Ireland - The Irish Hospital Sweepstakes and Sweeps Derby

Sporting Ireland

Irish Hospitals Sweepstakes (a lottery)

and

The Irish Sweeps Derby (Horse Race)

According to the postcard, the lottery helps fund the derby.

Ireland - Northern, Greetings From

Greetings from Northern Ireland 

 

Ireland - Filling Up, Beer in a Gas Pump

Ireland

Murphy's Irish Stout
Lady's Well Brewery
Cork - Ireland

Filling up in Ireland.

Photo: Liam Blake

This funny postcard was postmarked in 2018 and features a gas pump filled with beer!  I know so many people who would love one of these.  

Ireland - County Antrim, Giant's Causeway

Evening at the Giant's Causeway
Co. Antrim
Northern Ireland

Photo by Esler Crawford
Published by John Hinde, Ltd.

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The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption.  It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986.

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Incase anyone wants to know what basalt columns are...

During the cooling of a thick lava flow, contractional joints or fractures form. If a flow cools relatively rapidly, significant contraction forces build up. While a flow can shrink in the vertical dimension without fracturing, it can't easily accommodate shrinking in the horizontal direction unless cracks form; the extensive fracture network that develops results in the formation of columns. The topology of the lateral shapes of these columns can broadly be classed as a random cellular network. These structures are predominantly hexagonal in cross-section, but polygons with three to twelve or more sides can be observed.  The size of the columns depends loosely on the rate of cooling; very rapid cooling may result in very small (<1 cm diameter) columns, while slow cooling is more likely to produce large columns.

Ireland - The Irish Farmer

Irish Farmer.
"From Galway came his dad,
His mother hailed from Clare,

He was the shrewd old lad,
When selling at the fair."

This vintage postcard is No. 7299 from the Lawrence Publisher in Dublin, Ireland. 

Ireland - Benburb Castle

Service Priory, Benburb, Co. Tyrone

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Benburb Castle is a castle situated in Benburb, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It was built in 1611 by Sir Richard Winfield.

The castle is in excellent condition having been recently restored and now used by the Servite Priory, a religious order based in the village.

Ireland - Total Gridlock

Total Gridlock - Ireland

Encompassing a wealth of natural beauty within its modest dimensions, IRELAND boasts a landscape which is as much diverse as it is gratifying.  (There is more writing on the back, but the black marks from the post office covers them.)
2009

Great Britain Map

Great Britain
A map postcard featuring:
Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Orkney, Shetland, England and Wales

The sender writes:
We are in London for 3 days before our cruises.  The weather has been fantastic!  We went to church at Westminster (and got to sing along with the choir :D )  We rode The Eye and walked ALL OVER.  Oh yea - we saw Les Mis too!
2014

Ireland - Hook Lighthouse, Wexford

Hook Lighthouse, Wexford

Hook Head:  This long narrow rock-bound peninsula is situated to the south-west of  Fethard and is noted for the beauty of the corals found in the carboniferous limestone.  The Hook Head Lighthouse guards the approach to Waterford harbour.  There are some interesting remains of castles and churches in the district.  The rocky promontory of Baginbun was the scene of the Anglo-Norman landing which preceded the main invasion force of 1170 when they came for the conquest of Ireland.

Photography: I. O'Driscoll
2009

Ireland - Multiview Postcard

Greetings from Ireland

Photography: Peter Zoller

2009

Ireland - The Dingle Peninsula

Ireland
The Dingle Peninsula

Photography: Peter Zoller

2009

England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales - Map Postcard

The British Isles - Consists of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
In Emergency - Police, Fire, Ambulance or Coast Guard telephone: 999
2005

Great Britain Flag

Union Flag
Originated in 1606 (Union of England / Scotland)
Re-designed in 1801 (Union of Great Britain / Ireland)
2014

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On 12 April 1606, a new flag to represent the union between England and Scotland was specified in a royal decree, according to which the flag of England (a red cross on a white background, known as St George's Cross), and the flag of Scotland (a white saltire on a blue background, known as the Saltire or St Andrew's Cross), would be joined together, forming the flag of England and Scotland for maritime purposes.

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The design of the current Union Flag dates from a Royal Proclamation following the union of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801. It combines aspects of the flag mentioned above with the red saltire of St Patrick to represent Ireland.

Wales, despite also being part of the Union, has never been represented on the flag.

Ireland - Titanic Mural in East Belfast

Titanic Mural, East Belfast
Celebrating Belfast's great shipbuilding tradition.

