Glass Plate were a great medium to capture quality images but it required a skilled photographer and a lot of care in the steps following the shoot to reproduce the image in the required media real professional from the 1950s Lensmen Photographers went on a job with 4 plates and came back with the image required they were more like marks men than the machine gun methods used today, we shoot hundreds of shots and get lucky with a couple!

Thanks to these professionals and there great work we are privilege to have access to a collection of top quality images that would match or beat what is been produced today with very high tech equipment and lighting. We can scan the images and make them available in every corner of the world at a click. This is a concept that the photographer in the 50s and 60s would have loved to have access to.

 

Lensmen, Ireland's premier photographers, was established in 1952 by Andrew Farren and Padraig MacBrian Lensmen continues on well into the new millennium thanks to Susan Kennedy who purchased the business in 1996 and has weathered the storm of change and recession to evolve the business into a complete service including video and time laps

irishphotoarchive.ie  are saving this great collection in digital format so it can be viewed on line all sales proceeds are reinvested in this project. 

Charlie Hebdo

Today, one week after twelve people were killed in an attack on its offices in Paris, the French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, was back on the streets.

Around 5 million copies of the magazine hit the streets in 16 different languages. In Paris would be buyers were queuing for hours to get a copy which is likely to become a collector's item.

General Charles de Gaulle with President Eamon De Valera at Áras an Uachtarain. in January 1969

 

Purchase framed photographs and prints @ Irish Photo Archive

Charlie

The first in a three part drama series on the ascension to power of the "Black Prince " of Irish politics, Charles Haughey, aired on RTE Last Night. Starring Aidan Gillen as "Charlie" the drama was said to be unmissable.

Although Haughey's surviving family were said to be dreading the drama Aiden Gillen told Newstalk's Pat Kenny that "it's not a hack job, it's not a tabloid hack job. Colin (Teevan) is a proper playwright and screenwriter."




Minister for Finance, Charles Haughey, prepares to administer some belt-tightening measures on Budget Day 23 April 1968

 

Purchase framed photographs and prints @ Irish Photo Archive

Election Rumblings

With growing public unease at the water charges Taoiseach Enda Kenny has revealed that his Fine Gael party is divided on the question of an immediate general election.

The Coalition government has stuttered and stumbled through the water charge fiasco, with the latest Red C opinion poll putting Fine Gael considerably behind the Independents and level with Sinn Fein.

Despite sustaining widespread criticism over allegations of covering up for sexual abuse Sinn Fein has steadily increased its stock in opinion polls.

25th April 1976..Sinn Fein held an Easter Rising Commemorative parade..The parade started at St Stephens Green, Dublin and proceeded through the streets to the GPO in O'Connell Street, the scene of the centre of the 1916 uprising

Purchase framed photographs and prints @ Irish Photo Archive

Ireland mourns for Kennedy

President John F. Kennedy’s funeral took place on 25 November. While the Irish cadets were in Washington at the Kennedy graveside, a national day of mourning was declared in Ireland. Businesses, shops and schools were closed, and religious services took place across Ireland.

Crowds outside the Pro-Cathedral in Dublin for the Kennedy memorial service
25 November 1963

In Dublin, the main service took place in the Pro-Cathedral. Among the mourners were Bean Sinead De Valera, the Taoiseach Seán Lemass, Jack Lynch, and Col. Sean Brennan, Aide-de-Camp. A US flag was flown at half-mast outside the Pro-Cathedral as a mark of respect.

A video from the RTÉ archive shows that it was not just the Catholic majority of the Irish society that participated in the mourning, but all sections of society. The video shows people filing into the Irish Hebrew Centre for a memorial service there.

Afterwards, the Kennedy homestead became a museum dedicated to Kennedy’s visit and the Kennedy family. A memorial park was set up in New Ross, and a bust was unveiled in US Embassy by Ted Sorensen, Kennedy’s speechwriter, and his wife, Sara Elbery, then just newly married. It was Sorensen that worked with Kennedy on the landmark speech he gave to both Houses of the Oireachtas during his visit in June 1963.

Ted Sorensen and his wife Sara, with the US ambassador Matt McCluskey, for the unveiling of the Kennedy bust
7 June 1964

Sinn Fein Tapping into Water Discontent

Despite being enveloped by the Mairia Cahill abuse scandal, Sinn Fein has emerged as the most popular party in Ireland according to recent opinion polls.

Popular anger at government proposals to introduce water charges has fed into large scale street protests across the country.

Sinn Fein leaders Gerry Adams and Mary Lou McDonald have stated that they no longer intend to pay their water charges.



18th February 1978.

Peace People protest march to the headquarters of Provisional Sinn Fein at Kevin Street in Dublin.

Purchase framed photographs and prints @ Irish Photo Archive

Oíche Shamhna

It’s Halloween tonight, when people dress up in costumes, go trick-or-treating and watch scary movies. Of course, all these customs are a fairly recent importation from the US. Traditionally, in Ireland, 31 October was Oíche Shamhna, the continuation of a pagan festival.

Oíche Shamhna marked the end of the Celtic Year, when harvests were over after the summer and people prepared for the winter. All fires were extinguished to mark the end of the year, with the new fire being lit on hill-tops and spread to the locality. Tlachtga, near the Hill of Tara, was an integral part of Oíche Shamhna celebrations, with the first fire of the winter season being lit there before the Samhain festivities began at Tara.

Oíche Shamhna, 1952

It was also the night that the doors were open between the worlds; between the supernatural world and our own. The dead could walk the earth again, fairies could roam freely and a spirit called the pooka, a type of horse demon, caused havoc wherever it went. Many people chose to stay indoors that night rather than risk running into that creature.

