His work currently sitting pretty in the National Gallery of Ireland as part of The Lawrence Collection, Robert French spent much of his life in the late 19th century photographing Ireland.
Collection, Robert French spent much of his life in the late 19th century photographing Ireland.And one of his most popular destinations would appear to be Greystones – which may have had something to do with the fact the man lived on Church Road for many years.
William Mervin Lawrence opened up his photographic studio in 1865, opposite the GPO (where he was born), and employed Robert French as his chief photographer. Over the coming years, French and his team photographed pretty much every corner of Ireland – which may explain why The Lawrence Collection has 40,000 glass plates, mainly from the period 1880 to 1914.
Over the coming years, French and his team photographed pretty much every corner of Ireland – which may explain why The Lawrence Collection has 40,000 glass plates, mainly from the period 1880 to 1914.French was born in Dublin, working in the Royal Irish Constabulary before joining the Lawrence Studio, quickly working his way up from print to chief photographer. Sam French, one of the photographer’s sons, was still living in the family home on Church Road when he passed in the 1970s.
French took over 30,000 of the photographs in The Lawrence Collection. You can find out more about this remarkable archive here, and see how local filmmaker Jake McKone contrasts French photographs with Greystones today right here. Plus, local fisherman-turned-author Seamus Hayden analyses French’s Greystones work here. Oh, and lots more incredible historical shots in our ever-growing archives here.
McKone contrasts French photographs with Greystones today right For now, here’s the prettiest shots Lawrence ever did see. Being the mad sexy beasts that we are, we’ve included our neighbouring towns here, as well as a shot of what is believed to be a young Robert French in Greystones [left], and a shot of his son, Robert Griffith French, on manoeuvres at the Curragh in Co Kildare, circa 1905…
Harbour, Greystones by Robert French
You can bring a horse to the harbour… Pic: Robert French
Greystones Jetty Pier. Pic: Robert French
North Beach Harbour. Pic: Robert French
The Sugar Loaf from Blackberry Lane. Robert French.
Grand Hotel Robert French
Sugarloaf Mountain Robert French
South Beach (detail). Pic: Robert French
Robert French Harbour Shot Detail
North Beach Cottages. Robert French
North Beach Bathing Huts detail from Robert French pic
Little Sugar Loaf Robert French
La Touche Hotel & Cove Pic Robert French
Harbour including Dann’s Shop. Pic: Robert French
Greystones Harbour Boats Three Men Robert French
Greystones Golf Club House Pic Robert French
Trafalgar Road. Robert French
Greystones Golf. Pic: Robert French
General View Greystones Pic Robert French (from La Touche Hotel roof)
Delgany General View Robert French
That Robert French Delgany scene colorised
Cherry Orchard, Killincarrig Pic Robert French
Bridge Road Pic Robert French
Blacklion Church Robert French
Bathing Place – The Cove Robert French
Glen Of The Downs Sugarloaf Robert French
St Patrick’s Church with lime kiln (later Jubillee Castle) Robert French
Railway Station, Bray by Robert French c.1890
Bray Seafront from above by Robert French c.1890
Bray Head Boats by Robert French c.1890
Martello Terrace by Robert French c.1890
Bray Promenade by Robert French c 1890
Bray Promenade with a rockin’ tent. Pic: Robert French c.1890
Christ Church, Delgany. Pic: Robert French
Carmelite Monastery Late 19th Century. Pic Robert French
Bray Head Regatta by Robert French c.1890
Young Sweeney on his ass. Pic: Robert French
Glen Of The Downs Robert French
Glen Of The Downs Robert French
Burnaby Estate Robert French
General View Greystones Robert French
Church Greystones Robert French
Bathing Place – The Cove Robert French
Greystones Railway Station Pic: Robert French
Greystones South Beach Bathing Boxes. Pic: Robert French
Christ Church, Bray. Pic: Robert French
Harbour Boats Pic Robert French
Greystones Pier Pic Robert French
Greystones Trafalgar Road Robert French
Greystones South Beach Robert French
Greystones South Beach Damaged Robert French
Greystones South Beach and Railway Robert French
Greystones Sailing Robert French
Greystones Harbour Robert French
Grand Hotel Rear Robert French
Church Road Late 19th Century. Pic Robert French
Church Road Late 19th Century. Pic Robert French
Robert Griffith French, Sgt Major in 2nd Battaltion Royal Dublin Fusilliers 1905
St Patrick’s Church, 1880, with, possibly, a young Robert French