Ye Olden Days
Got Wood…?
October 1, 2015
The Old Convent Saved At 11th Hour
October 5, 2015
It’s pretty overwhelming, just how many great old shots there are of this little 
town of ours.
Which is pretty much why we decided it was time to build up a healthy archive of Greystones images, from every era. Just 
to show the world where we’ve been, who we are, and where we might be going…
Not that we could fit them all on one simple post. You’ll find lots and lots of different avenues to explore on our drop-down Past menu option above.
So, if you’re interested in this town’s past faces, check out the work of Harry Acheson, an amateur 
photographer who took a bunch of fascinating Greystones shots in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. His historian son, Gary, jumps back to his own teenage wildlife here, Maeve Murtagh’s here, the Pippin Parkinson’s here, Samantha Byrne’s here, and the town’s nightclub years here.
Kudos too, to another Greystones amateur photographer, the late, great Luke 
McGuinness, captures the town through the ’80s and ’90s here, whilst professional photographer Eamon Flynn catches the town in a magnificent light here.
You can also check out some incredible 19th century shots of Greystones from our famous resident, Robert French, right here, along with an in-depth analysis here 
of many of the great Lawrence photographer’s Greystones photographs by local fisherman-turned-
author Seamus Hayden. Talking of French, there’s also a clever video contrasting Greystones then with now by local filmmaker Jake McKone right here.
When it comes to old photos that move, you’ve also got some incredible Pathe News footage from the 1926 and the 1928 Swim Galas in the town, along with their 1920s 
footage of Delgany. Plus, we round up RTE’s telly visits to Greystones here. Oh, and check out the old harbour collection too – along with Gary’s history of the North Beach cottages – before taking a dip in The Cove, 
and then backstroking over to The South Beach and The Men’s. Just look out for those high waves.
Or maybe you’d rather go climbing up those Sugar Loaf 
mountains? Or check out our frickin’ massive Take A Hike round-up of the many, many walks, woods and gardens around here.
Add to that archives of our beautiful neighbours Delgany, Bray, Kilcoole, Newcastle, Enniskerry, Wicklow Town, Killincarrig and Kilmacanogue, along with the old shops & pubs, the old hotels and homes, the ruins, Kilian’s Hall, The Ormonde and, hey, before you can find your way out of the GG archives 
again, it’ll be Paddy’s Day again.
If you feel like exploring the town’s gone-but-not-forgotten nightlife, look no further. If you’re curious about Hollywood’s constant flirtation with our town, click right here. Or maybe you simply want to go visit some old familiar faces, some childhood places, some childhood faces, or just take a walk through the past with cosmic chancer Shay Clear or celebrated and certifiable historian Rosemary Raughter…?
Also worth checking out is Sean Tierney‘s wonderful collection of old 
Greystones postcards, alongside a selection of some the town’s earliest shops right here, our fine hotels here, and our railway here. Plus, a fascinating early history of the Catholic Church in Greystones too right here, and a video exploration of 
Delgany’s 145-year-old Nativity scene at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. And a cracking bit of home video of Delgany under snow back in 1982 here.
Oh, and just to make sure that we don’t forget the lifeblood of all 
this Greystones history, there’s People Power, pulling together all the Greystonians, young and old, in one place – namely, here.
Suffice to say, there’s tons more where that came from. Just click on 
our Olde option in the menu above, and you’ll find a hundred and one Oul’ Paddy’s Cave wonders dropping down.
In the meantime, if you have any pics you want us to include, just email us on hello@greystonesguide.ie, and we’ll make sure your photograph and its source gets the VIP treatment it deserves.
Greystones Postcard 1930s or ’40s Source Patrick Neary
The R101 Airship over the Holy Rosary 18th Nov 1929
Summer Wheat, Greystones 2004 Pic Phil Pankov
Something To Sing About from Greystones Old Novelty Postcard
Novelty fold-out Greystones postcard
Old Greystones Fire Engine till 1981. Pic Willie Doyle
Curtis Coaches. Source: Sean Curtis.
