Pat & Tess Byrne 27th June 1951
hatever about the bricks and mortar, and the homes, shops and 
pubs, what really makes any town are de peoples.
As luck would have it, us Greystonians are not only a caring, sharing, fun-lovin’ breed, we’re also a damn handsome bunch to boot.
The Connollys
As we continue to archive our town – and you’ll find plenty of evidence of that right here – we realised that the very lifeblood of Greystones needed to be acknowledged too.
So, here, over the coming years, we’ll be gathering together the great, the bad and the occasional out-of-towner, jumping as far back as when cameras first arrived in Greystones.
Son of a Beach
If yourecognise anyone here who hasn’t been identified, either let us know in the comments below, or you can email us here.
Ditto, of course, if you have any groovy old Greystones shots to share. Like Jack Clarke’s outrageously beautiful portraits.
The Sweeney lad…
Rather than pile everything here, on one page, we’ll be putting together separate galleries – such as the Bray People archive collections, Our Back Pages and 100 Days 100 Greystonians – as well as individual histories of local people. So, hey, keep watching these spacers.
Byrne family 1958
Byrne family 1991
Greystones Rugby Legends 1982. Source Paul Hayden
Greystones Rugby 1980s. Stolen by Jonathan Leonard from Slievemore House
Greystones Football Club c 1970. Pic Sean Curtis
Artisans ’83 John Connelly, Walter Gilbert, Peter O’Brien, Willie Gilbert, David O’Toole, Tommy Doyle, Paul Sutton, Johnny O’Reilly, Mick Kelly, Front: Des & Vincent Hempenstall, Danny Nolan, Johnny Groome, Jimmy Swan
Back when men were messers – Christy Rourke, Don McDonald, Eamon Brosnan, Ben Elliot & Noel Hayden 1960s.
John Connolly, Brendan Sweeney and Shay Monaghan attend the Greystones Wellness Weekend 1979
The Sweeneys. Source: Ben Sweeney
Connor, Darragh & Niall Fleming, Conor Kuntz & Shane Traynor 1980s. Or thereabouts.
Greystones GFC Dinner La Touche Hotel; Mr & Mrs Patsy Vickers, Mr & Mrs Danny Hatton, and Mrs Jimmy Brady. Colourised
Frank Clarke – At Your Service. Pic: Peter McNiff 2003
Frank, Elizabeth, John & Eileen Clarke 1947 Colourised
Frank Clarke by his nephew, Jack Clarke
Frank shuts up shop after 62 years… 2005
Jack and Joan Clarke outside their Killincarrig shop 1983
John Clarke in all his rockin’ finery. Source: Jimmy Kinsella
Mr & Mrs Joyce 1970s Pic Eilis Seoigh
Young Ossie Spurling with his dad John on O’Connell Street c1939
John Spurling, Derek Ferns apparatus rocket Cove coast life saving service 9JUNE24
Live-in chambermaid Margaret Fleming, atop The Grand Hotel circa 1950
Grand Hotel staff Margaret Fleming, Miss Loughnane & friends 1950. Source: James Hendrick
La Touche staff 1969-’70: BackL/R Leslie Masterson, John Kennedy, Jim Dempsey, Avril Gunning. Front L/R David Kerr? Leslie? George Willoughby hiding in centre, Joe Moore and Tony(Archey) Doherty. Pic: Joe Moore
Ben Sweeney, Justin Fawsitt & bodyguard
Ben Sweeney wins The 1980 Grizzly Adams Lookalike finals
John Wayne finally meets his idol, Jimmy Bradshaw
Jim & May Byrne’s full Grattan Park house 1980s
Greystones Pioneer Rally 1948. Hattons included. Source: Chris Dobson
Anyone recognise our anti-free love pensioner…?
