The John Dunne Collection

This colourised photo shows the start of the “Pair-Oared Race” at the Dunmore East Regatta of 1927, which took place on the 18th of August that year. Among the competitors seen here are Sam and Charlie Mitchell. I came across a report on the regatta in an issue of the Waterford News and Star, which lists some of the results and can be read below.

Dunmore Regatta - 1927

A most enjoyable day was spent at Dunmore yesterday where the annual regatta was held in splendid weather. There was a big gathering, and the racing was very interesting.

The first race was for open yachts, for which there were three entries. Vera Meek, owned by Mr. J. Hannington, was the scratch boat, Mr. A. Farrell’s Gertie received a handicap of two minutes, while Syringa, the property of Mr. J. de Bromhead, received an allowance of ten minutes. The Gertie led the way across the line and increased the lead gradually till the first mark boat was rounded, when the breeze dropped and the Vera Meek and Syringa gave up, leaving the Gertie to complete the course alone.

The result of the race for motor fishing boats of 12 h.p. was—Andrew Doherty, 1; Major Lloyd, 2; W. Doherty, 3.

Mr. A. Hennessy won the race for boats of 7 h.p., with J. Kirby 2nd and D. Barrow 3rd.

The sprit-sail yawl race was won by Mr. J. Galvin, Passage.

ROWING RACES.

For boys under 18 years, belonging to Killea and Carbally—J. Ivory and J. Fleming, 1; T. Fleming and J. Murphy, 2. Five boats started.

Open pair-oared punt race for boys under 18 years—J. Ivory and T. Ivory, 1; P. Ivory and J. Fleming, 2. Four competed.

Open Paired Oared Punt Race—P. McGrath and P. Power, 1; J. Murphy and J. Power, 2; C. Mitchell and J. Ivory, 3.

Four Oared Yawl Race—J. Hennessy’s crew, 1; Sam Mitchell’s crew, 2.

Challenge Race for Four Oared Yawls—The O’Doherty and McGrath crew, 1. Won by a yard after a hard race.

Paired Oared Punts Amateur lady and gent, confined to visitors—Miss Meyers and A. Gibbon, 1; Miss Gabbit and D. Stanison, 2.

Open Pair Oared Punt Race, Lady and Gent—J. Murphy and Miss K. Power, 1.

SWIMMING RACES.

Ladies—Miss B. Carey, 1; Miss M. Carey, 2; Miss M. Daniels, 3.

Handicap Race—J. Heery, New Ross, 1; F. Rutledge, Waterford, 2.

90 Yards, confined to Killea and Stradbally—F. Allsopp, 1; D. Murphy, 2.

Boys under 18 years—S. Haughton, Dublin, 1; T. Gabbit, 2.

The pillow fight was won by Jack McGrath, who also won the duck hunt as the duck. Five teams took part in the tug-of-war competition, which was won by the Civic Guards, Waterford. 

The winners of the 1927 Regatta Pair Oared Race were the Mitchell brothers, Sam and Charlie. When they crossed the finish line, the other competitors were nowhere to be seen. Though they are not credited with this race in the News and Star report shown in the previous post, they are credited in John Dunne’s photo album, which I would trust to be more accurate. Both men were top-class rowers and competed in many regattas during the 1920s and 1930s, regularly winning events.

This photo was also taken at the 1927 Regatta in Dunmore East. This one shows the winning strokes in the boys’ under-sixteen swimming race. The inscription in John’s album records the winner as Sam Haughton, son of the then well known Dublin surgeon, Dr. William Haughton. He was evidently a fine swimmer.

This is a photo of Ms Margaret J. Brett’s Church of Ireland class, taken around 1910. The schoolroom in the photo stood where the Cove Lodge apartments are now, between Azzurro Restaurant and the Rectory. The children in the picture all look very obedient, their faces gazing out at us from more than a century ago, with their whole lives still before them.

