PHOTOGRAPHERS AND STUDIOS IN DUBLIN
This is a guide to the photographers carrying out commercial portrait photography in Dublin in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Its primary aim is to help with the dating of old photographs. Street directories, census returns and electoral registers have been used to
try to establish the beginning and end dates for each address. Gaps in the collections of directories consulted mean that it is not accurate
to the exact year, but it is hoped that this will be improved in time. A few of the businesses listed in the directories were probably suppliers
of equipment rather than photographers, but they have been included.
You can find information on the lives of some of these photographers, and samples of their work, on Orla Fitzpatrick's
Jacolette site. There are various websites which explain how to date old photographs on the basis
of the morphology of the photographs (eg phototree.com or
cartedevisite.co.uk or the
clothing of the sitter. See also
Watch the Birdie blog - the world of the Victorian photographer.
Adolphe, Edgar
Edgar Adolphe was a French painter who set up a photography studio in Dublin in the 1850s. His colourful life, including imprisonment for libel
in England and pursuit by an alleged previous wife after he married in Dublin, can be found on the
Photohistory-Sussex site. His 'Photographic Artist Gallery',
under the sign of the Golden Palette, was at 75 Grafton Street from before 1859 until 1873, and then at 9 Westmoreland Street from 1874 to 1881.
He also had an address at 83 George's Street Upper, Kingstown, in 1867-8.
Ahlborn, Julius
78 Grafton Street, 1863.
Allen, Mark & Co.
12 Westland Row 1867-85. Miss Allen was a portrait painter at the same address.
American Photographic Gallery
162 Capel Street, 1872-1877.
Andrews, William
32 Westmoreland Street 1861 to 1863, then 88 Grafton Street from 1864 to 1865.
Arnall, John
69 Camden Street Lower, 1906-1907. At an unknown date, a photographer called Edward Walton, at number 11, described the business as "late Arnall".
Ashe Studio, Ltd.
Opened at 133 Lower Baggot Street in about 1951. Still there in 1957. Contemporary Pictures had been at this address since 1947.
Tony O'Malley Pictures Ltd. was here by 1962.
Atkinson, Thomas
Briefly operating as an independent photographer in 1886, at 83 George's Street, Upper, Kingstown. In the 1901 census there is a
photographer of that name at 105 Grove Road, Rathmines. A photograph is extant with his stamp, giving his address as 8 Grove Road.
By 1911 he was at 30 Sarsfield Road, New Kilmainham.
Aylmer, John
'Photographic artist' at 6 Hamilton Row from at least 1859 to 1865.
Beehan & Co.
Beehan & Co., photographers, at 1 Wellington Quay from 1908 to 1929. By 1915 it was called the Up-to-Date studio, and the manager was J Edwards.
The listing in 1918 was the same, but in 1920 the proprietor was listed as J Behan, spelt Beehan in the alphabetical listings. In 1924 there
was no studio name, just A. McDonnell, photographer.
Behan, James
"Hilton," Rathmines road (from 1918 the house-number 150 is included), 1906-1930. This was probably the manager of Beehan & Co., listed above,
but had a separate listing and was spelt with one 'e'. A photo from about 1910-15 gives the address of J.E. Beehan as 'Rathmines Studio, Dublin.'
Bobs Studio
16 Henry Street Dublin, 1911-1916. The photographer was Pierce Brewan, who started using the name 'Bobs' in 1912, and 'Mr. B' in 1916. The
building was destroyed in the 1916 Rebellion.
Bobby's Studio
15 D'Olier Street. No connection to the earlier Bobs Studio. Opened some time after 1953; in existence by 1957. By 1974 listed in Thom's Directory
as Bobby Studio, and the photographer was Robert Coleman.
Boyland, A. & P. J.
9 North Frederick Street, 1933-36.
Bradshaw, B.
12 Harcourt street, 1907.
Brewan, Pierce - see Bobs Studio
Brook Smith E.
140 Stephen's green, 1909-1919.
Browne, Henry D.
Three addresses on George's Street, Lower, Kingstown: 75 in 1867 and 1868, 78 in 1869 and 1870, and 95 from 1871 until 1885.
Brownrigg, William C.
see the Gresham Studio.
Burke, J. H.
44 Ormond Quay, Lower in 1865.
Burton, Richard
2 Crampton Quay, 1863, 43 Grafton Street 1864-1865.
Campbell
15 Sackville Street Lower, 1868.
Camden-street Studio
11A Camden Street. A branch of Harry Cowan's Franco-British Portrait Company. At that address from after 1911 to before 1918. Certainly there
1914-1915.
Cameo Studios
96a Talbot Street, c. 1974. It had been previously been called Spot Light Studio and Stanley's Studios.
