... More
Gothic Grandeur Gloriously Guarded
This beautiful shot from the stereo pairs shows a fine church in an unknown location. The initial title was too long so a wee bit of alliteration to start your day:-)..Location Identified as Saint Fin Barre's ... More
Lazy Beds, Newcastle Co.Down. Northern Ireland
An idyllic Rural/Seaside shot with some fine horticultural practice in the foreground but where is it?..Location was identified by our great supporter derangedlemur ( /photos/8468254@N02/ ) as Newcastle Co. D... More
Brick turretted tower. Northern Ireland
Brick turretted tower, corner - bastion of fort over water, cannon at embrasures..Believe it or not, I was surprised when ZMB ( /photos/zoebowyer/ ) identified this as Shane's Castle, especially after the ph... 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
Loreto Convent Omagh. Northern Ireland
Institutional, four-storey building...Location Identified!! by OwenMacC ( /photos/91549360@N03/ ) as "Omagh Convent. The Loreto Convent constructed in 1859 by Dublin builder, J. Neville The Chapel has some fi... More
Rock of ages - A group of men sitting on top of a large rock
Four boys on or at large rock possibly near seaside village.....With thanks to robinparkes ( /photos/13073434@N03/ ) and derangedlemur ( /photos/8468254@N02/ ) , we have confirmation that this is a large errat... More
The road to Newcastle Co. Down. Northern Ireland
Street in small country town, mainly 1-storey houses including, many thatched, church, square tower four spirelets, wooded and bare hill in background...The location of this photo was identified in a flash by d... More
Corry - Obelisk, Newry, County Down
Triangular green, railed, with square tapered column inscribed Corry on 6-step base, 2-storey public buildings 3-storey terraced streets, in background wooded hills in far background...It fascinates me that an ... 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
Donkey Power! Limerick, Ireland
Village street, donkey carts, people in foreground, modern small church in middleground...Thanks to derangedlemur ( /photos/8468254@N02/ ) we know that this is Castleconnell Co. Limerick...swordscookie ( /pho... More
Glenarm, Co. Antrim.. Northern Ireland
Raising the "Location Identified* flag in double quick time thanks to derangedlemur ( /photos/8468254@N02/ ) who identified this photo as being Glenarm, Co. Antrim. Specifically the river mouth of the Glenar... More
Ornamental garden, Kylemore, Co Galway
Kylemore Gardens, Co Galway is the location of this photo. It is part of the Kylemore House / Abbey estate. The Gardens were built along with Kylemore House between 1867 and 1871. ..It Transpires that there wer... More
St Saviour's Church and the Tait Memorial Clock in Limerick
sharon.corbet ( /photos/129555378@N07/ ) had the location identified within minutes. This is St Saviour's Church and The Tait Memorial clock in Limerick...The Clock was first erected in 1867, it commemorates S... More
St Patrick's Church Downpatrick.
After a relatively long search Liam O'Hara ( /photos/116877755@N06/ ) identified the Church as St Patrick's, Dungannon, County Down, Northern ireland...Niall McAuley ( /photos/gnmcauley/ ) narrowed the dat... More
Shipquay Street Derry/Londonderry.
This is one of a stereo pair from the Lawrence Collection. The title is "Low angle railings Civil Building with clock tower and dome, statue with small plinth in front. Lisburn, Co. Antrim...Location Identifie... More
"Long shot sea, hills in background, 2 Constables and 2 others at step...
Delighted to have this early close-up of two R.I.C. Constables, even if one of them has come over all manly and shy and is presenting us with his profile...Where was this taken? Do you know?..Date: 1860-1883..N... More
Sad eyes or scary eyes?, Donegal, Ireland
Never quite sure about this one - are the old woman's eyes full of sadness, or is she muttering ancient incantations behind her fingers? Either way, she's very compelling...We weren't sure about which or where ... More
Donkey rides at Kilkee - Victorian era public domain image
Quintessential Victorian seaside in Co. Clare, complete with bathing machines, dandies and donkey rides, although this poor donkey's hooves are in sore need of trimming.....Date: 1863-1880..NLI Ref: STP_1660 (... 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
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
"… informally inscribed rock …" = An Chloch Mhór / The Big Stone
... as it says in our catalogue, or graffiti as we'd call it! We were fairly happy this was somewhere near Rostrevor, Co. Down (and thanks to Tin of beans for confirming that), but found it irresistible either ... More
Whilst here of pleasure you partake…
… One penny give for Jesus' sake..A bit of an odd one for you today. Any hope of finding out where this well was? Probably not a Holy Well, despite the religious lines and biblical reference? Perhaps in the gro... 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
Auld Reekie, Edinburgh, Scotland
We haven't been "out foreign" for a while, so thought we might take a quick jaunt over to Edinburgh…..From what I can make out, these are the establishments:. Dickson's Refreshments at no. 10.The Black Bul... More