Harry Lawless, John Byrne, Brian Sweeney, Paddy Sweeney, Kevin Malone, Noel Belton, Seamus Sweeney, Larry Ryan
Harry & co… Colourised
Trafalgar Road High Noon in living colour
Jago Hayden & Sean Brosnan looking 1950s cool. Pic Liam Hayden
Niall & John Ferns follow in their father’s footsteps
Joe Redmond at the 2010 Christmas Day Swim
Ronnie, Phelim & Cliona hit the town
The Drew clan
See, Dann’s customers used to be happy…
The Beach House late #70s Tony Farrelly, Larry Silery, John O’Leary, Niels Jan Pedersen. Pic: Jimmy Reilly
Derek Paine. Pic: Jack Clarke
Harry Fee & his daughter 1958
The McFarland cart with Olive, plus Jimmy & May Munday
Jean Hatton 1954 outside her uncle Claude’s shop. Colourised.
William ‘Lowry’ Johnston from Watson & Johnson
Willie & Peggy Johnston 1943
Willie Johnson, Ken Johnson & Willie Johnston
Watson & Johnson staff Paddy Murphy, Richard Fox, Tony Killeen, Phoebe Kane, Billy Lyons and (kneeling) Henry Pinkterton and John Watson
Watson & Johnson mechanics John Watson, Paddy Lyons, Billy Lyons, Charlie Evans and John Joe Greene.
Willie Johnson
Edith, Peter and Gerald Lavelle First Holy Communion
Maurice and Robert Doyle. Source Gary Paine
Loretta Daly at the Wicklow Craft Fair 1995
Paddy Daly & his bread van 1979. Source Gloria Barry [daughter]
The always-dapper Tommy Moroney
George & Jackie Campbell. Source Una Campbell
Tess Byrne, May Verbuggen, Mary Byrne, Nora Ferns, Bertrice Gunning & Bridie Mooney have a Grand Day Out
Alfie Taylor, Derek Ferns, Cecil Gilbert, Alec Tucker & Cycil Spurling
Mrs Emily Paine and Mrs Flo Thompson with Joan Paine (pram), Stan Paine, Bob Thompson, Derek Paine & Doreen Thompson, 1939 Colourised
John Whiston, Christy Keegan, Jim D’Arcy & Baker Massey, Dann’s coalyard. Source Derek Paine
Avengers Assemble! Father Rafter, Father Ignatius, Canon Lawless & Free State Soldiers. Source Derek Paine
Mrs Beckett’s house complete – painting contractor Brendan Behan not included. Source Derek Paine
Jack Doyle – The Patron Saint of Greystones Taxis
Herbie the Horse with Parkie White of Lucan Dairies Trafalgar Road 1963
Mr Wingard of New Road, Greystones c 1940s. Pic: Jan Gordon
John Nolan The Meanest Milkman In The East Colourised
Ploughing behind Dann’s – John Dann in the overcoat. Source Derek Paine
Bill Spurling with three happy boat renters. Source Derek Paine
Allie Evans at his hardware store.
![Albert Archer outside his garage [now Joe Sweeney's], 1937. Source Derek Paine](https://www.greystonesguide.ie/wp-content/uploads/Albert-Archer-outside-his-garage-now-Joe-Sweeneys-1937.-Source-Derek-Paine-444x800.jpg)
Albert Archer outside his garage [now Joe Sweeney’s], 1937. Source Derek Paine
Thomas Kinsella – Coal Merchant & Fisherman. Source: Jimmy Kinsella
After Arthur Evans sold his coalyard to William H. Dann in 1933, Blacklion’s Jim Kinsella opened his…
Jimmy Kinsella & Peat Briquette. Pic Jack Clarke
The Kinsella Clan. Sometime in the 1870s. We think.
Hazel Paine 1960. Source Derek Paine
Eric & Ruth Archer’s Wedding. Source Derek Paine
Paddy L’Estrange, Eugene Green, Dave O’Connor, Dermot Hayden & Bernie Hayden. Source Derek Paine
Postman Ben Doyle finishes up in Danns. Source Derek Paine
Retired postman Ben Doyle, same spot, years later…
North Beacher Michael Byrne works the thresher at Dann’s. Source Derek Paine
Robert Mooney 1957. The fun begins…
Catherine & Francis Ward 1902. Source: John McGowan. Colourised by GG.
