The Peter Power Collection.

Photo 01 - Bill and Catherine Power

Bill and Catherine Power, Peter and Billy's parents.

A colourised photo of when, in November 1968, the fishermen and fish buyers of Dunmore East donated 150 barrels of salted herring for famine relief in Biafra. This picture showing them preparing the load was featured in national newspapers at the time. The fish was valued at £900, which was a lot of money in 1968. Irish Shipping delivered the shipment. It was a generous gesture, and these men should be remembered for it.

In this photograph we see two familiar figures from Dunmore’s political landscape of the 1980s: Noel McDonagh and Brendan Griffin. Both men carried genuine political ambition in their day. Brendan, of course, went on to hold the distinguished title of directly elected Mayor of Dunmore, a role that earned him the enduring nickname “The Mayor”—a name he proudly carries to this day. Noel, meanwhile, stood as a candidate in the local elections, and was well regarded and widely supported within the local community.

Looking back now, you can’t help but think that if either of them had been propelled onto the national stage, they might have brought a steadier hand and a fairer approach than many of the political leaders who dominated Ireland in the 1980s. Still, as the old saying goes, a country gets and deserves the politicians that the majority votes for.

Connie Fancy was a very popular man throughout his life in Dunmore and a book could be written about his exploits. One humorous story relates to when colour television first became available. Connie wasted no time in attempting to adopt the new technology and painted the television aerial, or so the story goes.

Eddie Don, another great character, pictured here with his dog outside of Bill's.

Long before there was a Centra or a Londis in Dunmore East, the Power family were supplying the village with everything anyone could want. If you needed meat for the dinner, it was cut freshly from a carcass right in front of your eyes in the butcher’s shop. If you wanted butter, they supplied that too—made from milk from a herd that grazed on the Shanoon, where the sea mist rolled in over the cliff and gave the butter a salty, sea-air taste. And if that salty butter left you with a thirst, you didn’t have far to go, you could step into Bill’s bar and enjoy a drink or two while catching up on all the local news from other thirsty customers. The Powers have catered to Dunmore’s every need—food, drink and conversation—for as long as anyone can remember.

This colourised photo features Bill and Katie Power, with young Billy and Peter in the front. 

In the pubs of Dunmore East during the 1980s, one man’s talent rose above all others: Peter Power, widely regarded as the master of the perfect pint of Guinness. Long before fancy pouring techniques or social media tutorials, Peter had already perfected the craft. He understood that a great pint wasn’t just about taste—it was about patience, presentation, and a bit of quiet pride.

He gave every pint its due time to settle, never rushing the process, letting the dark velvet rise slowly beneath the creamy head. And then came the flourish people still talk about: the trademark shamrock Peter would deftly trace on top. It wasn’t for show—at least not entirely. For Peter, a pint should look as good as it tasted, and he refused to hand over anything less.

Regulars would swear you couldn’t find a better pint of Guinness anywhere in Ireland. Some believed the secret was in his steady hand; others said it was the pride he poured into every glass. Whatever the magic was, one thing is certain: when Peter Power pulled your pint, you were getting something special—served with skill, care, and the quiet confidence of a man who truly loved his craft.

This photo captures a fish auction in Dunmore East during the 1960s, a time when the harbour was at the heart of daily life and the rhythm of the village followed the comings and goings of the fishing fleet. The scene is full of movement—boxes of freshly landed fish, buyers leaning in for a closer look, and the quiet authority of the auctioneer keeping everything flowing.

On the left-hand side of the picture, I can clearly recognise Geoff Power, Maurice Power and John Roche, three well-known figures around the pier in those days. They were men who knew their trade inside out, familiar faces at the auctions where deals were struck quickly and often with nothing more than a nod, a wink or a handshake.

(Next Page) The Taylor Photo Album