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Roscommon Castle (from Lough side)
This sepia tinted photo postcard is of Roscommon Castle, and was posted from the town to England, in 1918 at a cost of 1 penny. It is obviously a winter view, the bare trees testifying to this on the right.This was possibly taken in the early 1900's. The castle measures 220 feet in length, and 170 feet in width, and has an enclosed quadrangular courtyard. The remains of some of the windows added to this fortification at various stages of it's development, can be seen in this pose. According to local photographer M. J. Farrell, the Lough was nearly always frozen over throughout the winter, and his shop enjoyed a brisk trade selling skates!
Image is present on following page(s): Postcards of Roscommon
Roscommon Castle (from Lough side) -
Waterfall, Demesne, Castlerea
This picturesque scene was taken at the rear of Castlerea House (Demesne), the residence of the Sandford family in Castlerea. The house unfortunately is long demolished. The man made waterfall, built on the River Cloonard, was constructed to run Connolly Bros. Steam Saw Mills. This river is locally called the St. Francis river.
Image is present on following page(s): Postcards of Castlerea
Waterfall, Demesne, Castlerea -
The Altars, Ballaghadereen
The Altars, outside Ballaghaderreen has actually four altars, each facing the Cardinal points. It is more commonly called "The Four Altars", and was erected in penal times, to offer protection to priests while saying mass. People too could escape into the woods if necessary. The choice of altar depended on the weather. If the wind was northerly the priest chose the altar facing south. The cross that stood on top of the structure was blown down some 100 years ago.
Image is present on following page(s): Postcards of Ballaghaderreen
The Altars, Ballaghadereen -
Grealy's Hotel, Roscommon
A black and white commercial postcard, produced by the hotel itself. The imposing building is on the left front of the card with a division on the right for the address. All of the back of the card was reserved for correspondence. The hotel itself, is still as striking architecturally today as it was when this photo was taken. The site is on the corner of Church Street and Main Street, and the hotel is a seven bay three storey building, built in 1870. The ribbon coursing over the ground floor windows and main door still enhances the frontage. The oriel windows are a unique feature in the town.
Image is present on following page(s): Postcards of Roscommon
Grealy's Hotel, Roscommon -
Castlerea Railway Station
This rock faced stone shed is one of a complex of railway station structures built c.1860 by the Great Southern Railway Co. The view shows Castlerea engine shed with turntable taken looking towards Athlone from the station end. To a small town like Castlerea, the railway is of utmost importance providing a life line in travel for people and produce.
Image is present on following page(s): Railways of Roscommon
Castlerea Railway Station -
Railway Station (Fair Day), Roscommon
This image taken from the Galway road side shows a busy fair day at Roscommon Railway station. The goods train, possibly transporting cattle is to the left of the image, and there is a steam train on the central tracks. The two storey building to the left is the station master's house. This was built by the railway in c.1860.
Image is present on following page(s): Railways of Roscommon
Railway Station (Fair Day), Roscommon -
Ballaghaderreen Railway station
The postcard showing engine number 655 shunting at Ballaghaderreen on 23/09/1960 just before the end of the Ballaghaderreen Junction Railway. The last train to Kilfree and back was on Saturday 2nd of Feburary 1963. The cut stone ticket office on the right of the image, is now roofless and in a state of disrepair. It was in its heyday a example of the wonderful architecture that the advent of the railway network brought to rural Ireland.
Image is present on following page(s): Railways of Roscommon
Ballaghaderreen Railway station -
Cahirsiveen Church
Postcard message with an interesting snippet of contemporary history. The sender observes that both the public library and the workhouse were occupied by the military at the time the postcard was sent. She is clearly not enamoured with Cahirsiveen even though she is obviously a frequent visitor. She says "I expect it is the same dirty old place all the time".
Image is present on following page(s): Postcard Messages
Cahirsiveen Church -
Esplanade at Queenstown
Colour postcard of the Explanade and sea-front at Queenstown
Reproduced by kind permission of Linen Hall Library Postcard Archive
Image is present on following page(s): Topographical Postcards
Esplanade at Queenstown -
Fish Curers, Ardglass
Black & white postcard of Ardglass fish curers posing for an early photograph
Reproduced by kind permission of Linen Hall Library Postcard Archive
Image is present on following page(s): Real Life
Fish Curers, Ardglass -
Bloomsday Centenary Exhibition 2004
Colour postcard advertising an exhibition celebrating James Joyce & the centenary of Bloomsday, 2004
Reproduced by kind permission of Linen Hall Library Postcard Archive
Image is present on following page(s): Postcard Publishers
Bloomsday Centenary Exhibition 2004 -
Black Turf - The Coal of the Country
Colour painted postcard showing a man with his donkey & cart of turf
Reproduced by kind permission of Linen Hall Library Postcard Archive
Image is present on following page(s): Real Life
Black Turf - The Coal of the Country -
Tyler’s Boots Advertisement
The postcard shows Kingstown from the East Pier. It features a crest advertising Tyler’s boots. They had a shop in Kingstown on Upper George’s Street dating from 1881 when it was called Amies and Tyler Boot and Shoe Warehouse. This became just Tyler and Sons after a couple of years. The advertisers were depending on the popularity of postcards to spread the message ‘Tyler’s boot are the best’.