55 Lower O'Connell Street. c. 1984. This had been Max Studios until at least 1978.
Cannon, John
158 Capel street 1863-1866
Cap Photography (Eamon Murphy)
55 Dame Street, circa 1957.
Central Studios
18 North Earl Street. Not listed 1911-1924.
Chancellor
John Chancellor was working a photographer in the family watch- and clock-making business at 55 Sackville Street Lower from at least 1862.
From 1867 onwards he was listed as a photographer in the commercial section of Thom's Directory. In 1898 the listing was changed to
'Chancellor & Son'. The studio continued until 1923.
Child Studies
46 Iona Crescent, Glasnevin, Tel 371503. Two photographs known, 1965-1966.
(City of) Paris Photographic Company
29 Westmoreland Street, 1872-1873.
Clarendon and Co.
George's st lower, Kingstown: 90 in 1865, 94 from 1866 to 1902.
College Studios
(Messrs Sparkes and Kavanagh), 64 Dawson street, 1913 (Frank P d'Arcy, photographic artist, had been at that address in 1912).
They were gone the following year, but the College Studios were back in operation by at least September 1917, this time at
9 Westmoreland Street. They were not listed in Thom's Directory until 1920: the proprietor was Robert Sparkes, and the business was called College
Photographic Studios. It remained as this address until 1929, then reappeared as the College Studios at 31 Westmoreland Street, where it was based
from 1932 to 1950. Finally, Sparkes continued the business on a small scale from his home at 3 Victoria Villas, Clontarf, until his death in about 1960.
Collet and Son
129 Stephen's Green West, 1868.
Contemporary Pictures
133 Lower Baggot street from 1947 to the late 1950s.The Ashe Studio was also here from 1951 onwards.
Tony O'Malley Pictures Ltd. was at this address in 1962.
Cowan, Harry
Owner of a number of studios in Dublin: the Franco-British Portrait Company, Grafton Studios, Camden-street Studio, Sackville
Portrait Studio, and the Earl Portrait Studio. His brother, Jack, operated the ‘While-U-Wait’ booth on the promenade in Bray during
the summer months. There are separate entries for each of these. Harry Cowan also took photographs in O'Connell Street (helped by Jack in the winter),
standing outside Clerys department store. He used a 35mm movie camera converted to take single shots. Contact prints could be viewed next day at the
studio at 8 North Earl Street, and prints ordered in various sizes mounted in embossed mounts with the studio name.
Cranfield, Thomas
115 Grafton Street from 1865 to 1899 (Cranfield had been listed as a picture framer as early as 1862). From 1900 to 1902 it was continued by
Mrs Cranfield.
D'Arcy, Frank P.
90 Grafton Street, 1898 to 1906, then 64 Dawson Street from 1906 until 1912.
Davis, Arthur H.
30 Westmoreland Street, 1922 to 1936.
Dempsey’s Studios
48 Lr. O’Connell St. Opened after 1925 (photo known from c.1926), closed after
1936 but before 1944.
Dewar, Norman
29 Lr. Sackville street from 1914 until 1916.
Dowling, William P.
20 Lincoln Place, 1867 to 1869.
Doyle, W.F.
Portrait painter who appears also to have been a photographer. 41 Summer Street North, 1862 and 1863.
Doyle & Co.
4 Usher's quay 1882-5.
Dunbar, Henry
39 Capel street 1884-5.
Earl Portrait Studio
8 North Earl Street. Another of Harry Cowan's studios, though he was listed here as a wholesale jeweller.
Opened in 1951, still there in 1962, gone by 1974.
Edwards and Co.
28 Grafton street, 1878 to 1885.
Elite Photos
31 Derravarragh Road, Terenure. Stamped on a photograph from about 1954. This was the photographer
Cornelius (Con) Keane ,
an ex-RAF photographer who later worked in Cameo Studios, Talbot Street (see above).
Elite Portrait Studios
22 Rathmines Road circa 1918, 1926.
Feldman, Abraham
see Fields, Arthur.
Fields, Arthur
Practically everyone in Dublin had their photograph taken by Arthur Fields, though they may have known him only as 'The Man on
O'Connell Bridge'. From the 1940s to the 1970s he stood on O'Connell Bridge every day, photographing passers-by. They could collect
the photograph the next day from a studio nearby; in the later years he used a Polaroid camera and could provide instant photographs.
Arthur Fields (born Abraham Feldman) was the subject of a book, a television documentary and an exhibition in 2014. There is a
website dedicated to him, where you are encouraged to upload copies of photos taken by him, as
none of his negatives have survived. There is also a Facebook page dedicated
to him.
Finnerty and Co.
