Search Results ... (631)
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Harrison Hall, Roscommon
Harrison Hall, Roscommon
This black and white photo postcard, was posted from Roscommon to New York in 1948. It was purchased in Hugh Flynn's store, Main Street, Roscommon. The subject of the card was named for Dr. John Harrison, a well loved medical practitioner, who died in 1890. The horse and cart was still the mode of transport, the road being very rough. The authority of the building is obvious, placed as it is in the centre of the Market Square. This building, originally built as a courthouse in 1750, served the town also as a church in the early 1800's, until the new RC church was built in 1903, in Abbey Street. The parish priest, Fr. Madden who bought it to convert to a church, was responsible for adding the tower and new frontage to the building. It also had uses as a dancehall, opera house and playhouse. It now serves the community as a bank. The memorial surrounded by wrought iron fencing is to the memory of Luke Hayden M.P.
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Abbey Ruins, Roscommon
Abbey Ruins, Roscommon
Roscommon priory was founded for the Dominicans, by Felim O'Conor, King of Connaught, in 1253. It was consecrated in 1257, but was ravaged by fire in 1308. It was rebuilt in 1453 and the surviving fragments, belong in the main to about that date. This colour tinted photo postcard is an outside view, from the north west, of the ivy choked church. This originally consisted of one long aisle, and the lancet windows in the south wall are still preserved. The most remarkable feature of the priory, is the effigy of King Felim O'Conor, in a niche in the north wall, near where the altar once stood. There are eight mail clad warriors, representing gallowglasses, condemned forever to guard and protect the tomb of their chieftain.
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Old Jail, Roscommon
Old Jail, Roscommon
This colour tinted photo was taken by John Valentine of the Old Jail, Roscommon. It was built c.1740, and occupies a prominent position in the town centre. The facade is all that is left today, and a modern extension now houses the Stone Court shopping centre. It was possibly designed by Richard Cassels, who also designed Leinster House, Powerscourt House, and Cartron House. It had the distinction of having a lady hangwoman, in the person of "Lady Betty", herself a criminal, who had her sentence withdrawn, on condition that she carried out her gruesome task without pay. The top most arch in the centre of the building, housed the bell that announced exercise periods and mealtimes. Public hangings were reportedly carried out from a timber platform, built outside the fourth storey doorway, on the left hand side of the image. The wrought iron railing outside the main door was still in situ, when the photographer took this shot. The horses with their cartloads of turf, are attended only by a young boy, whilst their masters sup at the inn, perhaps? Having served as a jail for nearly one hundred years, it became a lunatic asylum post 1822 and ten years later it became a lazeretto - a refuge for small pox sufferers. Its use changed yet again to a market house, a private dwelling house for numerous Roscommon families, and finally, a shopping centre in 1999.
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The Old Abbey, Roscommon
The Old Abbey, Roscommon
This colour tinted view of the Abbey was taken looking towards the north west. Samuel Lewis in his Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, (1837) describes the remains of the Abbey with its "northern transept, in which is an aisle separated by four pointed arches, resting on massive round pillars. Over the principle entrance is a very beautiful window, with an enriched architrave decorated with pinnacles, the windows in the choir are lancet shaped. Fragments of sculptured stones are scattered over the whole area, which is still in use as a burial place". The beautiful Celtic Cross in the left foreground is now sadly mutilated and grounded. This belongs to the Kelly/O'Rorke Mausoleum, the plinth remains also in a bad state of repair. A variety of limestone gravemarkers can be seen, the earliest legible one dating back to 1797. The postcard was posted from Roscommon in 1929, to New York at a cost of one and a half pennies.
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Ranelagh, Roscommon
Ranelagh, Roscommon
Possibly taken at the turn of the 20th century, given the dress of the ladies and gentleman with bike, this is the Ranelagh, former endowed schoolhouse, supported by Lord Ranelagh, with a bequest of £52.00 per annum. This view encapsulates the grandness of George Ensor's fine mid to late 18th century house. The two storey ivy and rose clad three bay pedimented breakfront, has the Ranelagh coat of arms over a central doorcase. The Ranelagh schools had a varied history, admitting only children of Protestants, as requested by Lord Ranelagh, in his will. This schoolhouse was reserved for the education of girls only. In 1855, the curate of Roscommon, Fr. James Fitzgerald, was also manager of the school. At the Endowed Schools Commission of that year, Rev. Dr. Graves gave evidence that "there was no institution in which I found the arrangements better, or the instruction of children of a superior class". It continued as a school, apparently for all denominations, in its latter years up to 1912 approximately. The County Surveyor, a Mr. Mullaney lived there with his family.
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Convent Schools, Roscommon c.1970
Convent Schools, Roscommon c.1970
This is a colour photo postcard of the Convent Schools complex in Roscommon town taken sometime late in the 1960's. The stone building in the right foreground, is the original three storey Primary school opened in 1902, and reduced by one storey in 1964. A pre-fab building extends the Primary school to the left foreground all on the church side of the road. The buildings immediately behind that, are the convent Secondary complex, with the railway station "greened" out in the rear.
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Protestant Church, Roscommon
Protestant Church, Roscommon
This Church of Ireland church, named after Saint Coman is a detached building set in its own grounds, in Henry Street. The orginal photo was taken by William Lawrence from the southern perspective. Samuel Lewis in his Topographical Dictionary, 1837 described it as follows "a neat edifice with a square tower, in which are a doorway and window of elegant design". It was built in 1775 with a three bay nave, transept to the south, vestry to the north and a three stage castellated tower to the west. The card was posted from Roscommon to Philidelphia in 1908 at a cost of one penny.
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LOUGHMORE - Loughmoe Castle
LOUGHMORE - Loughmoe Castle
View of the ruins of Loughmoe Castle
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Merrion Avenue, Blackrock, Co.Dublin.
Merrion Avenue, Blackrock, Co.Dublin.
Merrion Avenue was developed as part of a landscaping plan for the Fitzwilliam estate. Trees were planted along the avenue and an entrance was created at the bottom of it. This occurred after 1704 when Mount Merrion House was built on 100 acres near Merrion Castle. Up until about 1800 Mount Merrion Avenue was left largely untouched. Houses were then built at the bottom of the avenue at Pembroke Terrace and later at Peafield Terrace.
Image acquired from The Collectors' Shop, Blackrock.
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Abbey Street, Roscommon c.1910
Abbey Street, Roscommon c.1910
Abbey Street, Roscommon taken by John Valentine is a colour tinted photo showing the middle portion of this street. In the background is the detached, gable fronted Methodist Church, built c. 1860, it's stained glass rose window clearly visible over the door, as well as the stone piers with wrought iron gate. The ivy clad terrace on the right, housed doctors and solicitors. The square porch jutting out at the end of this block, was possibly the entrance to the National Bank. Albert Healy, the Roscommon born musician of note, was born in the "White House", Abbey Street, beside the church. His father was manager of the National Bank across the road.
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