Thought I'd surprise you with a colour photograph today, as we haven't had one for ages. So here's one very contented looking man and his dog, working alongside the Gallarus Oratory on the beautiful Dingle Peninsula in Kerry. Any and all information on the Oratory would be gratefully received...
It took a long time to put a name to the laughing face in another of our Tilbrook photos. I thought anyone who knew this man would be able to identify him, and hoped that our roving Kerry reporter Mossy Carey might get on the case, and he did:
"This is Seamus Johnson, uncle of Seamus Kelliher, who has confirmed the identity. He maintained the oratory during his lifetime."
Mossy Carey was almost beaten to the draw by Maire Oakes over on our Facebook page, who was the very first to identify Seamus. But then along came our very favourite identifier - a family member. Patrick Johnson aka Paddyj1325 says:
Hi.
Just heard from my brother and 2 of my sisters. They confirmed that it is indeed my Uncle Jim. I never met him but they each did when they went back over for visits.
My brother Sean, who got to spend a summer with him one year at the farm, says this:
"Yup, that is him. Cool picture. He always had a dog with him.
He was a very kind and gentle man. Much quieter than Da. He was paid by the government to be the caretaker of that ancient church.
He used to stand up at the oratory and tell people the history of the place. People used to think he worked there and they would tip him.
One last unknown fact. The history books say the church is the same as it was 1,000 years ago, untouched by man. WRONG!
The stones across the top were put there by Dad’s Father to keep the rain out because he kept sheep in there. Originally the top was open to let light in.
Uncle Jim used to have a very old picture of the place and you could see someone added a top row.
Facts you can’t find in a book."
Photographer: Richard Tilbrook
Collection: Tilbrook Photographic Collection
Date: Around 1960
NLI Ref.: TIL617
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Tags: Gallarus Oratory Séipéilín Ghallarais Dingle Peninsula Kerry Ireland Munster Dog Working Shovel Pipe Smoking Cap Bucket 1960 1960s Sixties Richard Tilbrook Ballynana Seamus Johnson National Library of Ireland Jim Johnson Tilbrook Photographic Collection 20th Century People Identified
We asked a local politician Maureen O'Sullivan TD to help with this photo and I am happy to report that she has Identified all the kids for us. From left to right we have - Catherine Byrne, Helen Boyle, Rose Byrne, Elaine Kane, Imelda Redmond and Ann Byrne. The boys are either the Ryan or the Staunton twins. The photo was taken around 1970. Ringing the people identified and date established bells now!
Sharon Corbet quickly identified the location as 18 Abercom Road in East Wall, Dublin, former home of Sean O'Casey and his family in the early 1900's - so that means we get to ring our special hat trick bell - location identified also!
Apropos of nothing at all this is photograph number 1,400 on the stream.
Photographer: Elinor Wiltshire
Collection: Wiltshire Photographic Collection
Date: Around 1970
NLI Ref.: WIL 73
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Tags: Rolleiflex Camera Rolleiflex Wiltshire Photographic Collection National Library of Ireland Abercom Road Sean O'Casey Dublin Leinster John Casey Seághan Ó Cathasaigh Kinder children Geschwister Irland Foto Maureen O'Sullivan TD Catherine Byrne Helen Boyle Rose Byrne Elaine Kane Imelda Redmond Ann Byrne The Ryan Twins Elinor Wiltshire Elinor O'Brien Wiltshire Location Identified East Wall People Identified Date Established
This is American model Linda Ward (later O'Reilly) posing, while two local boys give her outfit the once over…
We discovered more about our elegant American model, Linda Ward, who married Brendan O’Reilly, presenter of Sports Stadium on RTÉ Television, and swapped New York for Dublin’s modelling scene. Fantastically well done to derangedlemur for locating this photo at Winetavern Street, Dublin, given that the whole right hand streetscape is completely different today!
Photographer: Colman Doyle
Date: Between January 1960 and 1966
NLI Ref.: CDOY83
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Tags: Linda O'Reilly Model Winkle Pickers Stilettos Coat Gloves Up Do Mascara Dublin Ireland Leinster Cars Vans Traffic Gorman Corman Fashion Boys Geansaí Colman Doyle Colman Doyle Collection Taking Stock Taking Stock Exhibition National Photographic Archive NPA National Library of Ireland Irish Press Staff Photographer Linda Ward Morris Minor Van Winetavern Street beehive Location Identified 1960s Sixties 20th Century
Following on from yesterday's photo of Dillon Street in New Tipperary, here's the Arcade built near the same location. Couldn't decide between the two images we have digitised, and as it gives us an end to end view of the Arcade, I decided to upload both - here's the view from the other end of the Arcade.
Read through the comments below for the rather remarkable story behind this lovely, but short-lived structure. The short version is that this Arcade was built during Plan of Campaign protests (1880s/early 1890s), when protesting tenants paid landlords only what tenants considered fair rent. Arthur Smith-Barry, main landlord of (Old) Tipperary Town, was not happy with this. His evicted tenants moved to New Tipperary – made up of just a few streets and this Arcade – all built from funds raised in Australia and America.
In the end, Smith-Barry defeated his former tenants, and
sadly, this Arcade was demolished at 4 a.m. on 11 August 1892.
Photographer: Robert French
Collection: Lawrence Photographic Collection
Date: Circa 1890 (definitely before 11 August 1892)
NLI Ref.: L_ROY_02571
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Tags: Butter Market Arcade O'Brien's Arcade New Tipperary Tipperary Ireland Munster Shops Casks Crates Butter Firkins Posters Perfume Baskets Bags Bowler Hats Coke Hats Clock Chancellor & Son Chancellor's 09:49 Weighing Scales Ladder Michael Cross Material Cloth Linen Blankets Boots Robert French William Lawrence Glass Negative William O'Brien Mart Limerick by beachcomber John Dillon National Library of Ireland 1890s Plan of Campaign Arthur Smith-Barry 19th Century Lawrence Photograph Collection
We return to a harrowing and tragic scene today to mark the latest Tríd an Lionsa programme on TG4. This programme uses several of our "Bodyke Eviction" and "Vandeleur Evictions" shots - and these fine Lawrence photographs make worthwhile viewing.
The discussion on today's image covered so much that it's hard to summarise - We learned that it was taken near Moyasta in Clare in July 1888, at the home of a tenant of the Vandeleur Estate named Thomas Bermingham. While there's so much more to say about it, for now we'll add the explanation, as provided by John Spooner, of the image's title (from Freeman's Journal report July 1888)
The battering ram is no stranger to Irish evictions [...] from the centre hangs a chain which works a huge beam with an iron ferrule, and moved by ropes pulled by 17 or 18 Emergency-men [...] they hammered and hammered with but little result. The captain of the Emergency troop, at each swing of the ram, cried out, "Back, away with them. Back, away with them." Just as sailors cry "Heave ho."
We think the well-dressed couple on the left may be Major E.J. and Margaretta O’Shaughnessy. We hope to find out for sure...
Photographer: Robert French
Collection: Lawrence Photographic Collection
Date: Tuesday, 31 July 1888
NLI Ref: L_ROY_01771
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Tags: Robert French William Lawrence Lawrence Photographic Studio Glass Negative National Library of Ireland Bodyke Evictions County Clare Bodyke Eviction Evictions Tom Bermingham Thomas Birmingham Battering Ram Vandeleur Evictions Vandeleur Estate Vandeleur Emergency men Scrofulous tatterdemallions limerick by beachcomber Shields Explore Tríd an Lionsa Location Identified 31st July 1888 1880s Tuesday Lawrence Photograph Collection 19th Century People Identified Date Established