Greystones Coastguards & Fishermen circa 1900. Source Derek Paine
Still going strong at 87 – Mary and Robert Thompson at Glencoe 1943 Source Derek Paine
Leslie & Phil Redmond with a good catch Source Derek Paine
Ken Purcell, Leslie Doyle, Ronnie Gethings, Clifford Boyer & Harry Scott Source Derek Paine
Bridie Mooney and Evelyn Redmond wrap up for Spain 20th April 1968 Source Derek Paine
Charlie Roche & Maureen Toolan at the opening of Vincent De Paul
Charlie Roche celebrates 21 years at his Blacklion chemists 1995
Men Near Work – Telford Evans, John Redmond, Derek Paine, Eric Spurling & Bobby Doyle
Willie Redmond photographed by Peter Slattery
Joe Redmond – photographed by Peter Slattery
Netfix & chill: Willie Redmond and Jago Hayden
Sponsored row to Kish Lighthouse with Niall Hayden, Pat Mooney, John Redmond, unknown, Snowy Byrne and John Byrne
Minella Seery, Ronnie Drew, Sister Dara Vader, Pat Daly & Pat O’Hanlon Pic Gloria Barry
Mr & Mrs Kelly, grandparents of Joe Sweeney
A grand Atkins wedding at The La Touche 1940. Source Mark Atkins
Paddy Walsh. Pic Jack Clarke
Bill Kelly & Billy Smith. Pic Jack Clarke
Tommy Grealy & Leslie Spurling. Pic Jack Clarke
Tommy Grealy buys more magic beans from John O’Connor. Spring 1990. Pic: Clare Louise Donelan
Tommy Gubbins. Pic Jack Clarke
The Hurley Brothers. Pic Jack Clarke
Gareth & May Byrne. Pic Jack Clarke
Christy O’Rourke. Pic Jack Clarke
Derek McMullen and his father, John. Pic Jack Clarke
Dick & Nick Foley. Pic Jack Clarke
Ed Hurley. Pic Jack Clarke
Eugene Smullen. Pic Jack Clarke
Anthony McDonald. Pic Jack Clark
Bob Martin at the harbour bus shelter. Pic Jack Clarke
Brian Hackett. Pic Jack Clarke
10 comments
Brilliant history of Greystones folk including my father and more of my family who were fishing from Greystones since early nineteenth century.
The photo captioned Paula Hill & friend, I think that’s Sharon Hill she was in St Patrick’s NS with me
Ah, you could be right. Will change that now…
I think know you may be wrong about second last picture of the school girls Paul. St Kevin’s school was Christian Brothers and all boys at that time. We went there ourselves then. The girls went to St Bidget’s.
St Kevin’s was actually run by the Holy Faith nuns for years before finally morphing into St Kevin’s boys school…
Yes, Paul, but by the time St. Laurence’s Junior School came along,
it was a CBS School, popularly known as The Brothers. Proper name
Scoil Chaoimhin. At that time, 50% of the school enrollment came from
Bray. Only became known as St. Kevin’s NS later, probably
when the school began taking both boys and girls from Junior Infants.
Prior to that, it was only boys, starting in Second Class. I was on the
Board of Management and my two sons went to The Brothers.
Catherine Coveney, Principal St. Laurence NS, would know for sure.
St. Laurence’s NS had temporary accommodation in old St. Kilian’s Hall
and at The Brothers before permanent school was built in Delgany.
Thanks for that, Kathleen. Had heard something similar from John Connolly, but, good to have some more info added. Have a fine 2017, kiddo!
My grandma was Mary Evans from Greystones/Glendalough who came to England in the early 1920’s and married Norman Chapman.
Can anyone let me have some information about her?
Many thanks
David Chapman
Great to look back on these photos, hopefully my shots will be as popular in 100 years time for someone.
As long as Greystonians keep having little Greystonians, your shots will be always be popular…