The shipyard that was to become Harland and Wolff (The RMS Titanic launched in 1911) was established in 1861.  During its history it has built more than 1,700 ships and at its peak in the 1950's employed about 35,000 people.  One of its busiest times was during the second world war when it produced 140 naval ships and 140 for the merchant service.  This works out at about one ship a week.  
2012

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Harland & Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specializing in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The shipyard has built many ships; among the more famous are the White Star trio Olympic, Titanic and Britannic, the Royal Navy's HMS Belfast, Royal Mail's Andes, Shaw Savill's Southern Cross and P&O's Canberra.

As of 2011, the expanding offshore wind power industry has taken centre stage and 75% of the company's work is based on offshore renewable energy.

Ireland - Belfast, St. George's Market

St. George's Market, Belfast
"The most atmospheric market in the U.K." Observer Newspaper

St. George's Market is one of Belfast's oldest attractions.  It was built between 1890 and 1896 and is one of the best markets in the UK and Ireland.  It has been voted for numerous local and national titles and awards for its fresh, local produce and great atmosphere.  It holds a weekly Friday Variety Market as well as the City Food and Garden market on Saturdays.  It also hosts a range of events throughout the year.
2012

Ireland - Belfast, City Hall

City Hall, Belfast

In 1888 Queen Victoria gave the town of Belfast the status of City.  In response the citizens built the magnificent City Hall which today dominates the heart of Belfast.  Work started in 1898 and the building was completed in 1906.  The building covers an area of about one acre and a half and is set in gardens which are open to the public.  It was built in the Classical Renaissance style in Portland stone and is rectangular in shape, enclosing a quadrangular courtyard.  A Porte-Cachere marks the Grand Entrance.

Photo Esler Crawford
2012

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Porte-cochère: a roofed structure extending from the entrance of a building that is over part of a driveway to shelter those getting in or out of vehicles.

Ireland - Belfast, Carrickfergus Castle

Carrickfergus Castle
Co. Antrim,
commands a strategic position overlooking Belfast Lough and is the best preserved Anglo-Norman Castle in Ireland.  Built by the invader John de Courcy in the 12th century, this castle was for three centuries the only English stronghold north of Dundalk.  Down through the ages the castle has received monarchs and withstood long, bitter sieges.  Standing on this historic site the visitor can enjoy the beauty of the view across the lough and St. Helen's Bay.
2012

Ireland - Belfast Harbour, Visit of the Tall Ships, 2009

Belfast Harbour
during the visit of the Tall Ships, August 2009

The Port of Belfast is Northern Ireland's principal maritime gateway, serving the Northern Ireland economy and increasingly that of the Republic of Ireland.  About 60% of Northern Ireland's seaborne trade and 20% of the entire island's is handled by the Port which receives over 6000 vessels each year.  Belfast was the finishing port of the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge, with ships completing over 7,000 nautical miles.

Photo: Esler Crawford

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The Tall Ships Challenge is an annual event organized by the American Sail Training Association alternating in a three year cycle between the Great Lakes, the Pacific and the Atlantic coasts of North America.

The event draws hundreds of thousands of people to witness beautiful tall ships from the age of sail and provides a unique opportunity for the participants to interact with the crews of different vessels in friendly rivalry as they race from port to port.

The series began in 2001 on the Great Lakes and saw vessels from six countries and visited seven US and Canadian ports. It has since continued to grow.  In 2009 the Tall ships which left from Halifax in Canada raced to Belfast, Ireland.

Ireland - Castles of Northern Ireland

Castles of Northern Ireland

Top left to right: Augher Castle, Co. Tyrone; Killyleagh Castle, Co. Down; Belfast Castle
Bottom left to right: Dunluce Castle, Co.  Antrim; Carrickfergus Castle, Co. Antrim; Enniskillen Castle, Co. Fermanagh.
2012

Ireland - County Fermanagh

Co. Fermanagh
Northern Ireland

The area around Lower Lough Erne boasts a rich combination of natural and historic sights. In summer, ferries serve several island and cruisers are available to hire.   The limestone hills of west Fermanagh contain interesting cave systems.

Pictures featured are the Round Tower on Devenish Island; Castle Coole; Fermanagh Lakeland; Boa Island Statue; Marble Arch Caves; and Enniskillen Castle.
2012

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A few famous people born, raised in or living in Fermanagh.

John Armstrong (1717–1795), born in Fermanagh, United States Congressman
Samuel Beckett (1906–1989), author and playwright (educated in Portora Royal School)
Robert Kerr (1882–1963), athlete & Olympic Gold Medalist
Oscar Wilde (1854–1900), author and playwright (educated in Portora Royal School)