9 Westmoreland Street, 1909. 32 Sackville Street Lower 1910 to 1911. This appears to have been the same
Michael Patrick Finnerty who ran the Shamrock Studio at 46 Henry Street. Mrs Finnerty worked there as a miniature painter.
Finning, Henry
'Photographic artist'. At 34 Sackville street lower from at least 1859 to 1863
Fishbourne, John
43 Brian Rd. Evidently an individual working from home. Stamped on a photograph from the late 1940s. The Fishbourne
family moved in there after 1936 but before 1944. It was listed as occupied by Robert Fishbourne from 1944 until 1957,
and John H. Fishbourne in 1962-3 and 1974. No mention of photography in the directories.
Forbes, Robert
A Scottish-born photographer with a studio at 54 Grafton street 1888-1923. He was living on the premises in 1901.
He had moved out by 1911, and four brothers called Beehan, all photographers, were living there.
Forster, W.C.
Started in 1865 as Forster & Haskoll, at 30 Westmoreland street. From 1866 to 1869, W.C. Forster alone:
Haskoll had set up independently in Grafton Street (see below).
Franco-British Portrait Company or Franco-British Art Studio or Franco Art Studio
Grafton Studios, 111 Grafton Street. Proprietor Harry Cowan. Opened after 1911, definitely there from 1915 to 1920, closed before 1924. Also at:
85 Talbot Street, after 1918 and before 1924 (definitely in January 1922)
Camden-street Studio, 11 Lower Camden Street, from after 1911 to before 1918. Certainly there 1914-1915.
39 Mary Street. This is listed in the directories as Mark Rubinstein, photographer, from after 1911 until after 1924 (definitely there 1915-1924).
46½ Harrington Street, after 1911: Henry Cowan listed in 1915, Franco-British Portrait Co. listed in 1918, 1920 and 1924.
6 North Earl Street, a new shop built after 1920 to replace a building destroyed in 1916. It had opened by 1924, and the studio was still listed in 1931.
It moved to 14 Lower O'Connell St in 1932 and operated until 1948, although from 1937 it was just listed under 'Cowan, H.' rather than any studio name.
Gales Studios
‘Branches Everywhere’ Photograph taken in about 1916, probably in Dublin. Photo has been trimmed, so no address visible.
In about 1930, Gale's became Jerome's, but there is no record of Jerome's in Dublin until 1949.
Ganly
Edmund Gilbert Ganly set up a studio at 51 Gardiner Street Lower in 1867, having previously worked as 'principal photographist' to J Simonton
of 70 Grafton Street. In October 1868 he moved to 43 Grafton Street. After 1869 he moved to London, where he is recorded as a photographer's
manager in 1888 and a photographer in 1891 (PhotoLondon database).
Geoghegan, Thomas F.
6 Lower Sackville street. 1893 to 1899. 2 Essex quay 1900-1907. 1 and 2 Essex Quay 1908-1939. Until 1920 he specified that he was a
landscape photographer.
Gilbert, P. Louis
26 Capel street, 1876 to 1877.
Glenn, D.C.
30 Grafton Street, 1920 or a little earlier?
This address also appears in connection with Swiftprints, Johnson's Court.
Glindon, Thomas
162 Capel street in 1865. 4 Salem place, Love Lane from 1867 to 1872.
M. Glover Ltd.
124 Stephen’s Green. Started in 1882. Census 1901: John James Joseph Glover, 61, photographer, born in Kinsale, living at 124 St Stephen’s Green.
The business lasted until 1909 at this address, then moved to 41 Lower Gardiner Street for two years, 1910-1911. In 1891-2 they also had an
address at 9 Westmoreland St. This is where Edgar Adolphe's studio had been in the 1870s (see above).
Glukman
Professor Leon Glukman described himself in 1859 as proprietor of a photographic institution, and portrait publisher, and patentee of the electric bell
for railways, &c. He exhibited a number of inventions in the Dublin International Exhibition of 1853, including a machine for polishing daguerreotype
plates and a 'stand camera'. He was at 24 Sackville Street Upper from at least 1859 to 1868. William Glukman, presumably his son, was listed as a
photographer at this address in 1879.
Gosselin, Francis John
43 Grafton street, 1872-1873.
Grafton Studios (1910s-20s)
111 Grafton Street. See Franco-British Portrait Company above.
Grafton Studios (1950s-70s)
1 St. Stephen's green, 1953 to at least 1974. Dick Gavin, photographer.
Graphic Studios
114 St. Stephen's Green, 1932-1943.
Graves, T. & Co.
T. Graves & Co., jewellers and art photographers at 3 Talbot Street from about 1918 until 1936. From 1921 to 1926, they were also
listed at 34 Lr. Sackville street. From before 1924 to after 1929, also listed, but only as jewellers, at 36 Henry Street, where Mappins, photographers, had previously
been (and earlier Alex Mitofsky). By 1936 the Henry Street address was gone, and by 1944 the Talbot Street address was also gone.
