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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - Abbey Street, Ennis, County Clare
Lots to enjoy for lovers of signs and canines. Less so for those disposed to welfare of bovines. Is this first of future rhyming headlines? Nah; to the census - to find the Considines!..Based on the businesses ... More
Robert French - Castle Place, Belfast.
We stay north of the border again today, with this lovely shot of Castle Place in the center of Belfast. Gaslight, horse drawn trams and lots of action, what more could you ask for. We seem to see people alight... More
Robert French - Academical Institute, Belfast, Co. Antrim
From an ancient plaque on a wall in Galway to a celebrated centre of learning in Belfast to start the week. This imposing if architecturally bland building houses the Belfast Academical Institute better known a... More
Robert French - Cahermoyle House, Ardagh, Co. Limerick
Today we stay in Limerick but move out to the county where we have this fine house with a rustic-effect facing...(As an aside, while many of the regular NLI Commons stream followers may already be aware of the ... More
Robert French - Eviction scene, Ireland
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
Robert French - Castle Junction, Belfast
Moving from downtown Nobber to a more sophisticated and meropolitan Belfast and the department stores and fine buildings on display at Castle Junction...Thanks to John Spooner ( /photos/johnspooner/ ) & sharon... More
Robert French - McGuinness's Shop, Nobber, Co. Meath
From the maritime delights of Schull in Co. Cork to the broad plains of Meath and metropolitan Nobber today. This is a fine shot of a business premises in rural Ireland around the turn of the 19th and 20th cen... More
Robert French - Bell Bridge (Bealaclugga Bridge) County Clare
Robert French took a few shots of this striking early 19th century bridge near Spanish Point in Clare (Miltown Malbay per the catalogue entry). Given that this was likely a famine relief project, the effort tha... More
Robert French - Life on Patrick Street, Limerick
Our Catalogue described this photo as:."Tenant Farmer's Cottage, Killarney, Co. Kerry" .Which clearly wasn't correct...After posting (to possibly identify and correct the entry), we noticed that the slide was a... 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - Trinity College, Brian Boro's Harp, Dublin City, Co. D...
The Harp that once through Tara's halls... Well it may have been heard in Kincora? ..Here we see the Trinity College (or Brian Boru) harp ( Trinity_College_Harp ) as it was following (what the Wikipedia artic... More
Group gathered outside the house of Mary O'Dea, Tullycrine, Co.Clare f...
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
Robert French - At Gweedore, Co. Donegal
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
Robert French - Steel's Rock & Court House, Ennis, Co. Clare
Staying in Co. Clare for today we have the enigmatic "Steels Rock" (or more correctly Steele's Rock) and the court house in Ennis. We questioned whether the rock was still there - as the court house undoubtedl... More
Robert French - Queen's College, Observatory, Cork
Anyone visiting the college for 2015's "George Boole 200" events may be interested to know that this observatory is accessible to visitors for the first time ( http://georgeboole.com/events/tours/being-boole-ge... More
Robert French - Rebuilding Castlebar, Co. Mayo
This shot of Castlebar is in stark contrast to the modern, bustling and thriving town we know today!.This is the last of our County towns for this week and perhaps an opportunity to search the Parish Registers ... More
Robert French - Mullins, Cashel Co.Tipperary
Between breastfeeding a brush and a dog striking a pose this shot has everything! Cashel, Co. Tipperary...Thanks to Carol Maddock ( /photos/47297387@N03 ) for the following information on Mr William Mullins..... More
Robert French - Gap Cottage, Killarney, Co. Kerry
NOT - Kate Kearney's Cottage, Killarney, Co. Kerry as per our Catalogue and the face of the photo...Thanks to Beara Peninsula ( /photos/97197821@N07/ ) we now know that this is not the infamous Kate Kearney's... 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - Ballaghbema Pass, Glencar, Co. Kerry
While possibly not overly relevant for the day that's in it - International Women's Day - today's image takes us from the hallowed halls of the Royal Belfast Academical Institution to the rocky narrow road of t... More
T.Birmingham's house, Moyasta, Co.Clare with Battering Ram and soldier...
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
Robert French - Parnell's Grave, Glasnevin, Co. Dublin
A visit to what has now become a tourist attraction, Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin where the "uncrowned King of Ireland" is buried...Charles Stewart Parnell (Irish: Cathal Stiúbhard Pharnell; 27 June 1846 – 6 Oc... More
Robert French - Regatta Season on the Liffey
I think this is one of the nicest photos we have had for a while, there is so much going on, it is a real shame that we do not have the notes feature as I have no doubt that there would have been at least 20 ne... More
Robert French - Long Cars, Gorey, Co. Wexford
What a lovely photograph, it even has not one but two dogs!!...It seems that Long Cars are a type of early public transport (strike free perhaps?) Carol Maddock ( /photos/47297387@N03/ ) refers us to an adver... More
Robert French - Footing the Turf
We're staying around Ballymena for another day. I like this photo for its own sake, but this was probably also a challenge on a par with locating the Linen Bleach Green ( nlireland/8251136135/ ) , only with eve... More
Robert French - Life on Patrick Street, Limerick
Our Catalogue described this photo as:."Tenant Farmer's Cottage, Killarney, Co. Kerry" .Which clearly wasn't correct...After posting (to possibly identify and correct the entry), we noticed that the slide was a... 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - Fridays child is loving and giving!
