A PEER BACK IN TIME

Looking back to a time when there was much political and social upheaval in Ireland, a selection of photos sourced from the National Library of Ireland, provide a fascinating insight of times past. Several landmark locations throughout The Avondhu circulation area are published here, as captured through the lens of photographers from both The Lawrence Photographic Collection & The Poole Collection.

THE LAWRENCE PHOTOGRAPHIC

COLLECTION

William Mervyn Lawrence (1840-1932) was an entrepreneur who recognised the commercial potential of photography, opening a photography studio on Sackville Street (now O’Connell Street) in Dublin in 1865 where he employed photographers, printers, colourists, retouchers and sales personnel. Though not a photographer himself, his business thrived and his topographical views of Ireland were particularly profitable in the form of postcards and souvenirs with the rise in tourism in the early twentieth century.

Robert French began working in the Lawrence Photographic Studio in the early 1860s.

He was the chief photographer responsible for photographing approximately three quarters of the National Library’s Lawrence Collection. He specialised in outdoor views and captured images of almost every small village in Ireland – the collection includes a treasure trove of imagery from across The Avondhu area from the time.

Mr French left the firm in 1914. Lawrence himself retired shortly after in 1916 and ownership of the business passed to his youngest son William. Within weeks, the Easter Rising had broken out and the Lawrence shop was among the first to be looted. The portrait negatives which were housed in the Sackville Street premises were destroyed, but thankfully the glass plate negatives of outdoor views were stored in Rathmines and so survived.

While continuing for another quarter of a century, the business failed to continue its success and closed in December 1943.

The bulk of the Lawrence Photographic Collection cover the years 1865-1914.

Between 1990 and 1991, a nationwide enterprise was undertaken which re-photographed a thousand of the urban and rural scenes contained in the original Lawrence Collection. The Lawrence Photographic

Project was organised jointly by the Federation of Local History Societies and the Federation for Ulster Local Studies and was sponsored by Fuji Ireland Ltd. The project was carried through on an entirely voluntary basis, by seventy-eight photographers.

THE POOLE COLLECTION

The family firm of A.H. Poole operated as commercial photographers in Waterford during the years 1884-1954. The majority of the Poole Collection of photographs consists of portraits of Waterford people reflecting the social and economic life of the city, including studio portraits of local individuals, group portraits of business firms, school classes, clubs and societies.

This fascinating collection of images illustrate the diverse nature of the work collected, covering life in the south east of Ireland from the nineteenth to the twentieth century. West Waterford features strongly, with many fascinating images captured from Lismore, Cappoquin, Tallow and surrounds.

In addition to Waterford city and county, other areas covered include Wexford, Kilkenny and Cork. Well in excess of seven thousand images have been catalogued by the National Library of Ireland.

Liam Lynch Anniversary Commemoration takent Fermoy on Sunday 13/4/1924. Mr. Sean T. O’Kelly (Seán T Ó Cealgh) is pictured on a raised platform delivering an oration to a vast crowd ihe field at the back of the graveyard. From the Irish Political Figures Potographic Collection. (Image courtesy of the National Library of Irela

The creation date from this Poole Photographic Collection image is based on the date the photographic order was placed; recorded in Index Book of the A. H. Poole Studio as: 3rd February 1916. It shows a somewhat unusual scene from the hall at Glencairn Abbey, Tallow, Co. Waterford, commissioned by Mrs. Power. Five full skinned pelts, including heads, of what appear to be tigers. (Image courtesy of the National Library of Ireland)

The main street thoroughfare in Lismore decorated with flags and buntings, in advance of a royal visit to Lismor 1901-1954, it is from the The Poole Photographic Collection. (Image courtesy of the National Library of Ireland)

A view of Fermoy town across the Blackwater, c. 1865-1914, showing the weir in full glory. The named business premises on what was Artillery Quay (now O’Neill Crowley Quay), r-l:, E Byrne and JJ Barber. Next to this appears to be a butcher’s shop, as the carcass of an animal can be seen hanging in the window. Across on the opposite side of Queen Square (now Pearse Square) some of the identifiable premises include the Royal Hotel and the premises of RB Baker, cycle merchant. From the Lawrence Photographic Collection. (Image courtesy of the National Library of Ireland)