Greiffeld, F.
40 Sackville Street Lower and 1 Wellington quay, 1885 to1887.
Gresham Studio
24 Upper Sackville Street, 1908-1909. Wm. C. Brownrigg, photographer. In the census he described himself as a chemist, retired by 1911.
Gromann
31 Heytesbury Street: Swiss-born photographer Emil Gromann ran a studio here from 1900 until his death in 1909. His widow, Mrs. Sarah Gromann,
continued the business until 1936.
Guthrie Bros.
Park place, Islandbridge, 1902-1907; 37 Parkgate street, 1908-1917.
Harman Ltd.
89 Grafton Street, 1906-1909. Also listed under manufacturers of photographic apparatus. This was evidently a company owned by
Alfred Hugh Harman, the founder of Ilford Ltd. (which is now Harman Technology Ltd.).
The premises were taken over by Kodak in 1910.
Harrison, J.
55½ George's Street Upper, Kingstown, 1867.
Haskoll, T.F.
118 Grafton street in 1868. Had previously been in partnership with W.C. Forster.
Hastings, John
10 Pembroke Quay 1885 to 1887. 80 Ormond Quay Upper, 1888. 30 Ormond Quay Upper, 1889 to 1891.
Hawkins, C.
90 Grafton street and 32 Westmoreland Street, 1859.
Henry’s, Photographers, Dublin
Basil Henry photographer, at 54 South King Street in 1944 (since after 1936). Still there in 1957 but gone by 1962-3. He was also at
45 Grafton Street at one stage (date as yet unknown).
Higgins, James
27 Capel street, 1867.
Hogan, D.W.
Press and home portraiture and studio, 56 Henry street, 1923-1932. 52 Henry Street, 1933-1935.
Hopkins, Bobbie
Glasnevin. Address and date range unknown.
Howell, Charles/Howell Studio
See Owl Studio below.
Hughes
16 Merrion Row, Dublin. We have a photograph from circa 1945, but the directory suggests they started at that address
after 1953 but before 1957. Still there in 1974.
Hutchison & Keegan
15 Sackville Street Lower, 1867-68. Hutchison, James, 1869.
Jerome Ltd.
4 Henry Street. At this address from at least August 1949. Listed in Thom's Directory as ‘S. Jerome.' Jerome was a UK
chain going back to the 1920s—it was originally Gale's Studios—(see
www.photomemorabilia.co.uk/Jerome_Studios.html) but disappearing in the 1950s. It may be significant that until
at least 1953 the Blackpool photographer Charles Howell had the premises next door in No 3. ‘Jerome, S., photographer’
still there in 1962-3, but gone by 1974.
Julyan and Ahlfred
78 Grafton street, 1867 (in 1863, Julius Ahlborn).
Kavanagh
see College Studios
Kennan, W.R.
35 Dame street 1893, 41 Grafton Street 1894 to 1899.
Keogh Bros Ltd.
124 St. Stephen’s Green and 75 Lower Dorset St. The latter address appears to have been the Keogh family home since at
least 1883. It was used as the address of their studio from 1912 to 1918. When Glover's, of 124 Stephen’s Green, moved out after 1909,
Keoghs seem to have taken over. In the 1911 census return for 75 Lower Dorset Street, Brendan Keogh, the 23-year-old son of retired
commercial clerk John P. Keogh, is listed as a photographer. By 1918 ‘Keogh Bros Ltd, photographic service’ were at 124 St. Stephen’s
Green, and ‘Keogh Bros Ltd premier photographers and picture framers’ at 75 Lower Dorset Street. In 1953 still the same,
but by 1957 the Dorset Street address was vacant. By 1962-3 they were gone from Stephen’s Green also.
Keogh, E.
61 Casino road, Marino, 1931-1943.
Kirkpatrick, Wm.
34 Sackville Street Lower, 1865-67.
Kodak Ltd.
89 Grafton street, 1910 to 1957 and later
Also listed under manufacturers of photographic apparatus. From 1933 they also had premises on Rathmines Road under this listing.
The Grafton Street premises had previously been occupied by Harman Ltd.
King, T.
5 North Earl Street, over Winstanley's shoe-shop, from after 1911. Definitely there in 1915, and the building was destroyed
in the 1916 Rebellion.
