One of the original raison d’être for postcards was to advertise hotels, products and services, and the wheel has now turned full circle with advertising cards making something of a comeback.
Page updated 14/4/2021
Click on images to enlarge.
The Bushmills Inn Hotel
One of a well designed series of cards published by the Bushmills Inn Hotel to promote the delights of the Causeway Coast.
Walton’s, Belfast
Making the most of a Royal visit.
LMS-NCC Northern Counties Hotel, Portrush, Co.Antrim
Nice Art Deco card advertising the delights of this once grand hotel which, sadly, was burnt during the Troubles.
Crows Nest, Enniskillen, Co.Fermanagh
A Chris Power Original – postally used in 1978.
The Park Hotel, Virginia, Co.Cavan
A well thought out card which highlights all the attractions of the area. Published by the hotel.
Crown & Shamrock Inn, Carnmoney, Co.Antrim
W.& G. Baird Limited, Belfast. Postally used in 1908.
Lagan Boat Company (N.I.) Ltd.
A contemporary card published by the company and featuring a painting by well known Northern Irish artist Julian Friers.
The Strand Hotel, Rosslare
Probably published by the hotel; dated on the back (in biro) 19/8/66.
W.J. Patterson, Belfast
The Irish House Pub, Wood Quay, Dublin
Demolished in 1968 by Dublin Corporation as part of its massive site clearance to make way for the Civic Offices. All that you could want to about the Victorian ‘Gin Palace‘ here: www.olddublintown.com/irish-house-pub
No publisher indicated.
Ballyconnell for The Discerning Angler.
Locally published card extolling the delights of fishing in Co.Cavan.
Heritage Tours Wexford
Scenes from the 2015 movie “Brooklyn” starring Saoirse Ronan are used in this series of cards published by Heritage Tours Wexford to promote their business and the town of Enniscorthy.
Cafolla’s Ice Cream
The Cafolla Ice-Cream Parlours on O’Connell Street are long gone but remain in the folk memory of many Dubliners as romantic spots for couples before pubs and niteclubs became popular. Card by Photocraft Ltd.
Drogheda Prizes Manures
A fine early card advertising card – unknown publisher.
Grealy’s Hotel, Roscommon
A simple, clean design that would be lost on today’s Ad agencies.
The Great Northern Railway Hotel, Bundoran
An attractive card for the former Great Northern Railway hotel at Bundoran, Co.Donegal. The hotel later became part of CIE’s Great Southern Hotel chain before being sold off to a private hotelier. The Great Northern Hotel still trades on the same site today but the current building is a replacement for the original of 1894 which was destroyed by fire.
The Dublin International Hotel
A singularly unattractive card published by the hotel’s owners – Trust House Forte.
Mediaeval Banquets
A fairly uninspiring card – can’t have looked much better when new – extolling the delights of the Shannon Region.
Hearn’s Hotel, Clonmel, Co.Tipperary
Hearn’s Hotel has its origins back in the late 18th century and is associated with Charles Bianconi – the founder of public transport in Ireland. A strangely unattractive card – no publisher indicated – presumably the hotel.
Wexford Theatre Fund
Unusual card, postally used 1973.
Early Hotel Advertising
Interesting multiview. No publisher indicated but probably self-published by the hotels.
This curiously stumpy looking, pre-1900 card attracted quite a bit of interest on eBay (May 2016) eventually selling for £43.
John Wilson & Co.Ltd, Whiskey, Dublin
A promotional card printed by Charles Chambers (Dublin) and overprinted by the company’s Canadian agents. Postally used in 1913.
Note the 1799 view of the Four Courts with no quayside walls.
Killybegs via the Midland Railway Company
The big British railway companies had extensive interests in Ireland and used the medium of postcards of far-flung beauty spots to entice passengers aboard their ships and trains.
The Killiney Castle Hotel, Killiney, Co.Dublin
Probably published by the Hotel – late 1940s (?)
The Khyber Pass Hotel, Dalkey, Co.Dublin
Closed down in 1979 and demolished. Now an apartment block occupies the site.
Apparently, Charles Stewart Parnell lived here for a short time.
Probably a self-published card.
Plain & Fancy Pipe Manufactory, Mill Street, Galway
An interesting early example of a trade card complete with grovelling/gracious greeting in anticipation of an order!
Lett’s Brewery, Enniscorthy, Co.Wexford
Came across this interesting card on eBay recently, but I baulked at the £20 price tag. The wealthy branch of my family still owns the brewery but not my branch!
Spanish Point Seafood Restaurant, Ballycotton, Co.Cork
An attractive recent (?) publicity card and the location is instantly recognisable. Probably self published by the business.
Artist: Margaret Brand.
More of the artist’s work may be found here: Margaret Brand Art
Deans, Logan & Co.Ltd., Belfast
Interesting overprint of a Lawrence card – I resisted the urge to buy!
Gibson Services, Shankill, Co.Dublin
An interesting survivor from my inherited collection of family photographs and ephemera. Gibson’s Garage operated just across the road from the RC church at Shankill. Its proprietor was George Gibson who had been the chief engineer on the Dublin & Blessington Steam Tramway which closed down in 1932.
David Brown & Son Ltd and McClinton’s Ltd, Donaghmore, Tyrone
Early advertising card – just look at the telephone number!
Church Bay Hotel, Crosshaven, Co.Cork
A superb card – postally used in 1902.
Imperial Hotel, Cork
Several early cards for the Imperial Hotel, Cork – the first of which might be done under the Trades Description Act as it would seem to imply that the hotel was in the middle of the countryside rather than the city centre. The second card has no publisher shown and was probably the hotel itself, while the final one was published by the R.A.P.Co.London in their ‘Seal of Artistic Excellence Series‘.
Hotel Majestic, Tramore, Co.Waterford
No publisher indicated on this card but it was probably the hotel itself. Simple and attractive with a clear message.
Below: a nice bright advertising card for Todd, Burns & Co.Ltd., Dublin published by David Allen.
This fine building, built in 1905, still stands on Mary Street and is part of the Penney’s store.
Aer Lingus
Late 1940s/early 1950s card.
The Green Rooster Restaurant
Etonia Handkerchiefs
What’s not to love about this cute card?
No publisher/printer indicated but postally used in 1916.
Williams & Son Naturalists, 2 Dame Street, Dublin
More information here: Williams & Sons, Dublin 1850 – 1941
British Telecom (BT)
An unusual one and the last thing that I expected while searching through the Glens of Antrim.
Another unusual card advertising Life Insurance in America but with the Lakes of Killarney on the front!
Irish Postcards 