The Lawrence Collection in the National Library of Ireland consists of about 40,000 glass plate photographic negatives of Irish scenes dating from the period 1870 to 1910. The
Lawrence Photographic Project was a nationwide endeavor coordinated in 1990/1991 by the Federation of Local History Societies and the Federation for Ulster Local Studies, where a thousand scenes from the Lawrence Collection were replicated approximately one hundred years later by a team of 77 volunteer photographers, thereby creating a modern collection to complement the Lawrence Collection.
The objective was to facilitate the future study of the changing topography of cities, towns and rural areas throughout Ireland by recording on film the constant changes in the physical environment. Scenes were selected based on perceived significance, variety of subject (with an emphasis on street scenes) and geographical spread. As well as placing a full set of prints (the Lawrence and the new) with the National Library of Ireland and the Ulster Museum, the Federation of Local History Societies and the Federation For Ulster Local Studies also distributed a set of prints relating to scenes within each county in the Republic of Ireland to the corresponding county library.
 |
| Waterfoot, Co. Antrim, circa 1890 |
 |
| Waterfoot, Co. Antrim, 1990 |
 |
| Middle Row, Lurgan, Co. Armagh, circa 1879 |
 |
| Middle Row, Lurgan, Co. Armagh, 1990 |
 |
| Market Square, Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow, circa 1900 |
 |
| Market Square, Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow, 1991 |
 |
| Main Street, Belturbet, Co. Cavan, circa 1899 |
 |
| Main Street, Belturbet, Co. Cavan, 1990 |
 |
| Stella Maris Hotel, Kilkee, Co. Clare, circa 1890 |
 |
| Stella Maris Hotel, Kilkee, Co. Clare, 1990 |
 |
| Ballyhooly, Co. Cork, 1880 |
 |
| Ballyhooly, Co. Cork, 1991 |
 |
| Marconi Wireless Telegraph Station, Malin Head, Co. Donegal, January 1902 |
 |
| Marconi Wireless Telegraph Station, Malin Head, Co. Donegal, 1990 |
 |
| Egyptian Arch, Newry, Co. Down, circa 1905 |
 |
| Egyptian Arch, Newry, Co. Down, circa 1990 |
 |
| Trinity College Dublin, circa 1900 |
 |
| Trinity College Dublin, 1990 |
 |
| Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, circa 1890 |
 |
| Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, 1990 |
 |
| St. Nicholas' Church, Galway, circa 1890 |
 |
| St. Nicholas' Church, Galway, 1990 |
 |
| The Strand, Ballinskelligs, Kerry, circa 1900 |
 |
| The Strand, Ballinskelligs, Kerry, 1990 |
 |
| Castletown House, Kildare, circa 1890 |
 |
| Castletown House, Kildare, 1990 |
 |
| Court House, Kilkenny, 1908 |
 |
| Court House, Kilkenny, 1990 |
 |
| The Square, Rathdowney, Co. Laois, circa 1900 |
 |
| The Square, Rathdowney, Co. Laois, 1990 |
 |
| Tea House, Glencar, Co. Leitrim, circa 1890 |
 |
| Tea House, Glencar, Co. Leitrim, 1990 |
 |
| Sawmill, Foynes, Co.Limerick, circa 1890 |
 |
| Sawmill, Foynes, Co.Limerick, circa 1990 |
 |
| Diamond, Coleraine, circa 1890 |
 |
| Diamond, Coleraine, circa 1990 |