Lafayette
Founded in 1880 by James Lafayette, who was, in fact, James Stack Lauder, the eldest son of Edmund Lauder (see Lauder below). The business was very
successful, and by the end of the century they had branches in Glasgow, Manchester, London and Belfast. James Lafayette, now based in London, became
the most commercially successful portrait photographer of the day. On his death in 1923, however, the company slowly declined, and by 1952 only the
Dublin office was left, but it was sold off and most of the negatives were destroyed. In 2009 Lafayette Photography re-opened in Cambridge
Addresses in Dublin: 29 Westmoreland street 1882-5. 30 Westmoreland street 1886-1918. 32 Westmoreland street 1919-1953
Lan-fere
30 Westmoreland street 1918. Same address as Lafayette.
Lanigan, Charles,
39 Capel street, 1867 to 1869.
Laroche & Williams
140 Stephen's Green West, 1863.
Lauder
45 Lower Sackville Street, 1865-1916. It is listed under Edmond S. Lauder, until 1881, then A.E. Lauder until 1885, Lauder Bros until 1892,
then Ed. S. Lauder until 1916, when the building was destroyed. In the censuses of 1901 and 1911, Peter Dinnette, photographer, was living
in 45 Lower Sackville Street his family.
Edmond S. Lauder was also at 32 Westmoreland street, 1865-1881. It is then listed under E.J. Lauder from 1882 to 1885, and then Lauder Bros.
to 1917. Lafayettes, who had a studio in No. 30, then moved into No. 32.
Lauder Brothers were also at Kingstown in 1869 and 22 Westmoreland Street from 1879 to 1881.
Lavery, Mrs H.E.
13 North Earl Street, 1932-1947.
Lawrence, John
1859: 'toy warehouse, the Civet Cat Bazaar, and photographic gallery'. At 39 Grafton Street from at least 1859 until 1876.
Lawrence, William
5 Sackville Street, Upper. 1865 to 1916. A photo dated 1869 has '5 & 7 Upper Sackville Street'
In addition to studio portraits, this company produced thousands of outdoor photographs of street scenes, buildings and scenery,
today held in the National Library of Ireland and known as the
Lawrence Collection.
Lennon, M.
53A Rathmines road, 1913-1918; 13 Richmond street south, 1919 to 1948.
Lewis, J.
15 Sackville Street Lower, 1869
Le Sage, Adolphe
40 Sackville Street Lower 1872 to 1880.
London Metropolitan Photographic Company
22 Westmoreland street, and 88 Grafton street, 1867 to 1869. 22 Westmoreland street alone from 1872 to 1878.
McCourtney
R. H. McCourtney, photographer, 115 Comeragh Road, Drimnagh. Stamped on a photograph from c. 1954. An individual
working from home. The McCourtney family moved in after 1947 but before 1951. Listed as E. McCourtney in 1953,
L. MacCourtney in 1953 and 1957, A. M. Courtney in 1962-3, and Sarah McCourtney in 1974.
McCrae, William
14 Berkeley road, 1896-1930; just 'McCrae' 1931-1935.
McDonnell, A.
1 Wellington Quay, 1930-1931.
McFarland, James
79 Grafton street 1880 to 1885.
McGlynn, T.
93 Marlboro' street, late 1950s to early 1960s.
McKee, William C.
48 Sackville st. lower 1876 to 1888; 5 Sackville Street Lower, 1889 to 1902; 82 Dame Street, 1903 to 1911.
McLachan, M. French
31a Westmoreland street, 1923-1926
McMahon, H. Roe
11 Harcourt Street, 25 Sackville street upper and 37 Grafton street 1910-1932. 11 Harcourt st., 55 Lr. O'Connell street, 1933 until late 1950s.
Succeeded at the latter address by Max Studios (see below). By 1944 he had added ‘wireless dealer’ to his Harcourt Street entry.
In 1911 Henry Roe McMahon (31) was living at 12 Emerald Square with his aunt (Elizabeth Roe), his sister Margery A. Ashby and his brother
Charles A. McMahon. The latter two were photographers, but HRMcM was a portrait artist.
McNally, Thomas B., M.R.P.S.
70 Celtic Park Avenue, Drumcondra. 1950s-60s
McNally, T.P.
14 D'Olier street, 1937 until the late 1950s.
Magee, H.W.
118 Grafton street, 1874 to 1875.
Mansfield
William Mansfield was at 90 Grafton street from 1861 to 1864. George Mansfield was listed as a photographer at this address from 1865 to 1873, and then
again from 1882 to 1892. A.B. Mansfield was listed as a photographer at this address from 1893 to 1900 (Alfred Barton Mansfield)
Mappin & Co.
At 36 Henry Street in 1920 . By 1924, Mappins had been replaced by T. Graves & Co., of Talbot Street, who appear to have dealt here as
jewellers only. Mappin & Co. were also at 140 St. Stephens Green [dates not checked yet]
Mares, Frederick
'Photographic Artist', at 79 Grafton Street from at least 1859 to 1877, with an additional address at 118 Grafton Street from 1878 to 1881.