John Nolan The Meanest Milkman In The East Colourised
Kinlen Rd resident Eamonn de Valera at St Killian’s Hall, 1914. Source Derek Paine
St Patrick’s School at an Ormonde matinee 1968. Source Derek Paine
1st Greystones Catholic Boys Scouts 1930
Taximan Mark Burke from Killarney Rd, 1932. Source Derek Paine
Sugar Loaf drive. Pic: Deirdre Kelleher
Good Luck From Greystones greeting card. Source Derek Paine
Architect design for Greystones Library, Wicklow Newsletter 29th Feb 1908. Source Rosemary Raughter
Thomas Foley collecting gravel at the North Beach. Source Derek Paine
Beer delivery truck outside the train station – before the shops arrived. Source Derek Paine
Luton Dairy Depot. Source Derek Paine
Fire practice on the North Beach. Source Derek Paine
I Hear That Train A-Comin’. Source Derek Paine
Trafalgar Rd’s Presbyterian Church 1920. Source Derek Paine
Church Road during the school run. Early 20th century.
The Royal Navy outside Paddy’s
Greystones Gold Club Postcard
The Beach House sale 21st Oct 1901
Dann’s gets a little May snow Source: Derek Paine
Old Greystones Harbour postcard
Ronnie Drew & Friends circa 1970. Source: Patrick Neary
Greystones by Henry McManus RHA 1855
Greystones from Coolagad by Henry McManus RHA 1855
Greystones Harbour by Henry McManus RHA 1855
Greystones Harbour Boats Snuffs Derek Paine
Greystones View from Golf Club Pic: Robert French
Holy Rosary Church from the Seafront
Burnaby Park Cottage
Bels of Greystones Source Derek Paine
Greystones Motor & Engineering Company billboard Source Derek Paine
Harold Hill, Derek Wilkinson, Richard Hill Source Derek Paine
Hill’s Garage on the Main Street Source Derek Paine
Lone Car Burnaby Park Source Derek Paine
Circus Elephants North Beach 2005
Danny Hatton with son John 1958
Mr & Mrs Kelly, grandparents of Joe Sweeney
View from La Touche Hotel Source Derek Paine
Leftover blocks from the North Wall construction
Fishing columnist J. Ashton Freeman circa 1950 – photographed by Peter Slattery
Willie Redmond photographed by Peter Slattery
Greystones Is Doing Me Good Ad
Lewis’s Hotel Staff 1927
Peter La Touche 1775 by Robert Hunter
Greystones Summer Festival way back when Pic Dave Daly
Early Greystones postcards – lift the mouth, and Greystones scenery revealed!
Bray Head from Grand Hotel Pic Patrick Neary
St. Brigid’s Convent Pic Patrick Neary
Trafalgar Road from the Harbour Pic Patrick Neary
Gap Bridge Pic Patrick Neary
Greystones Church The Wrench Series Postcard
Greystones Harbour Thatched Roofs Pic: Gary Acheson
A Greystones Bath Pic Gary Acheson
Grand Hotel postcard LD Paskins
Greystones Operatic & Dramatic Society’s production of Yeoman Of The Guard Pic Marcella Finnegan
The Gap Bridge Nov 2004 Patrick Neary
Greystones Teenagers Harbour 1935
Those Greystones teenagers with a little colour in their cheeks
Greystones Station Ads Pic Jean Hatton
The Royal Bank (now Sherry Fitz) Pic Jean Hatton
Greystones Postcard Harbour 1951 pic. Centre boat, Hayden’s The Kathleen. John McKenzie leaning in.
Greystones Multi-View Postcard
Jean Hatton 1954 outside her uncle Claude’s shop
Jim Hayden retires from Greystones Fire Brigade Oct 1989 after 24 years
Lady Glenapp on holiday in Greystones The Tatler Aug 1929
Summer Fun at Greystones Harbour
Orchard United, sometime in the 1970s. Or the 1870s. Not sure.
