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 - 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 - 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 - 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
"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 - 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 - 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 - Kilmanahan Castle, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
Yet another fine image of an Irish castle from the Lawrence Collection. When you see these shots of beautiful buildings you begin to realise the loss the country suffered during the course of the early part of ... More
Robert French - Athboy, Co. Meath
We begin the week with a scene from the town of Athboy in the north of Royal Meath. Here it is dominated by its COI church tower, with the other end of the town marked by a castle built by Hugh deLacy. A mark... More
Robert French - Blackadder Hotel, Ballynahinch, Co. Galway
Blackadder Hotel? Who would have thought that Blackadder would have gone forth from West Galway and from such a beautiful setting. This is up there with the most scenic Lawrence photographs we have seen...Wit... More
The Apprentice Boys Memorial aka "The Heroes Mound", Derry City, Co. D...
Today we move from the far south of Waterford to the far north of Derry and a memorial to the Apprentice Boys there. A surprisingly modest memorial to such an historically important group...This shot from Derr... More
Robert French - Admiralty House
I selected this photograph from the catalogue for two reasons, firstly because it is a striking building and secondly because I knew absolutely nothing about it. All that said I am willing to wager that there ... More
Robert French - West Beach, Queenstown, Co. Cork
While we have been to Queenstown/Cobh before this fine Lawrence shot of the West Beach has lots of interest. Those skifs and the people around add interest to the scene with occasional ghosts to liven things u... More
"Hole in the Wall", Phoenix Park, Dublin City, Co. Dublin
A fine Lawrence shot of a fine Dublin establishment. ..The Blackhorse Tavern AKA "The Hole in the Wall" pub on Blackhorse Avenue. The late President Sean T. O'Kelly was reputed to slip out of the nearby Áras f... More
Robert French - The Club on the Bridge - Shannon Rowing Club, Limerick
To anyone crossing Sarsfields Bridge over the Shannon in Limerick this fine old building dominates the upstream side. A venerable institution it was at different times in its history one of the most successful... More
Robert French - Michael's Lane, Dublin City
Today we go from the grandeur of the Great Northern Hotel to inner city Dublin with plenty of life and points of interest to ponder. Is that a "Fagins" of urchins on the left foreground? What do you call a gr... More
Robert French - Eviction scene, Ireland
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 scope of the eviction m... More
Robert French - Fair Day, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
A busy fair day in the south with many cattle for sale and plenty of men there to sell or to buy. The hand slapping is in full swing with deals being done and cows bought and sold...Thanks to all for the comme... More
Robert French - The Colony, Achill
Sounding a little ominous (perhaps somewhere Patrick McGoohan might have spent some time), today we visit "The Colony" on Achilll island. Depending on when French captured this image, it's likely that Nangle's ... More
Robert French - Belvelly Castle, Fota, Co. Cork
For our Cork supporters today we have an old and very clear shot of the castle at the bridge from Fota. ..This shot generated a number of good stories today - leaving us with a tough job to select the most int... More
Robert French - Main Street, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo
To Mayo, God help us, this morning with a view of a typical Irish town...It is thought that the town grew up around St Mary's Augustinian Friary (popularly referred to as "the Abbey"), which was founded in 1348... More
Robert French - Ridge Pool, Ballina, Co. Mayo
King Street, Ballina, Co. Mayo..Not King Street Ballina Co. Mayo, nor King Street, Ballina, New South Wales, this is a view overlooking the famous Ridge Pool and the old fish traps on the River Moy. ..The Balli... More
Robert French - Changing of the Guard?
Taken at Dublin Castle. If you recognise regiments, ceremony, anything at all really, please let us know…..Date: Circa 1905??..NLI Ref.: L_ROY_06809 ( vtls000320607 )
Robert French - Weighed, Galway, Ireland
A weigh station in the heart of Clifden, Co. Galway, that had presumably just been used to weigh the contents of the panniers carried by this old woman's donkey. Fully expecting argument as to whether this is a... More
Robert French - The most beautiful terrace in Ireland?
Gorgeous view from the terrace at Powerscourt House, Co. Wicklow across impeccably manicured grounds to the Sugarloaf on the horizon...Date: Circa 1890..NLI Ref.: L_CAB_06676 ( L_CAB_06676 )
Robert French - Comber's Bakery, Ennistymon
Niall McAuley showed fairly conclusively that this photo was taken at Ennistymon. Here are the Comber family on the 1901 census ( http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Clare/Ennistymon/Old_Town_Stree... More
All hands on deck at Achill Railway station
National Library of Ireland Collection
Cart tracks, horse apples and TWO dogs = heaven - Flickr - National Li...