The old Church of Ireland school in Dunmore East had already been there for many years by the time this photograph was taken. Records show that the school beside St Andrew’s Church opened in 1848 and closed in 1918, so this class picture belongs to the last chapter of its life. The number of children in the school was as high as forty, due to the attendance of the Coast Guard officers’ children, who mostly came from England and lived in the houses across from the Ocean Hotel. Following independence, most of these families returned to England, and the Coast Guard houses were burned. The school closed soon afterwards due to insufficient numbers. In 1910, a list from John Dunne’s collection shows that Ms Brett had 19 pupils, so some may have been absent on this occasion.

This photo preserves a school that has long since passed away, though the spot itself is still familiar to anyone who knows the village. I am sure the children in the photograph could hardly have imagined that people would still be studying their faces more than a hundred years later.

This photo shows five of the Coastguards who served in Dunmore during the early years of the twentieth century. In the 1911 census, the Coastguards living in Dunmore were listed as Michael Ahern, pensioner, 67; Henry Brickenden, 37; James Collins, pensioner, 47; Jesse Cook, 45; Thomas Dunne, 41; Patrick Kelly, 37; George Arthur Morgan, pensioner, 54; Charles Robins, 50; George Walter Howard Satler, 34; and Neville Tyler, 40. The identity of the men in the photograph is not known, but the chances are that some of them are among those named in the 1911 census.

It is also likely that some of the children in Miss Brett’s class, shown in the previous post, were the sons and daughters of these Coastguard families. Before Miss Brett’s time, however, the children of the Church of Ireland School in Dunmore had a big occasion to remember, when the village marked a royal celebration in 1863.

ROYAL CELEBRATIONS AND A ROYAL VISIT IN DUNMORE EAST

Royal occasions had a way of reaching even the far corners of the kingdom, and Dunmore East was no exception. When Prince Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, married Princess Alexandra of Denmark in St George’s Chapel, Windsor, on March 10th, 1863, the event was marked with great celebration throughout Britain and Ireland. The Prince was twenty-one years old, Alexandra just eighteen, and though the wedding was not the grand state occasion the Prince had hoped for, it still stirred deep public enthusiasm. Queen Victoria, still mourning Prince Albert, insisted on a more restrained ceremony, but that did nothing to lessen the joy felt in places like Dunmore.

A newspaper account from the time gives us a glimpse of how the village marked the occasion. At six o’clock in the evening, the children of the Parochial School gathered in the schoolroom, where they were treated to a substantial tea prepared by the Rector. One can well imagine the excitement of the children, dressed in their best, delighted at both the occasion and the unexpected feast. The report tells us that the good wishes were hearty and the cheers loud when the Rector reminded them why the treat had been arranged.

At seven o’clock, despite the wet weather, the whole school set out to view the illuminations in the village. It must have been a fine sight on a dark March evening. The Police Barracks shone brightly and had been decorated with coloured plumes and mottoes. The Rector’s house was said to be one blaze of light, while the homes of Mrs Young and Mr Mitchell were also illuminated. Particularly striking were the long rows of Coast Guard houses, each window lit up, while blue lights and squibs were set off under the direction of the chief boatman, Mr Browne. There was clearly no shortage of effort made in Dunmore East when it came to showing loyalty to the Crown.

After their walk through the village, the children returned to the schoolroom at eight o’clock and spent the rest of the evening playing games. Before they went home, they sang a version of God Save the Queen suited to the day and gave three cheers for the Prince and Princess of Wales. It is a charming picture: children, lantern light, damp streets, patriotic songs and a village doing its best to celebrate an event taking place far away in Windsor.

Twenty-six years later, Dunmore East would have another royal connection, this time rather closer to home. In 1889, Prince George, the son of Albert Edward and Alexandra and the future King George V, arrived into Dunmore Harbour as commander of one of a flotilla of six Royal Navy torpedo boats. His visit caused quite a stir in the village and was reported at length in the Waterford Mirror.

According to the paper, the Prince came ashore in the ordinary uniform of a Royal Navy lieutenant and at first was not recognised. He was followed by other officers, and together they walked through the village, speaking to local fishermen and anyone else they met. Soon afterwards, around a hundred bluejackets were given leave until eleven o’clock, and they wasted no time in making the most of their evening in Dunmore.