Misspelt 'Myers' in the earlier directories.
Mason, Thos H.
5-6 Dame Street, 1932 to the early 1970s. A shop selling optical and photographic equipment: not a studio.
Mathews, Daniel H.
78 Grafton street, 1872-1873.
Max Studios
55 Lower O'Connell Street, 1953-1979. Renamed Cameo Studios by 1984, gone by 1986.
Mercer, William A.
19 Belgrave square east, Rathmines, 1865-1898.
Merriman, J.
63 Amiens street, 1931-1937
Millard & Robinson
39 Sackville Street Lower. First listed in 1863, as Thomas Millard. From 1865 to 1887, Millard & Robinson.
Mills, W.C.
4 Nassau street 1882-1891.
Mitofsky, Alex
Alex Mitofsky, Vienna Art Studio, 97 Harcourt Street from after 1896 to before 1915. In the 1901 census Alexander Mitofsky, 32, was living with his wife,
3-year-old son and housekeeper at 5 Oakfield Place. He was a photographer. He and his wife had both been born in Russia, but his son was born in Dublin
City. By 1911 they were living in 3 Homeville and had another son and a daughter. In 1915 his studio was at 46 Henry Street. A
photograph taken immediately after the 1916 rebellion clearly
shows the shop sign and someone standing at the door. However, the building had obviously been damaged, as it was listed in 1918 as having been
destroyed in 1916, and Alex Mitofsky was now at 85 Heytesbury Street. In 1925 he was at 9 Mary Street: ‘photo enlarging co., and furniture warehouse.’
The same in 1929, but gone by 1931.
Monney, W.H.
22 Westmoreland Street, 1865.
Moore, William George
11 Sackville Street Upper 1880 to 1923.
Morganti, M.
71 George's Street, South, 1865 to 1869.
Myers, Frederick
see Mares, Frederick
Neale, Henry
43 Grafton Street, 1867 to 1869.
Nelson, Alfred
Photographer (main occupant was W. H. Nelson, optician). At 66 Dame street from at least 1859 until 1862.
Nelson and Marshall
'Photographic artists'. At 11 Sackville Street Upper from at least 1859 until 1879.
North
Thomas North, at 43 Ranelagh Road from at least 1859 until 1863 when he moved to 71 Grafton Street. He moved to number 79 in 1892,
but by 1894 he was in 66½. In 1900 he moved away from Grafton Street to 87 Rathmines Road. In 1903 he moved to 79a Rathmines Road,
and was there until 1908.
Owl Studio
Charles Howell opened a studio in Blackpool, Lancashire, in 1913. He had a studio in Belfast by 1918 (possibly 1915). The first record I have of him
in Dublin is in June 1928, when he had three addresses: 31 Mary Street, Dublin; 33 North Street, Belfast; and Pleasure Beach, Blackpool. By June
1930 he had moved his Dublin studio to 3 Henry Street, Dublin. In the street directories for 1935 and 1941 it is listed as The Howell Studio, but
a photograph from circa 1936 calls it The Owl Studio. The electoral register for 1939-40 lists Charles Howell at that address with ‘Abode - Blackpool
England’ [see Blackpool below]. In the 1948 directory it is ‘Charles Howell, the Owl Studio’. Still there in 1953, but S. Jerome already next door in
No. 4. Gone by 1957, replaced by the Owl Photo Studios, Ltd. at 40 Talbot street. This was gone by 1962.
P.C. Photos
87 Grafton Street, 1946 to 1948.
Paris
see City of Paris
Photo-King
52 Lower Mount Street. One example known: a photo taken at a social event in about 1960. There may have been a connection with C and L Walsh, who were at No. 55 from 1947 to the 1960s.
Photo-Transfer Co.
18 Sackville Street Upper, 1865-1869.
Pigott, Richard
Richard Pigott is best known as the nationalist journalist who shot himself after being
exposed as the forger of letters, purportedly from Charles Stewart Parnell, supporting the Phoenix Park Murders. In the 1860s he was manager
of the Irishman newspaper, and between 1862 and 1864 he is listed in Thom's Directory as a photographic publisher and proprietor of
'stereoscopic warerooms' in the same premises, 33 Abbey Street Lower. It is not clear whether he took photographs, but he appears
in the directory's list of photographers. [in 1863 commercial list, at least]
Poole, Vyvyan
42 St Alban's Park, Pembroke, 1931 to the late 1950s.
Rapid Developing Co.
14 Suffolk street, 1941. Probably a processing laboratory rather than a studio.
Rathmines Studio
J E Beehan (see above), 1910-1915?.
Robertson
3 Grafton Street: from 1865 to 1873, John Robertson & Co, bookseller, publisher and photographer. From 1874 to 1881, Robertson & Co. From 1882 to 1892,
Alex. Robertson.
