The Irish Bunch
How appropriate that I stumbled upon the Irish National Library’s collection of vintage photos just now, in time for St. Patrick’s day. For your viewing pleasure, here are some hilarious group shots of the ever spirited Irish from all walks of life. So go on, gather your favourite bunch and raise a glass!
March 10, 1944 // Award winning army boxing team at the Barracks in Waterford, complete with their silverware. Would assume that the chap at the back in the polo neck was their trainer.
C. 27 April 1909 // Physical Culture Class from the Poole Collection.
Circa 1899 // This is Baby Cox (on the right!) of Tramore, Co. Waterford.
June 1, 1932 // Children at St. John of God Girls' National School in Waterford, dressed up for a play - something around the topic of St. Patrick, perhaps - certainly that saint has pride of place in this tableau! Though a little unseasonal given the summertime date.
F. 1927 // Pupils from the Ursuline Convent, Waterford in costume. Their teacher was a Miss Hand.
December 16 1929 // William Power Seed Merchants of O'Connell Street transporting Christmas Trees. Waterford.
March 17, 1924 // This happy crew are "Miss Forde's Children entertaining". We know this photo was taken in Dublin (perhaps near Smithfield) on St. Patrick's Day.
Circa 1892 // Young boys outside a school in Connemara. It was presumably photographer Major Ruttledge-Fair, who wrote "Look up" on this photo when he realised he had captured two boys grinning skyward.
February 25, 1916 // Stunning (in more ways than one!) display of pig carcasses outside J. Morgan's butcher shop on Broad Street, Waterford.
Circa 1890 // Family group from the Poole Collection in the National Library of Ireland.
L. Circa 1887 // Taken near Fermoy, Co. Cork, this is a Royal Welsh Fusilier with the Regimental Goat, complete with strap-on crest.
December 11, 1921 // Mr Murray's theatrical group, all dressed up to perform The Runaway Girl pictured at the rear of City Hall/Theatre Royal on The Mall in Waterford.