Mr Patrick Harney’s new hotel appears to have been the chief attraction, with most of the sailors settling in there for a lively night of music, singing and general good humour. Meanwhile, the men left aboard the boats found amusement of their own by turning the searchlight on the shore. First it was directed at Harney’s hotel, revealing the number of sailors in each room with comic effect. Then it was turned towards the Island, where two sailors who had struck up a quick acquaintance with a pair of Dunmore girls found themselves suddenly displayed to the whole locality in the full glare of the beam. The paper clearly delighted in the scene, describing the embarrassment of the quartet as they tried in vain to escape the tell-tale light.

Behind the mischief and the fun, there was also genuine admiration for the village. The officers and men, many of whom had never seen Dunmore before, were deeply taken by its beauty. Prince George himself is said to have remarked that he had never seen anything in Ireland to equal Dunmore. He praised not only the scenery, but also the neatness and cleanliness of the houses, and especially the flowers that decorated even the humblest cottages. To him, this showed the good taste of the people. The commodore of the flotilla agreed, saying that as they entered Dunmore Bay, the scene before them was incomparably beautiful.

The Prince also paid a visit to Patrick Harney’s newly built hotel, where he warmly congratulated him on his enterprise and good taste. Harney, described by the newspaper as one of the most enterprising businessmen in the South of Ireland, was well placed to tell the royal visitor about Dunmore and its surrounding attractions. It must have been quite the conversation.

Taken together, these two glimpses from 1863 and 1889 show how royal events touched village life in Dunmore East in very human ways. In one, schoolchildren march out into a wet evening to admire the lights and cheer a royal marriage. In the other, sailors roam the streets, music spills from Harney’s hotel, and a mischievous searchlight causes laughter along the shore. They remind us that history is often at its most memorable not in the grand ceremony itself, but in the local excitement it inspires far away from the centre of events.

This photo shows the Mitchell brothers, Sam and Charlie, out in their sailing boat, circa 1930. According to John Dunne, they were very skilled sailors who fished for herring under sail each year. During the summer they also hired out the boat to tourists, taking them on fishing trips and sightseeing tours. It sounds like a fine way to make a living, and a fine way to spend your days.

They had another brother and two sisters, Tom, Violet and Daisy. Violet was married to the local fish buyer Paddy O’Toole and lived beside my grandparents.

Their father was Thomas Comben Mitchell, a man who seems to have been greatly respected in Dunmore East. He played a prominent part in the effort to develop the fishing industry in the village, and was clearly held in warm regard by many people. He died on 6 October 1929, aged 72 years.

The notices published after his death give some idea of the esteem in which he was held, both by his family and by the wider community.

DEATH OF THOMAS COMBEN MITCHELL

The chief mourners were Messrs. Samuel, Charles and Thomas Mitchell (sons).

Wreaths were sent by the following:

“To my darling husband from his broken-hearted wife, ‘Until the day break’;”

“With fondest love to our darling Dad from his devoted and sorrowing daughters, Daisy and Violet;”

“In ever loving remembrance of dear Dad from his boys, Sam, Tom and Charlie; He bringeth them into the Haven where they would be;”

“In loving memory of my dear brother Tom, from his fond sister, Gracie;”

“In loving memory from Cecil, Polly and Carrie;”

“In loving memory of our very dear Skipper, from his cousins, Dan, Bob and Jeanie; Say not good-night, but in some brighter clime bid me good-morning;”

“With deepest sympathy from all at the Rectory; So He bringeth them into his desired haven;”

“With sincere sympathy, N. and D. Bryan;”

“In loving memory from Dick, Bert, Eileen and Colin ‘Goodwick’;”

“With deepest sympathy from the boys of ‘No. 9’;”

“With deepest sympathy from the members of the Dunmore Cricket Club;”

“In loving memory from Annie, Jimmie and Lydia ‘Goodwick’;”

“Kind remembrance and deepest sympathy from Mrs. Wescott and Miss Wescott;”

“With deepest sympathy from the staff of Matterson and Son, Ltd.;”

