Our Collections
View Collection
Lawrence Collection .~ Your Town ~Your Village ~ Your Heritage
View Collection
O’Brien’S World
View Collection
O’Brien’S Ireland
Dress like your Ancestors and be like the Stars
STUDIO CLOSED AT PRESENT DUE TO COVID-19 “Social Distances”
O’Brien’S Famous Costume Studio (Est.1982)
Step back in time and dress up in 19th Century Costume and be your Ancestors or the famous Stars of bunratty
Costume opening Hours 10.30am to 5.30pm 7 days a week during summer months,No appointment needed , No Animals please (Health & Safety)
Prices from € 30.00
Story of the Lawrence Collection
William Mervin Lawrence at the age 0f 24 opened his Photographic Studio above his Mother’s toy and fancy goods Shop, opposite the G.P.O. on Sackville Street (now O’Connell Street ) . Over the years the studio successfully photographed the Country from Howth head (Dublin) in the east to Achill head (Co.Mayo) in the west ,and to Malin head (Donegal) in the north and on to Mizen head (Cork ) in the south, The collection consists of 40,000 glass plates mainly from the period 1880 to 1916
William Lawrence lost an arm, and he had to employ Robert French as Chief Photographer, who already worked as printer and assistant photographer , Robert French did most of the work capturing Ireland ,between 1880 and 1915 ,to get in that Era he travelled mostly by train and pony & trap.
Lawrence produced travel Albums and postcards in sepia tone and some were hand coloured in Germany