Donated by Seamus Kearns (postcard collector)
Image is present on following page(s): Advertisements and Novelty Postcards
Tyler’s Boots Advertisement -
Nelson's Pillar, GPO Dublin
Colour postcard of General Post Office & Nelson's Pillar, O'Connell Street
Reproduced by kind permission of Linen Hall Library Postcard Archive
Image is present on following page(s): Topographical Postcards
Nelson's Pillar, GPO Dublin -
Good wishes from Dun Laoghaire.
Three views of Dun Laoghaire contained within a shamrock in black and white. The postcard dates from the 1960s and features the Pavilion and promenade, the Mail boat and Dun Laoghaire bay. Valentine and Sons produced several black and white images during this period and cornered the postcard market for many years.
Donated by Seamus Kearns (postcard collector).
Image is present on following page(s): Approaching The Present
Good wishes from Dun Laoghaire. -
Kingstown Novelty Postcard
Mostly every topic imaginable has been put on a postcard, at one time or another. Beach views were always popular, reminding people of holidays. This postcard is a variation on that theme, showing a young girl playing in the sand at Kingstown. The postcard is nicely coloured and light-hearted
Image acquired from The Collectors' Shop, Blackrock.
Image is present on following page(s): Advertisements and Novelty Postcards
Kingstown Novelty Postcard -
Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire.
The Royal Marine Hotel was originally Hayes Hotel and the initial plans were to build a completely new hotel. The entire venture was affected by financial constraints and in 1867 the hotel company collapsed. The original plans had to be scaled down vastly but the hotel was completed. The building was re-roofed around 1960 and as a result, the French pavilions and Victorian tower were removed. Another feature of the hotel was its magnificent gardens, visible in the postcard. Development has continued around the hotel since the 1970s and includes shopping centres and various car parks as well as apartment blocks. This postcard presents us with a clear example of the continuous struggle between development and historical preservation.
Image acquired from The Collectors' Shop, Blackrock.
Image is present on following page(s): Advertisements and Novelty Postcards
Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire. -
Town hall and Castle Street, Dalkey
Castle Street and the Town Hall are visible in this postcard. The Town Hall was previously the Goat Castle, one of seven castles in Dalkey during the fifteenth century. In 1869 it became the Town Hall and today it also houses the heritage centre. The Dalkey tram service was very profitable and ran from 1898 until 1949. The track leading to the right-hand side of the picture took the trams to the tramyard.
Image acquired from The Collectors' Shop, Blackrock.
Image is present on following page(s): Dalkey Postcards
Town hall and Castle Street, Dalkey -
Serrated edge postcard
The permitted size for postcards was increased in 1899 to 5 ½ x 3 ½ inches. Gradually this size came more widely into circulation. During the 1950s and 60s a slightly bigger size was being produced (John Hinde was the principal advocate of this).
Donated by Seamus Kearns (postcard collector)
Image is present on following page(s): Approaching The Present
Serrated edge postcard -
The Pavilion in Kingstown.
A postcard dating from 1908 approximately. The view is of the Pavilion theatre and gardens and is an aluminium effect postcard. Due to the huge number of postcards in circulation at the time publishers were constantly looking for new ideas. Postcards were made from silk, wood, peat and metal in an effort to break from the normal materials used.
Donated by Seamus Kearns (postcard collector)
Image is present on following page(s): Advertisements and Novelty Postcards
The Pavilion in Kingstown. -
Main Street, Blackrock.
There are two notable buildings in view on this postcard. One is Alex Findlater & Co., stockists of ales, fine wines, spirits and fine foods. The shop was one of a chain, each one recognisable by the clocks outside and famous for their high quality of customer service. The other is the Ulster Bank, designed by W.M.Mitchell and built in 1892. The town of Blackrock was developing well by the 1900s. The area was known for its notable buildings and houses, such as Frascati and Merrion.
Image acquired from The Collectors' Shop, Blackrock.
Image is present on following page(s): Around Blackrock
Main Street, Blackrock. -
Tea Rooms, Victorica Hill, Killiney.
This building is a stone lodge erected in 1887 and is located in Killiney Hill Park. It was built as a ‘keepers’ house when the lands belonged to Killiney Castle. The building has also served as Tea Rooms. The gate- keeper allowed people enter to view the Obelisk and enjoy refreshments. Vandals caused quite a lot of damage to the building in the early 1980s, but it was restored in 1987.
Image acquired from The Collectors' Shop, Blackrock.
Image is present on following page(s): Approaching The Present
Tea Rooms, Victorica Hill, Killiney. -
Market Cross, Blackrock
The Blackrock Cross is estimated to date from the eighth century.It was placed on a brick pedestal in Blackrock sometime between 1765 and 1773 and has since become a focal point for the town, despite having been moved a few times during its history. The cross was used as a landmark to indicate the boundaries and jurisdiction of the city and was the property of the Byrne family for 100 years. Originally the cross may have been meant as a burial slab in the Early Christian period but this is not definite.