Robinson, James
In 1859: 'optician, philosophical artist, Polytechnic museum, and photographic galleries'. At 65 Grafton Street from at least 1859 to 1910.
From 1901 'Robinson, J., & Sons'. Also listed under manufacturers of photographic apparatus from 1906 to 1910.
Ross
54 Grafton Street, Dublin According to the company’s website, they were established in 1929. A photograph dated to
1930 is captioned: ‘Shadowgraph Portrait by J. Ross, 54 Grafton Street, Dublin’. There had been no photographer at
this address in 1929, but ‘J. Ross, photographer’ was listed in 1931. By 1936, Ross Studios were at 3 St. Stephen’s
Green. They were still there in 1974, but have since returned to Grafton Street, No 59, as
Edmund Ross Studios.
Rubinstein, Mark
39 Mary Street, c. 1915-1924. See the Franco-British Portrait Company above.
Sackville Portrait Studio
15 Lower Sackville Street, (after 1922 more commonly referred to as Lower O’Connell Street), 1941-1946. From 1944,
listed in the directories as 'SACKVILLE PORTRAIT STUDIOS: photographers, jewellers opticians and general fancy goods.
Cowan, H., photographer'. In around 1933 he also had the ‘While-U-Wait’ booth on the promenade in Bray
(see below). He had previously owned the Franco-British Portrait Company (see above). In the 1940s, a street photographer
attached to the Sackville Studio was taking photographs in O'Connell Street. Photos could be collected from the studio.
In 1947 he was using a cine camera and printing from the best frame - both sides of his ticket are reproduced
in this discussion.
Samuels, Wm. B.
30 Westmoreland St 1872 to 1881, 118 Grafton St 1882-5.
Sauvy, Mons.
Adam Zalking Sauvy, a French photographer who settled in
Ireland and took over G. Schroeder's studios in Cork and Dublin. He renamed them the Paris Photographic Studio. 54 Grafton Street and 64 Patrick
Street, Cork 1882-6. He moved to Manchester in 1886.
Schroeder, G.
28 Grafton Street from 1864 until 1875, then at 54 Grafton Street from 1876 to 1881. In 1882 he moved to 40 Sackville Street Lower and operated
here until 1885. Also had a studio at 64 Patrick Street, Cork. W. Schroeder was at 78 Grafton Street in 1869.
Scott, Charles
Scott Brothers, artists &c, 28 Sackville Street upper, 1863
23 Sackville Street, Upper, 1864.
Shamrock Studio - see Finnerty
Sheils, Gregory
27 Capel street 1881 to 1902. 27a Capel Street 1903 to 1906. Also 25 Upper Sackville Street in the 1890s. In 1901, Gregory Sheils, photographer, 67,
was living at 4 Rutland St Upper with his wife and two daughters, 14 and 21: both girls were photographers.
Simonton and Millard
In 1859: Simonton and Millard, 'photographic artists'. At 39 Sackville Street Lower from at least 1859 until 1862, then James Simonton at
70 Grafton Street from 1863 until 1876, and at 22 Westmoreland Street in 1877. He then reappears at 28 Grafton Street in 1884.
See Millard, Thomas and Millard & Robinson
Slatterys Photographic Headquarters
54 Upper O'Connell Street, 1947 to the 1990s
Sparkes - see College Studios
Spot Light Studio
A. Blake, photographer, 96a Talbot Street. Opened after 1974, in existence by 1951. Directory listing the same, but by 1962
it had been renamed Stanley's Studios, and by 1974 it was Cameo Studios.
Stanley's Studios
96a Talbot Street, c. 1962. It had been called Spot Light Studio until at least 1957, and by 1974 it was Cameo Studios.
Stanley E.J.
22 Westmoreland street, 1909-11. Stanley, J. E. and Lauder, 22 Westmoreland street, 1912 until the late 1950s.
Stanley, W. and O.
31a Lincoln place, 1900-1902. Also listed under manufacturers of photographic equipment.
Stark, Brothers
7 Sackville street, lower 1872 to 1880.
Stirling, Francis
Capel street, 1869.
Studio J.
136 St. Stephen's Green, 1946 to 1957 and later
Swiftprints
Johnson Court, Grafton Street. Apparently connected with D.C. Glenn, 30 Grafton Street.
Taylor, A. and G.
Photographers to the Queen. 140 Stephen's Green West 1882-1891.
Technicolour studios (colouring)
5 North Earl Street, Dublin, 1945+. This was a small (perhaps one-man) business apparently operating out of the office
of the Irish Film Society, hand-tinting black-and-white photographs.