“With deepest sympathy from Mrs. Harney and family;”

“With deepest sympathy from John and Maggie Keane;”

“With deepest sympathy from Leslie and Kitty Gordon;”

“With much sympathy from Miss Paul, Cliff House;”

“With affectionate remembrance from Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Gough;”

“With deepest sympathy from Mrs. Cherry and all at Poul-na-Linta;”

“With sincere regret from Jenny Sherman and Mrs. Currie;”

“With sympathy from Miss Davis;”

“With deepest sympathy from Miss S. Bourke;”

“With deepest sympathy from Mrs. Langley and Ada;”

“With deepest sympathy from the members of the Central Hall Badminton Club.”

Taken together, those tributes paint a picture of a man who was loved at home and respected far beyond it. Nearly a century later, they still carry a sense of real feeling, and they say as much about Thomas Comben Mitchell as any formal account ever could.

The couple seen here on board the Mitchells’ boat are Dr William Steele Haughton and his wife, Jane Eliza Haughton. She was the daughter of Reverend John Halahan, Rector of Berehaven, County Cork, who also held the office of Dean of Ross. They had two children, Isabel and Samuel. Their son Samuel was the Sam H. who won the swimming race in the 1927 regatta, featured in a previous post. The family spent every August in Dunmore and would hire the Mitchells and their boat for the full month. According to John Dunne, they stayed with a Miss Polly Davis, who lived in one of the houses now owned by Rothwell’s opposite Azzurro. Miss Davis had served as a nurse in the Boer War and in the First World War.

Dr William Steele Haughton was no ordinary GP. He was one of the most important figures in the early development of modern medicine in Ireland. Though he was best known as an orthopaedic surgeon, he also became a pioneer in the use of X-ray technology at a time when it was still a startling new discovery. While others were among the first to introduce X-rays, Haughton’s great contribution was in developing their practical medical use in Ireland and helping to establish radiology as a serious and valuable branch of medicine.

Born in Dublin, the fourth son of Professor Samuel Haughton and Louisa Haughton, he received a strong education at Abbey School in County Tipperary and later at Portora Royal School in Enniskillen. He went on to study at Trinity College Dublin, where he graduated with distinction, earning a gold medal before completing his medical degrees. His professional career was long and impressive. He served at Sir Patrick Dun’s Hospital and later at Dr Steevens’ Hospital for nearly half a century, and from 1907 he was also surgeon at the Orthopaedic Hospital of Ireland in Clontarf. During the First World War he served in the Royal Army Medical Corps with the rank of Major.

The discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen at the end of 1895 transformed medicine almost overnight, and Haughton was quick to recognise their enormous potential. Within months of the news spreading across Europe, he had already secured equipment in London and urged Sir Patrick Dun’s Hospital to install an X-ray apparatus. This was done without delay, and for a period he combined his surgical duties with work as a radiologist. At a time when the technology was still in its infancy, Haughton showed remarkable foresight in seeing how useful it could become in diagnosis and treatment.

Those who wrote about him later regarded him as a man of exceptional ability and character. Professor James Murray, writing on the origins of radiology in Ireland, considered Haughton to be far ahead of his contemporaries in skill and experience. He was remembered not only as a meticulous surgeon and gifted teacher, but also as a man of strong health, cheerful nature, and wide interests. An accomplished sailor with a fine tenor voice and an easy manner, Dr Haughton seems to have been one of those rare people who combined professional brilliance with genuine warmth and humanity.

This photo features the two Mitchell brothers again, Charlie and Sam. This time they are joined by the Haughton children, Isabel and Samuel, for a voyage around the coast of Dunmore. Samuel was still a teenager when this picture was taken. Later in life, he went on to become a doctor, like his father before him.

The Haughton family did not believe in being casual tourists; they always took part in local events, especially the Regatta. In 1930, they are recorded as having all played a role and won events. Dr Haughton displayed his off-ward talents by giving an exhibition on a surfboard being towed behind a motor launch. There was a large international attendance, and the competition was strong. An account of the day and the results can be read below.

