Spa Baths, Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare
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Where: Clare, Ireland
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When: Unknown
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Happy smelly Monday as todays shot takes us to the beauty of West Clare, and the town of Lisdoonvarna - with its occasional reek of sulphur from the waters.
This beautiful shot from the lens of Mr. French shows the bath houses in pristine condition, with many people there relaxing and enjoying themselves.
(And congratulations to the Ireland team for their first ever victory against the mighty New Zealand All Blacks. Magnificent!)
Lots of brilliant insights on this image in the comments. Including a reminder that we've followed the Victorian fashion and "taken the waters" at Lisdoonvarna's other wells before today. This Lawrence Collection image captures just how popular a tourist activity it was - with dozens of seemingly middle-class visitors at their leisure. Presumably rented towels are drying outside the bath house, and musical entertainment is evident outside the pump house - confirming that the crowds came to Lisdoonvarna long before the music and matchmaking festivals....
Photographer: Robert French
Collection: Lawrence Photograph Collection
Date: Catalogue range c.1865-1914. Though likely after c.1890 based on the date of the main pump-house building.
NLI Ref: L_ROY_08778
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Source: Flickr Commons
Views: 20311
This beautiful shot from the lens of Mr. French shows the bath houses in pristine condition, with many people there relaxing and enjoying themselves.
(And congratulations to the Ireland team for their first ever victory against the mighty New Zealand All Blacks. Magnificent!)
Lots of brilliant insights on this image in the comments. Including a reminder that we've followed the Victorian fashion and "taken the waters" at Lisdoonvarna's other wells before today. This Lawrence Collection image captures just how popular a tourist activity it was - with dozens of seemingly middle-class visitors at their leisure. Presumably rented towels are drying outside the bath house, and musical entertainment is evident outside the pump house - confirming that the crowds came to Lisdoonvarna long before the music and matchmaking festivals....
Photographer: Robert French
Collection: Lawrence Photograph Collection
Date: Catalogue range c.1865-1914. Though likely after c.1890 based on the date of the main pump-house building.
NLI Ref: L_ROY_08778
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Info:
Owner: National Library of Ireland on The CommonsSource: Flickr Commons
Views: 20311
robertfrench
williamlawrence
lawrencecollection
lawrencephotographicstudio
glassnegative
nationallibraryofireland
spabaths
lisdoonvarna
westclare
theburren
bathhouses
hotel
ifitsmusicyouwant
countyclare
takingthewaters
baths
pumphouse
gowlaunbridge
ailleriver
spawells
anyoneforthelastfewchocices
tourists
lawrencephotographcollection
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O Mac
www.google.ie/maps/@53.0253743,-9.2900683,3a,53.4y,76.53h...
B-59
Streetview: www.google.com/maps/@53.0253743,-9.2900683,3a,37.5y,91.94...
B-59
OSI 25": maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V2,513501,697985,12,9
B-59
"The waters are rich in sulphur and iron and in 1875 the first bath-house was built. By 1895 over 20,000 visitors were coming annually." www.burrengeopark.ie/discover-and-experience/geosites-dis...
BeachcomberAustralia
For comparison, via LOC - (I think NLI's is later?) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/4427440380/
B-59
Other wells in Lisdoonvarna: www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/5436698742/ www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/5497503223/
Niall McAuley
Is the far building this one from 1890?: Detached five-bay single-storey pump house, built c. 1890, with three-bay recessed central block having gablet and single-bay gabled end bays. No, I think the modern one replaced the near building in this shot, suggesting this is before 1890. But the current building includes features from the one in this shot, so maybe the 1890 date is for the original, and the current one was updated later?
Niall McAuley
The DIA has a pumphouse planned in 1915, finished in 1928. Also, Repair and Addition, 1911
Niall McAuley
Looking at the 25" linked by https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] above, the pumphouse shown is the one here, not the modern one. So when the survey happened in 1895, the one the NIAH says was built in 1890 was not like the modern one, it was like this. Hence, this is after 1890.
Niall McAuley
In this archive shot, the band has turned to face the camera, and there is a bonus dog.
sharon.corbet
Clare Library has a some photos including a 1960s-ish postcard and a cigarette card from 1908-1910.
derangedlemur
Interesting. I've been past there several times, and from the bridge, the sweep of the road and the style of building, I'd just assumed it was a defunct railway station.
finbarlawless
Tasted the waters absolute appealing,one lady fainted after taking the bath,besides that it a most wonderful place to visit or a Holiday lovely pubs and restaurants
guliolopez
In the alternative view that [https://www.flickr.com/photos/gnmcauley] links, the band (or at least some of them) look quite young. The age of the dog is less clear :) Presumably the young band members are not playing Christy Moore - but at least some of the tourists took his advice. (♬"If it's music you want, go to Clare" ♫). I can't spot the (choc)ices seller. But there's something "up" around that pram....
guliolopez
300 yards out the road (in the direction the camera is pointing) is the Eagle Hotel. Below. Seems plausible that at least some of those pictured here were guests from that hotel. www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/26377100086/
oaktree_brian_1976
nice place, I'd visit if I was in the area. www.clare.ie/do/lisdoonvarna-spa-wells/
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
Do you remember "Cuteness Alert"? . It has just been added to our 100,000+ views album, our 18th entry. https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/6240409306/stats/ Check out our most viewed photos below. https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/sets/72157651599255125
silverio10
Buenas fotos antiguas .
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
Excellent! Thanks to [https://www.flickr.com/photos/gnmcauley] for the extra input on the dating, to [https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]] and [https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]] for confirmation of map location, and to all for the inputs on the subject! As [https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]] notes, one could readily excuse the assumption from the modern Streetview that this was a railway station/line. Description, map, tags and date range all tweaked based on today's inputs.