Snap Apple, 1952

As it was the end of the harvest, all fruit and berries had to be gathered by the end of October. The abundance of fruit at this time of year meant there was some spare for children to play games with, hence the development of Snap Apple and bobbing for fruit. The bairm brack was also baked full of the leftover berries from the summer, but trinkets such as the ring and the coin were included as predictions for the future.

Oíche Shamhna turned into Hallowed Eve when Christianity took over Ireland, which then turned into Halloween.  The eeriness of the Samhain traditions still appealed to people, and led to the development of the ghost stories, the horror movies, and the costumes. The night is an integral part of Celtic culture, and of humanity’s need to mark the changing of the seasons. Whether you throw yourself into the celebrations or lock yourself into your home for the night, there is no escaping Halloween.

Trying Times

Sinn Fein continues to face tough media grilling over the issue of sex abuse and the inadequate measures that the party has employed to deal with the matter.

The party has been under continuous pressure since Mairia Cahill first came forward with her allegations on a BBC Spotlight documentary.

18th January 1988..Today saw the Funeral of Seán McBride.Seán MacBride was an Irish government minister, a prominent international politician and a former Chief of Staff of the IRA. His funeral took place from the Pro-Cathedral in Dublin to the family plot in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin.The Chief mourners were Tiernan McBride,son, Anna White,daughter and Declan White, son in law...Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein is pictured at the funeral of Sean McBride
« less

Sinn Fein continues to face tough media grilling over the issue of sex abuse and the inadequate measures that the party has employed to deal with the matter.

The party has been under continuous pressure since Mairia Cahill first came forward with her allegations on a BBC Spotlight documentary.



18th January 1988
Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein is pictured at the funeral of Sean McBride

Purchase framed photographs and prints @ Irish Photo Archive

Last Minute

The Republic of Ireland soccer side took a serious step forward in its campaign to reach the European finals in 2016 when the boys in green secured a 1-1 draw against Germany. They might have left it late but all goals county and John O'Shea's last minute equaliser might come to count for more than most goals.

Martin O'Neill's side were expected to be up against it prior to the game: playing against the world champions, even if depleted by injury is always a daunting prospect.




Ireland v Austria at Dalymount Park, 13th October 1963

Purchase framed photographs and prints @ Irish Photo Archive

 



Budget 2015

Budget 2015 is being revealed in Dail Ereann this afternoon. Budgets over the austerity period have hit society hard, most particularly those least able to withstand the squeeze.

In Budget 2015 the area of social protection will be closely watched in the media. It is there that the coalition government in particular the Labour Party took a roasting at the most recent European and local government elections.

Minister for Finance, Charles Haughey, prepares to administer some belt-tightening measures on Budget Day 23 April 1968

 

 

Purchase framed photographs and prints @ Irish Photo Archive

 

Go west to buy a horse...

The annual Ballinasloe Horse Fair is in full swing this week and I for one am delighted by this. Not because I get to go, unfortunately, but because I get to talk about one of my favourite collections from the Irish PhotoArchive.

The Ballinasloe Fair is one of the oldest fairs in Europe. It is now known as the best place to get yourself a horse, but it was a general agricultural fair for most of its existence, with each day being dedicated to a different animal; sheep, cows, horses. However, as the development of the railway system made the transportation of livestock easier, regional cattle marts siphoned off the huge crowds from Ballinasloe. It was the concerted efforts of the Ballinasloe committee, which instigated a carnival to coincide with the fair, that helped keep the event alive and as popular as it is today.

Waiting for a buyer.

The Lensmen photographers were requested to capture the events at the fair in 1952 – the first year of their photographic agency being in operation. They went to Ballinasloe, wandered the streets and took photos of the crowds, the horses and the deals being struck around them.

Our photographers also took pictures of members of the travelling community that had gathered at the fair, and in particular some of the incredibly ornate bottle top wagons present. These wagons were home to many people before the white caravans took over. I cannot tell you if these wagons were either warm or comfortable to travel in, but they were most certainly beautifully decorated – a trend that was something similar to the painted trucks you will find nowadays in Pakistan.

One of the ornate wagons.

If you can’t get to Ballinasloe this year either yourself, then take a look at this showcase video featuring the modern day fair. Or if you’d prefer a wander down memory lane, come on over to the Irish PhotoArchive.

First They Prowled and Then they Pounced - The Cats of KIlkenny

Kilkenny have become all Ireland champions for the 35th time with a three point cushion of 2-17 to 2-14 over rivals Tipperary in Saturday's final replay clash at Croke Park.




For Henry Shefflin it was a personal milestone as he was:

left to savour a tenth All-Ireland Hurling Championship medal with Kilkenny after what he described as a “rollercoaster career and a rollercoaster year”.

 

1979 All Ireland Hurling Final - Kilkenny vs Galway - 2nd September.

Purchase framed photographs and prints @ Irish Photo Archive

The Kingdom is Back

After a five year barren spell Kerry on the weekend before Kilkenny took the all-Ireland Hurling final won a 37th title at Croke Park. In a tightly fought match in which Donegal hit the post in the dying seconds while going for goal, which would have levelled the contest, the men from the Kingdom overcame the tournament favourites and ensured the return of Sam to its Kerry 'home.'





With a new manager and a team considered to be in the rookie division, few gave the Kerry men much chance when they set out on their challenging journey to Croke Park. However with some help from the Donegal keeper who had a disastrous day between the sticks this Kerry side edged in front and held on to secure victory.

1979 Kerry all Ireland winning team.

 

Purchase framed photographs and prints @ Irish Photo Archive