DUNMORE REGATTA.

Rain Mars Complete Success of Fixture.

The promoters of the Dunmore East Regatta are truly unfortunate. The annual aquatic event, postponed from last Thursday on account of the inclement weather, was not favoured last afternoon with any better atmospheric conditions. A promising morning was succeeded by a miserable afternoon, in which rain fell continuously, though not as heavily as Thursday week, when the stormy conditions prevailing rendered the holding of the regatta altogether out of the question. Despite yesterday’s unfavourable weather, however, there was quite a large attendance, and the events, which were run off according to schedule, were enjoyed. The Fianna Pipers’ Band, Waterford, rendered airs of musical selections on the Island, which was crowded. Messrs. A. A. Farrell, W. Morris, H. Strangman, E. Blunden and T. Shipsey acted as starters, and the judges were Dr. Haughton, Mr C. Greer, Mr. P. Anderson, and Major Lindsay Knox.

The proceedings were opened at 11.30 a.m. with an open yacht race between Mr. A. A. Farrell’s “Gertie” and Mr. Thomas Power’s “St. Agnes.” Mr. Farrell’s yacht, ably managed by Mr. Farrell, his sons, and Mr. J. McGrath, who formed the crew, won by about half an hour. The “Gertie” was designed and built by the late Mr. Nicholas Murphy, of Dunmore, father of Mr. John Murphy, a former member of the Waterford Co. Council.

The ladies’ swimming race was won by Miss Moore, Tramore; Miss Daniels, Dunmore, being second, and Miss Moore (sister of the winner) third. There were six competitors.

The men’s open swimming race was won by Mr. Samuel Haughton, who is son of the well-known Surgeon Haughton, of Dublin, and nephew of Mr. R. Hallahan, who stroked the University eight, Waterford in 1898, and is now a leading surgeon at Buenos Ayres. Mr. R. H. Cuthbert, Manager M. & L. Bank, New Ross, was second. Five competed.

In the swimming race confined to the parishes of Killea and Carbally, the winner was Jack McGrath, Dunmore; Malachy Lawlor being second.

A display of surf-riding was given by Mr. Haughton, who rode behind Mr. P. Anderson’s motor launch.

Details:—

Open yacht Race (9 miles).—1st, Mr. A. A. Farrell’s Gertie; 2nd, Mr. T. Power’s St. Agnes.

Pair-Oared Punt Race—(for boys under 18 years, confined to Killea and Carbally).—1st, Jas. Fleming and John Fleming, Dunmore; 2nd, Rd. Power and P. Ivory, Dunmore; 3rd, Rd. Fanning and M. O’Mahony, Dunmore. Also competed—John Fleming and James Ivory, Andy Doherty and P. Doherty, Cheekpoint. The Doherty crew won the race but were disqualified.

Pair Oared Punt Race (Confined for men)—1st, J. McGrath and P. Power, Dunmore; 2nd, T. Murphy and T. McGrath, Dunmore; 3rd, John Fleming, Dunmore.

Also competed—Joseph Fleming and James Ivory; J. Power and J. Murphy, Dunmore; Mr. Fitzgerald and P. Ivory, P. Roche and N. Boucher.

Open Pair-Oared Punt Race—1st, W. Doherty and W. Doherty, Cheekpoint; 2nd, P. Doherty and A. Doherty, Cheekpoint; 3rd, M. Fitzgerald and J. Ivory.

Also competed— D. Doherty and W. Doherty, Cheekpoint; J. Power and J. Fleming, Dunmore; J. Ivory and T. Fleming, Dunmore; P. Doherty and N. Butler, Waterford.

Ladies’ Swimming Race (200 yards).—1st, Miss B. Moore, Tramore; 2nd, Miss M. Daniels, Dunmore; 3rd, Miss M. Moore, Tramore.

Also competed—Miss Lily Murphy, Miss D. Kelly and Miss S. Kelly, Waterford.

Miss Moore gave a fine exhibition of strong swimming and won rather easily.

