PHOTOS - The Man Behind the Famous Photos: John Hinde Gallery

The Irish postcard company known to millions of American tourists is the latest victim of Ireland’s economic recession.

John Hinde postcards with their images of traditional Ireland have crossed the Atlantic for over 50 years.

The company, founded by English photographer John Hinde in 1956, is famous for its picture postcard vision of Ireland.

Hinde fell in love with the Irish landscape when he toured the country with an English circus. His images have captured the very essence of rural Ireland for generations but now high rents and falling tourist numbers have hit the Hinde business hard.
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PHOTOS - The Man Behind the Famous Photos: John Hinde Gallery

John Hinde, the man behind the famous Irish photos

The Man Behind the Famous Photos: John Hinde Gallery
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After reporting losses for three of the last four years, the John Hinde company has applied for protection from creditors in the first step towards restructuring the business.

The company also operates in Britain and the USA but it is only the Irish operation which is affected by the protection order, the Irish Times reports.

Dublin’s High Court has granted John Hinde Ltd protection from its creditors and an examiner is due to be appointed next week and given up to 100 days to come up with a rescue plan. A spokesman for the company said it is optimistic that that High Court will appoint an examiner.

John Hinde Ltd has laid off six staff and implemented wage cuts in recent years but more drastic measures are now needed to save the remaining 21 jobs.

Hinde sold the business to Waterford Crystal ahead of an expansion into the US in 1972. Waterford Crystal then sold it to private shareholders in 1989.

PHOTOS - The Man Behind the Famous Photos: John Hinde Gallery