Delgany Bus on Trafalgar Road 1964
Cliff Walk First Railway Bridge Disaster Aug 7th 1867 Faulty joint. 2 passengers died – including driver and firemen – 23 injured
Willie Redmond and Jago Hayden Pic Irish Anglers Site
CBS Greystones Band 1965 Pic John Devereux
Greystones Confirmation 1954. L2R Back: Michael McGowan, Brendan Lynch, Brian Mooney, Joe Dietrich, Tony Kelly
L2R Front: Eddie Barry, Brendan Hayden, Austin Gaskin, Vincent Ovington Pic: Bernie Hayden
St Kevin’s CBS School 1961 Pic Patrick Neary
Greystones From Golf Hill Pic Patrick Neary
Copper Kettle Menu 1977 Pic Paula McGuinness
St David’s 1914 – when it was still a family home Pic: Patrick Neary
St Brigid’s Convent School Autumn 1959 Pic Patrick Neary
Moon Over the Harbour Pic Anne Stanley
Out on the Water Pic Anne Stanley
Redford & Rathdown from the sky Pic Anne Stanley
Old Greystones Harbour Pic Anne Stanley (2)
Fenelons Field Greystones 1960s Pic: Colm Flanagan
Greystones Football Team 1970s Pic Patrick Neary
The La Touche Hotel. Pic: Avon Sales Postcard
Bejiggers, that’s a wave Pic Anne Hogan-White
Minella Seery, Ronnie Drew, Sister Dara Vader, Pat Daly & Pat O’Hanlon Pic Gloria Barry
Mr & Mrs Joyce 1970s Pic Eilis Seoigh
Old Harbour aerial shot Pic Anne Stanley
Redford Park just before the houses popped up Pic Gary Acheson
Sponsored row to Kish Lighthouse with Niall Hayden, Pat Mooney, John Redmond, unknown, Snowy Byrne and John Byrne
The Avery Ladies Enjoy A Little Harbour Sunshine Pic Nick Avery
The Greystones Rowing Club’s Shamrock 1, with cox Niall Hayden August Monday 1992
The Notorious Hackett Sisters 1960s. Pic Suzanne Hackett Cox
The Shopping Basket’s iconic plastic bag Pic Danielle Murphy
Trafalgar Road High Noon in living colour
16 Comments
Was that Eggie White,s unfortunate yellow ford escort ,in front of the La Touche hotel???
Hi my name is Fran and I live in liverpool England I visited greystones in the 1960,s mot sure what actual date we stayed in what was like a big guest house and walked down the road passed shops one was the copper kettle and it led to the harbour our guest house had a tuck shop the song young girl was out at the time we were with the schools and nuns would love to see more pictures was an amazing time I was in junior school at the time x we visited bray and arklow bray had a big salt water swimming pool x
First visited Greystones about 15 years ago, my Grandfather Joe Doyle was from there although I am now 73. We have been drawn back many times since.
hi Jack just seen these photos myself, glad to see you also saw them.
Wonderful photo history .
Correction. Terry Germany nee Quinn. Ex Crow Abbey and Grattan Park. Left 1957.
Fantastic, came across this by accident. Many old friends. Thanks. Terry Germsny new Quinn. Now in Cambridgeshire.
Thank you for putting these up. You’ve done us a great service and you’ve obviously expended a good bit of time and effort on it all.
What a wonderful history of Greystones
Thanks for sharing all the photos. I got a surprise to see my little face in the St.Laurence’s pic. All of 40 years ago now. Brought heaps of vague memories back, when we were in the 2 little prefabs outside St.Kevins CBS. Yes. Thanks for sharing
The big snow-fall was 1982
fab photos some memorable faces that take me back to my childhood and then some names that i would have heard from my mams family Sarah Byrne born and breed in Greystones
An amazing trip down memory lane but I’m just a blow in. Only moved to Greystones circa 1960 🙂 – Kevin Hoey
Looking for any staff who I worked with at the Horse and Hound in Delgany, Co. Wicklow back in the eighties would love to hear from them.
My name is Ann or some people called me Annie and I am from the North of Ireland.
Great looking at the photo’s … I am researching the woodlands hotel, Greystones particularly aroun 1970 so if you have any more pics or news articles I would be very interested in them … Cheers
Great photos – enjoying them all in Australia with many fond memories of Greystones.