National Library of Ireland Collection
Let's get to the Point
National Library of Ireland Collection
Lough Fea House, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan (18509673200)
National Library of Ireland Collection
The Long Room (6713554905), Dublin, Ireland
This is the very beautiful Long Room Library at Trinity College Dublin. Date: Circa 1885 NLI Ref.: L_CAB_01200
Trinity College Dublin, late 19th century (7548442648)
National Library of Ireland Collection
Robert French - Frescati House, Blackrock (28672258262)
National Library of Ireland Collection - A black and white photo of a large house, A large white house with a large front door, A large white house with a large front door, A large white house with a large front porch
Robert French - In splendid isolation (44390803294)
National Library of Ireland Collection - A black and white photo of a stone building, A man sitting in a cave, A photograph of a stone hut with a man sitting in the doorway, A hut in the mountains
James Malton - Survey of Dublin, Co. Dublin (25038254303)
National Library of Ireland Collection - A black and white map of a city, A map of the castle of dublin, ireland, circa 1900, A map of the castle of dublin, showing the location of the castle of and the city of... 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
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 - 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 - 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 - Main Street in Roscommon Town
Was very ashamed when I looked around all the counties of Ireland and realised that we've been overlooking Roscommon, so here's one to slightly redress the balance... Hope you like it!..Date: Circa 1903..NLI Re... More
Robert French - George's Street, Limerick
Hope you don't mind, but think I'll recycle one or two photos that have been hiding away in the bowels of our stream since we started on Flickr and before we hit the Commons, as they're pretty good but haven't ... More
Robert French - Dr Tully's House
An eviction on the land of the Marquis of Clanricarde at Woodford, Co.Galway. Farmer and boatbuilder, Francis Tully, known locally as “Dr Tully”, was an activist for the Plan of Campaign in Galway...The Plan of... 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
Market Square, Wexford
National Library of Ireland Collection
Schools, Artane, Dublin City, Co. Dublin (23916034998)
National Library of Ireland Collection
Slums, Dublin City, Co. Dublin (35004465006)
National Library of Ireland Collection
To the Manor born!
National Library of Ireland Collection
Robert French - Prince Albert's statue, Leinster Lawn (26792457164)
National Library of Ireland Collection
Robert French - Rostillon Castle, Aghada, Co. Cork (49022276578)
Life can be funny! Yesterday's location was well known yet attracted great attention and provided superb entertainment for those looking in! Today's image is one that I have never seen or heard of before but... 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
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 - To market, to market…
A fine display of pig herding skills on Friar Street in Youghal, Co. Cork...Date: Circa 1900??..NLI Ref.: L_CAB_07723 ( vtls000332419 )
Robert French - Bowling along in their motor
We've seen this vehicle IM 181 at Leenane before ( nlireland/6851004167/ ) , or at least its sister vehicle IM 180. It's supposed to be near Westport, Co. Mayo. Can any of you place this viaduct?..Can make out ... More
Robert French - Presenting Davy Stephens, late of Kingstown
Really unusual for us to find a named person in our Lawrence Collection photographs, but here is Mr Davy Stephens. A really cursory Google search reveals that he was a very famous news seller around Kingstown (... More
Robert French - Wheeeeee, Cork, Ireland
All-action photo for you this morning! This is the water chute erected on the River Lee for the Cork Exhibition in 1902/03...Would love more information on the Cork Exhibition; more exact date; location of the ... More
Robert French - House of Rest, Bangor, Co. Down
An odd little one, this! Called House of Rest on our catalogue...Would be delighted to hear the story about this G.F. Home of Rest, as it's described on the glass plate itself... (G.F. = Girls' Friendly Home?).... More
Robert French - Basically a giant lump of rock
We may need input from passing geologists, but this is either limestone or limestone shot through with something known locally as green stone (we think). The photo was taken near Kenmare, Co. Kerry...An exact l... More
Robert French - Fish and Vegetable Sellers
NLI Ref.: L_ROY_02704 ( L_ROY_02704 )
Robert French - Sampson Island, Loop Head, Co. Clare
Bizarre and quite frankly scary-looking viewing post in Co. Clare to what the sign says is Sampson Island. In another photo, the rest of the text on the sign seems to say Landed July 1? 183? (very speculative).... More
GNR (i.e. Great Northern Railway) Station, Belfast (33983057401)
National Library of Ireland Collection - A black and white photo of an old building, A black and white photo of a train station, A black and white photo of a street with cars and people, A vintage photo of a ho... More
Posers in the sunny South East (35380747664)
National Library of Ireland Collection
Robert French (11961422373), Dublin, Ireland
National Library of Ireland Collection
Gweedore Natives, Gweedore, Co. Donegal (23611131279)
National Library of Ireland Collection - A black and white photo of a group of people, A group of people standing around a house, A group of people standing outside of a house, A group of people sitting on the ground
Evicted family outside thatched stone cottage with their belongings, D...
Evicted family outside thatched stone cottage with their belongings, Derrybeg County Donegal
NLI Fusiliers Arch Grafton Street
National Library of Ireland Collection
Robert French - Eyre Square, Galway
Featuring the shyest tram passengers ever.....Date: 1880s?..NLI Ref.: L_ROY_00775 ( vtls000325307 )
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
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