Men’s Open Swimming Race—1st, Mr. Sam Haughton, Dublin; 2nd, R. H. Cuthbert, New Ross; 3rd, P. Moran, U.S.A.

Also competed—J. Moran, Dunmore; J. McLean, Scarborough.

Men’s Confined Race—1st, J. McGrath, Dunmore; 2nd, M. Lawlor, Dunmore; 3rd, T. O’Neill, Dunmore.

Also Competed—J. Fanning.

Swimming Race (for boys under 16).—1st, R. Hallahan, Buenos Aires; 2nd, P. Moran, U.S.A.; 3rd, N. Colfer, New Ross.

Swimming Race for girls under 16 years.—1st, Miss Galgey, Dunmore; 2nd, Miss B. Moore, Tramore; 3rd, Miss Kelly, Waterford.

The three competitors swam together most of the way, and provided a most exciting struggle as they neared the winning post together. When they had approached within a distance of about five yards from the tape, Miss Galgey and Miss Moore forged ahead by about half stroke to maintain the lead to the end. However, they failed in the attempt to touch the tape and Miss Kelly actually touched it before them. There was considerable doubt about the result but the official decision was a dead heat between Miss Galgey and Miss Moore, with Miss Kelly half a stroke behind.

Four Oared Yawls—1st, M. Murphy’s crew, Dunmore; 2nd, Doherty’s crew, Cheekpoint; 3rd, Ryan’s crew, Passage.

Also competed—Bromley’s crew, Passage.

Pair-Oared Punt Race (confined to visitors resident in Dunmore).—1st, Miss J. Kelly and J. Fleming; 2nd, Miss J. Haughton and S. Haughton; 3rd, Miss L. Murphy and N. Butler.

Also competed—Miss J. Gabbitt and M. Harrison, Miss Gabbitt and Mr. Gibbon, Miss S. Kelly and P. Butler.

Open Pair-Oared Punt Race—1st Miss N. Butler and J. McGrath, Dunmore; 2nd, Miss E. Halligan and M. Henneberry, Ballinlaw; 3rd, Miss N. Murphy and Jos. Fleming, Dunmore.

Also competed—P. Power and Miss K. Power, Miss Kelly and N. Butler, Miss D. Kelly and N. Boucher, Miss L. Murphy and J. Murphy, Miss M. Daniels and J. Butler.

Yacht’s Dingies—1st, T. McGrath, Dunmore; 2nd, J. Fanning, Dunmore; 3rd, P. Ivory, do.

Also competed—M. Fitzgerald and J. Ivory.

The pillow fight was won after exciting battles by D. Murphy, Dunmore and Jack McGrath, Dunmore; won the duck hunt.

When not competing at regattas or fishing, Mrs Haughton, seen here in green, liked to relax and chat. I’m not sure who the other lady in the picture is, perhaps a relative, or maybe the former nurse, Miss Polly Davis, with whom the Haughtons stayed each summer. 

Here we see three of the winners from the 1927 Regatta: Sam and Charlie Mitchell, together with young Samuel Haughton. Sam and Charlie were among the champion rowers, while Sam Haughton took first place in the under-16 swimming event. There was certainly no shortage of sporting talent on the deck of this boat.

In this photo, we see the Mitchells’ boat making its way towards Brownstown Head. On this occasion, they appear to have a smaller boat in tow, perhaps with the intention of going ashore at one of the coves along the way. The Shanoon can be seen on the right-hand side of the picture. 

The Mitchell's crew seems to have expanded on this voyage, maybe they were going to demonstrate some serious fishing to the Houghton's.

This photo shows the launching of the lifeboat Fanny Harriett, sometime between 1911 and 1914. It captures a scene that would once have been familiar on the quay in Dunmore East, when the lifeboat had to be launched according to the state of the tide. At high tide, she could go straight down the slip and into the water. At low tide, however, matters were not so simple, and she had to be taken out across the stones before she could be launched.

It is a reminder of the effort and skill that lifeboat work demanded in those days, even getting the boat afloat required judgement, teamwork and no small amount of hard work. Photos like this help to preserve a way of working that belonged to an earlier Dunmore East.