The fine shot of Town Hall Street, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh is surely "Fridays Child"? There is so much to see here including some crisp, clear posters, a Peeler, some ghosts and more people standing around ... 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 - Curraghmore, Portlaw, Co. Waterford
We may have moved to the Lawrence Collection today but we remain firmly in Poole territory of Waterford. This magnificent pile may not have survived the "Troubles" but if it has it would make a most interestin... More
Robert French - G.P.O. Belfast - Victorian era public domain image
On the Monday after Assembly Elections in Northern Ireland we go to Belfast and an image of an impressive and deserted (almost) General Post Office. One of the two figures standing on the kerb appears to be a ... More
Robert French - "Crawford's Burn Bridge & Waterfall, Bangor, Co. Down"...
...I know, I know. Someone in Library Towers was on the sauce last evening but it wasn't me :) Clearly this image is of the cathedral on the Rock of Cashel. How its label was transmogrified to become "Crawford'... More
Robert French - Sea Park House, Malahide
On a bright if cold day in Dublin we have a shot taken on a bright summers(?) day in Malahide. I admit to not knowing if Seapark House still exists...The sad news is that the house no longer exists, It was dem... More
Mathias Magrath's house, Moyasta, Co.Clare after destruction by the Ba...
Following the recent related Tríd an Lionsa program ( http://www.tg4.ie/en/player/home/?pid=4636432704001&title=Tr%c3%add an Lionsa&series=Tr%c3%add an Lionsa ) , today's image shows the result of the type of b... More
Robert French - Roaring Meg, Derry City, Co. Derry
Thanks to sharon.corbet ( /photos/129555378@N07/ ) for the following information on "Roaring Meg"...Roaring Meg, named because of its ferocious sound in battle, was used during the Siege of Derry. One accoun... More
Robert French - Hare Island Lodge, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
This Robert French shot of Hare Island Lodge in Lough Ree close to Athlone might look right in colonial Africa, India or even in 80's Ireland...I am surprised there was no mentioned of the 3 small cannons - I w... More
Robert French - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - Mick McQuaid's Cabin, Connemara, Co. Galway
Two poems immediately spring to mind when I look at this image but neither of them refers to Connemara. This beautiful scene may have cheered "Mick McQuaid" on a daily basis or perhaps due to the harshness of ... More
Robert French - Irish Jaunting car
The once ubiquitous Irish Jaunting car, or as it was also called, the "side car". Up to the 1950s they were the taxi of choice in most places. Often with little comfort, as one hung-on precariously sideways to... More
Robert French - Statue of Sir B.L. Guinness, St. Patricks Cathedral, D...
A statue of a man in tights should get us off to a good start today? I have seen this statue of Sir B L Guinness many times but never paid much heed to. It will be nice to research him and see what his claim ... More
Robert French - The Square, Fermoy, Co. Cork
Another angle on the Square, Fermoy with our backs to the River Blackwater. We have seen this square before but usually looking out across the bridge. It is surprising to see how dominated the town is by the ... More
Robert French - South Great George's Street Market, Dublin City, Co. D...
This beautiful red brick building on South Great Georges Street in Dublin's southside is the subject of todays image. With turrets and "Rapunzel" towers at strategic places, it is a veritable fairy castle...As... More
Robert French - James Malton - Survey of Dublin, Co. Dublin
An ancient map of a much smaller Dublin as photographed by Lawrence. The north side appears to have been the poor relation even back then...With thanks to today's contributors, and following from a previous po... More
Robert French - Portumna Castle
To Portumna beside the Shannon and to a ruin before the desolation of the War of Independence and the Civil War. ..This once fine old building appears as an empty shell in this Lawrence/French shot ... however... More
Mathias Magrath's house, Moyasta, Co.Clare with the Battering Ram in f...