Tyndall
1 Warrington place (Lower Mount street), 1902-06. 2 Warrington place, 1907-1922. 46 Lower Mount Street 1923-1930. Thomas Tyndall was listed at
the latter address until at least 1957. By 1962-3 his sister Ellen was listed there, and by 1974 the building had been demolished. In 1901, at
the time of the census, the Tyndalls had already been living at 2 Warrington Place. The head of the household was Mrs. Mary Anne Tyndall, a widow.
The eldest son, Thomas (26) appears to have been a court clerk, but his brother, James (21), was a photographer. Their sister, Mary
Anne (22) was a seamstress. The other sister, Ellen, was 18 but had, as yet, no occupation. Ten years later, in 1911,
old Mrs. Tyndall was still there but James, the photographer, was now the head of the household. Mary Anne was the
receptionist and Ellen worked as a retoucher. Thomas, although listed in the directories as a photographer, was actually
a clerk in Green Street courthouse.
Up-to-Date Studio
1 Wellington Quay. Had this name from after 1915 to before 1924. See Beehan & Co. above.
Vance M. (late Taylor, A & G)
140 Stephen's green, west, 1902.
Vanston, Cecil W.
17 Bushy Park road, Rathgar, 1944 to the 1960s.
Walsh, C. & L.
55 Lower Mount Street, 1947 to the 1960s. These may have been connected with Photo-King, in No. 52 circa 1960.
Walsh, J.
118 Grafton street, 1869 to 1873
Walton, Edward
411 Lower Camden Street (late Arnall). John Arnall was in No. 69 in 1906-7, No. 11a was Harry Cowan's Camden St Studio, 1914-15.
Werner
Louis Werner was a portrait painter from Alsace, who settled in Dublin. His wife, Augustine, ran a photographic studio at 15 Leinster Street from
1864 to 1885. Their son, Alfred, took over the business in 1886. In 1889 he moved to 39a Grafton Street. In 1909 the business became Alfred Werner
and Son, and the address changed to 39 Grafton Street. They operated until 1923. In fact Alfred had described himself in the 1911 census as retired,
and he had no son.
While U Wait
The While U Wait Promenade Portrait Studios (the Boat House), at the 45 bus stop, Bray. Operated by Jack Cowen, the brother of
Harry Cowen (see above). Jack's son, Maurice, writes: 'The Bray studio was only open during the summer months between May and September
to cater for the many visitors who came mainly from all over the UK and the US. When various US naval ships visited Dublin, I remember
lots of sailors on shore leave having their photo taken on the promenade, usually with a girl they had met in the city and gone out with
on a day trip to Bray.' In existence by 1933.
Whittaker, Thomas
149 Stephen's Green West, 1865 to 1869.
Wightman, William McCleary
In 1859: 'printseller, artists' repository, and picture frame manufacturer'. At 24 Nassau street from at least 1859 until 1862, listed under
photographers in the commercial listings.
Wonfor, George Henry
78 Grafton street 1874 to 1877.
BELFAST
Charles Howell
His address is given as 44 North Street, Belfast, on a photograph which must have been taken between October 1915 and March 1918. He also had a studio in Blackpool, and by 1928 in Dublin. By then he had changed his Belfast address to 33 North Street.
BLACKPOOL
Charles Howell
Opened a studio at Bank Hey Street, Blackpool in 1913. In the 1920s he opened another studio at Pleasure Beach. By 1928 he is described as the Official Photographer of Pleasure Beach. He was there until at least 1939 (see 'Charles Howell, Photographer of Pleasure', by Colin Harding, in Photographica World 2008/3, 16-19). He also owned
the Owl Studio in Dublin, c1928-c1953 (see above). From at least 1918 to at least 1928 he also had a studio in Belfast.
Forrester (silhouettist)
Arthur Forrester, Woolworths, Blackpool. One silhouette from 1932. An alternative to photography was to have your
silhouette taken. This seems to have been especially popular in seaside resorts. A silhouettist was an artist who used
black paper and scissors to cut out your profile while you waited. Arthur Forrester was one of the best-known in the
1920s and 30s. He later worked in Brighton. A film of him
at work can be seen on the British Pathé website.
Talbot Studios
61 Talbot Road, Blackpool. Stamped on a photograph with the date 2 August 1936. There is a photograph from the same studio
posted on Flickr, dated 1938.
While U Wait
'While U Wait Promenade Portrait Studios 117, 165 and 187 Wellington Terrace Promenade BLACKPOOL’ 1932, 1941.
LONDON
Peter’s Studios.
28 Walworth Road SE17. Photograph dated 2 August 1945.
Thaddeus C. Breen
Any information which will help improve this list is very welcome. Thanks to the many people who have already been in touch. thad@irisharchaeology.info
Last revised 7 August 2018