A Vanishing World

Fr Francis Browne, known for his Titanic photographs, also documented Irish country houses from 1946 onwards. Despite their private status, Browne gained rare access, photographing interiors filled with generations-old treasures. His collection, exceeding 50 houses, now serves as a poignant record of a vanishing era. Selected by Robert O'Byrne, this book showcases 20 houses, revealing their historical significance-from Shelton Abbey, now a prison, to Dunsany Castle, still held by the Plunkett family since the 15th century. Browne's skillful compositions offer a profound glimpse into a world on the brink of change, preserving a valuable chapter of Irish architectural history.