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
Robert French - The Square, Parsonstown (Birr, Co Offaly)
From an obelisk to a column, from Drogheda to Parsonstown, from the Orange Order to the Liberator "Butcher" Cumberland...Originally we thought perhaps that the statue adorning this column in Birr (previously ca... More
Robert French - Queen's Square, Fermoy, Co. Cork
Queens Square in Fermoy with that fine bridge across the Blackwater dominating the shot...While location and subject of this French shot were already clear, we lacked a more refined date range. Rising almost so... More
Robert French - Club House, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
It transpires that this is the Tipperary County Club, it also transpires that there is very little information about the club on the web. However we did discover that the club was founded in 1836 and that Lord ... More
Robert French - Celtic Cross, Aran Islands.
One of our first photos from Inismore on the Aran Islands...As per Sharon the Cross was carved by the Farther of Pádraig Pearse. James Pearse, established a stonemasonry business in the 1850s a business which... More
Robert French - Kissing the Blarney Stone
This shot of the iconic tourist experience in Ireland was taken a long time ago...You might also like Sean O'Neill's photo ( vtls000342928 ) which was part of the The Lawrence Photographic Project 1990/1991. T... 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 - 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
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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - Frescati House, Blackrock
Once one of the great houses of Dublin and today a shopping mall, the demolition of this building was viewed by quite a few as a "monumental act of vandalism"...B-59 ( /photos/66311327@N05/ ) draws our attenti... More
Robert French - The sunny side of the street
From one end of the country to the other, today we are in Main Street Ballymoney, County Antrim. I wonder if "life can be so sweet on the sunny side of the street"...Today's contributions focused on the busines... More
Robert French - 12:07 in Dalkey
Main Street, Dalkey, Co. Dublin..The lad with the basket on the left, looks very like the lad with the basket in the photograph from Gorey :)..The leafy suburb of Dalkey beckons and requires your attention. You... More
The West End is definitely the place to go ... in Mallow!
The West End in Mallow was obviously a thriving place given the amount of goods and chattels on display. It seems a very "English" name or description for an Irish town, I wonder is it still used today?..Thank... More
Robert French - George's Hill Presentation Convent, Dublin City, Co. D...
This oasis of peace and learning lies in the heart of old Viking Dublin. Surrounded by hospitals and artisan dwellings it provided education for generations of girls. ..While the subject was relatively clear, w... More
Robert French - Church, Arranmore, Aran Islands, Co. Galway
From yesterday's luxurious properties to the spartan settings of the Aran Islands at the turn of the last century...With thanks to derangedlemur ( /photos/8468254@N02/ ) , O Mac ( /photos/91549360@N03/ ) , Dann... More
![Robert French - Sorrento Terrace, Dalkey [and Dalkey Island]](https://cache.getarchive.net/Prod/thumb/cdn2/L3Bob3RvLzE5MzAvMTIvMzEvc29ycmVudG8tdGVycmFjZS1kYWxrZXktYW5kLWRhbGtleS1pc2xhbmQtNzJkZDUzLTEwMjQuanBn/40/30/webp "Robert French - Sorrento Terrace, Dalkey [and Dalkey Island]")
Robert French - Sorrento Terrace, Dalkey [and Dalkey Island]
For today we have a real Lawrence photograph of Dalkey, and its beautiful village and harbour on Dublin's southside. The view which, as the community points-out, hasn't changed that much in the intervening year... More
Robert French - Garinish Island Tower, Glengarriff, Co. Cork
Lawrence takes us on a visit to a Garinish Island that is more muckheap than garden. Is this now part of the fabulous gardens???..I am with sharon.corbet ( /photos/129555378@N07/ ) with regards to the inadeq... More
Robert French - Mansion, Blarney, Co. Cork!!
This is intended to confuse the uninitiated! Everybody knows that Blarney is in Cork?..Of course you all knew that Blarney is in Cork not Kerry as per our catalogue. This fine house unlike some we have seen re... 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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
Robert French - Clonyn Castle, Delvin, Co. Westmeath
Charming Clonyn Castle brings our week to a close. As the location for the 'famous' novel "The Valley of the Squinting Windows' there are lots of windows to squint through in this fine pile. Is it still there... More
Robert French - Earl Street, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
Another fine Lawrence street shot taken by the inimitable Mr. French to start our week! Here we have not only a goodly, straight and clean street but the denizens thereof watching the artist as he takes their ... 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
Robert French - Eviction scene (Battering Ram)
If you are researching our Eviction photos the notes on this particular photo include summaries of the results of all the findings / research of the NLI flickr community. ..Particular thanks to the folllowing f... 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
Robert French - Octagon, Westport, County Mayo
For many towns a four-sided square is sufficient. Not so for the "planned town" of Westport - where norms are doubled to form "the Octagon". The octagonal monument in the centre ( http://www.buildingsofireland.... More
Robert French - Main Street, Swords, Co. Dublin
Here we are in Swords the home of Fingal County Council. .It would be fantastic if we could tie this photo in some way to the parish registers of the area see - Parish Registers ( http://registers.nli.ie/parish... More