Image acquired from The Collectors' Shop, Blackrock.
Image is present on following page(s): Around Blackrock
Market Cross, Blackrock -
Town Hall, Blackrock, Co.Dublin.
The Town Hall was built in 1865 and an extension was added in 1880. Blackrock had become a Township in 1863(Blackrock Township Act) and needed an administrative building.The building cost £3,500 and is very ornate in its design. It is part of a wider façade made up of five buildings. Another one is the Carnegie Library, built in 1905 with a grant provided by the generous benefactor Andrew Carnegie. The fire station erected by the Urban District Council is visible on the left hand side of the postcard.
Image acquired from The Collectors' Shop, Blackrock.
Image is present on following page(s): Around Blackrock
Town Hall, Blackrock, Co.Dublin. -
Concise message on a postcard
The golden age of postcards dated from the late 1890s until about 1914. Postcards were a very popular method of communication. One reason for this was the small space on the back of them for writing messages. Communications had to be short and concise. It proved a lot less tedious than letter writing and so appealed to everyone. Such was the speed of deliveries at the time (sometimes up to six per day) that people could make arrangements to meet up on the day they sent the postcard
Image acquired from The Collectors' Shop, Blackrock.
Image is present on following page(s): Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and its Postcards
Concise message on a postcard -
Harbour and Pier , Dun Laoghaire.
The postcards from the 1960s and 70s were of a larger size and tended to have much brighter colours. John Hinde, who was a prominent producer of postcards in this era, wanted postcards with idyllic Irish scenes. Often the colour intensity was increased or blemishes were removed to help achieve this. His images reached a huge audience worldwide and form a valuable part of the latter day history of postcards in Ireland.
Part of local history collection.
Image is present on following page(s): Approaching The Present
Harbour and Pier , Dun Laoghaire. -
Dalkey Hill, Co.Dublin.
Dalkey Hill came to prominence in 1815 when Dun Laoghaire harbour was being built. The rock was quarried from here and so Dalkey Quarry came into existence. The postcard shows the windmill, which was used to pump water to a reservoir at the back of Dalkey Hill. Also visible is ‘The Metals’. This was the track used to transport the trucks, carrying the granite from the quarry to the harbour.
Image acquired from The Collectors' Shop, Blackrock.
Image is present on following page(s): Dalkey Postcards
Dalkey Hill, Co.Dublin. -
The Presbytery, Roscommon
This three bay two storey presbytery was built c.1910. It is set within the church grounds, and is also named after the Sacred Heart. A frieze in the central entrance bay incorporates the Sacred Heart motif, which is also extended to the canted bay. This very attractive building has changed little over the years and is still home to the Catholic priests of the town. It still remains surrounded by the wrought-iron railings, and the hedge and gardens, then in their infancy, have now of course matured.
Image is present on following page(s): Postcards of Roscommon
The Presbytery, Roscommon -
Vartry Reservoir, Stillorgan.
Vartry Reservoir came into existence in 1863, when the water from the upper catchment area of the river was deflected into the Roundwood Reservoir. Sir John Gray, Chairman of the Waterworks Committee was responsible for promoting the scheme. It resulted in a huge improvement in the sanitary conditions of the day. About 85,000 cubic metres of pure water were delivered to the city daily.
Image acquired from The Collectors' Shop, Blackrock.
Image is present on following page(s): Postcard Publishers
Vartry Reservoir, Stillorgan. -
Eucharistic Congress 1932.
The Eucharistic Congress was held in Ireland in 1932. The Papal Legate, Lorenzo Cardinal Lauri travelled from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire. 20,000 people attended a Garden Party in the grounds of Blackrock College as part of the celebrations. The place was decorated with flowers, congress banners and Papal flags were displayed everywhere. This was a significant event in Irish history and there were many souvenir postcards produced.
Image acquired from The Collectors' Shop, Blackrock.
Image is present on following page(s): Religious Connotations
Eucharistic Congress 1932. -
Lower George's Street, Kingstown
Postcards often provide valuable information about changing street scenes. This view of Lower George’s Street illustrates two shops in particular. P.J.Hand’s was a confectionery shop and Watsons’ was a boot market when this postcard was made. Further down the street it is possible to pick out Findlaters’ store with the distinctive clock outside.
Image acquired from The Collectors' Shop, Blackrock.
Image is present on following page(s): Postcard Publishers
Lower George's Street, Kingstown -
Monkstown Church today
This digital camera image shows Monkstown Church as it is in 2004. The image, when compared with the postcard from 1906, shows how little the building has changed. It was built in 1831 and has attracted attention, over the years, because of its striking, unique design. Improvements have been made to the building since but it remains true to its original design. John Semple designed the church.
Digital image taken for project.
Image is present on following page(s): Not Everything Changes
Monkstown Church today