The Taylor Photo Album

The photos below are from the Ann Taylor collection, which Ann kindly gave me access to on her Facebook page some time ago.

This colourised photograph captures a moment of shared joy — a double wedding that united two couples and two families in celebration and song. The brides and grooms were Biddy and Johnny Taylor, and Madge and Nicky Murphy, marking a day that would be long remembered.

Standing with them are familiar faces from the village — Eily McCarthy, Bridget Caulfield, and Maurice Power — each playing their part in what was both a sacred and social occasion. The two priests who blessed the unions were Father Nicholas Power and Father Ahearne.

After the ceremony, a grand celebration followed, filled with laughter, music, and stories that carried long into the night. The newlywed Taylors were to set off for Glengarriff on their honeymoon the next day — a picturesque start to their new lives together.

Yet it was the wedding night itself that became a favourite tale in the Taylor family, told and retold over the years. While Madge and Johnny went to their respective beds early, content and quiet, Biddy and Nicky Murphy stayed up, keeping the spirit alive with music and song — Nicky at the piano, Biddy singing beside him, their melodies echoing through the house. Long after the music faded, the memory of that night played on, echoing through the generations to come.

This picture shows Johnny and Biddy Taylor, who were married on April 23rd, in 1946. It’s a fine reminder of a different era, when wedding photographs had a dignity and formality all of their own. They make a striking couple, and it’s great to be able to mark their wedding day by looking back at the day they started married life together.

This is Johnny Taylor and Biddy again, photographed during one of Johnny’s visits home from the navy. Johnny was a popular man in both Dunmore and Ballymacaw — the sort of fellow whose return from sea was always an occasion. It wasn’t only Biddy who looked forward to seeing him; half the parish would be keeping an eye out for his familiar face and his easy smile.

After the war, rationing lingered on until 1951, and even then, many things were still hard to come by. Tea, sugar, butter — and especially cigarettes — were precious commodities. Every household had its ration book, and when the coupons were gone, that was that. But when Johnny came home on leave, the air in locality grew a little thicker — and a lot more cheerful.

Woodbines, Senior Service, Capstan, John Player’s untipped — whatever your preference, Johnny could oblige. Having spent months at sea, he always came ashore with a sailor’s generosity and a few extra supplies tucked away for his friends.

Word would spread quickly that Johnny was home, and before long a few of the local ladies who enjoyed “the odd smoke” would make their way down to see him. One of them, Min from Ballymacaw, was never shy when it came to her tobacco. As soon as Johnny offered her a cigarette, she’d take the whole packet with a grin and say,
“Ah sure Johnny, one fag was all I wanted — but thank you kindly.”

Johnny would laugh, as he always did, and Min would leave happy, packet in hand and ready for a good smoke. Johnny never let her down.

The Taylor family, this time featuring Ann, Biddy, Joe and Billy.

A photo of Nicky Taylor and Jackie Dunne. Both boys have sore knees in this picture, so I suspect that some degree of rough and tumble must have been involved in their play. I guess that running in playgrounds hadn’t been banned at that stage. 

A picture of Johnny Taylor wearing his uniform and medals. Unfortunately, as I don’t know what colours should be on the medal ribbons, it wasn’t possible to get them correct. It’s a great picture of Johnny though. 

A picture of Johnny Taylor, Johnny’s father and his two sons, Joe and Billy.

Front row from the left: Mary Kearns, Agnes, John and Seamus O Regan. Middle row from the left: Marie and Alice Roche, Biddy and Ann Taylor. Back row from the left: Nellie Dunne, Teresa Westman.

A picture of Carol Murphy nee Power, Ann Taylor, and Kathleen O’Reilly nee McDonagh. Clearly enjoying their day in a garden of daisies.

Christmas is a magical time, never more so than when children meet Santa. Here we see just such an occasion, which took place in the early 1960s, when Biddy Taylor brought Billy and Ann to town to do the Christmas shopping. It was an event that I’m sure still comes to Ann’s mind whenever she hears the sound of jingling bells. Thankfully, this important meeting was captured on film.

Ann recalls:
This photo evokes a special memory of my mother and my beloved brother Billy. We went into town — as we always called Waterford — did the shopping, saw Santa, and went to Dooley’s Hotel for our dinner. We also visited Hearnes, Shaws, and Egans for the bottle of port. We went to the L&N to buy tea, which was kept in a tea chest back then; it was weighed and bagged for you. I remember it all with love and tears. Our beloved brother Joe missed out on that trip.

A photo of Ann taken at her first pioneer social.

A picture of Michael and Nicky Taylor, taken on Councillors Strand. Apparently, Michael had just had a little accident when this photo was taken, as proved by the wet patch on his pants. "Not to worry Michael, we’ve all been there and probably will be again".

This photo features Gerry Taylor, Colm Power, Peter O’Rourke, Sean Murphy and Nicky Taylor, with his face covered. The girl in the background on the left is thought to be Brigid Power. The other girl is possibly Catherine O'Toole.

A reconstructed version of this photo of Billy and Joe Taylor, the original was badly damaged.

A photo of Biddy Taylor when she was a young woman.

A photo of Madge Taylor, (Johnny Taylor's sister), Maurice Power and Biddy Taylor.

In this photograph we see Biddy Taylor and Peg Power, possibly taken in the late 1970s. Both ladies were style-conscious and always looked fashionable, with well kept hairdos that reflected the care they took in their appearance. They were neighbours in Marian Terrace for many years and were well known and respected in the area.

I can recall regularly seeing them engaged in deep conversation outside one another’s gates as I passed up the Killea Road, their chats often lasting far longer than first intended. They were always organising something or other, whether it was for family, neighbours, or the wider community, often with their other friend, Patty Whittle.

All three were very civic-minded women who quietly but consistently contributed to village life, and their presence added warmth, character and a strong sense of neighbourliness to Marian Terrace. Their friendship and commitment to one another and to their community are still fondly remembered by those who knew them.

This is a photo of Peg Power and Biddy Taylor, possibly dating from the early 1980s, stepping it out on the dance floor. I'm not sure where it was taken, but it didn't matter where they were; once these ladies heard music, they were taken by the rhythm and danced the night away.

Another photo of Ann looking very bright eyed.

A picture from the 1950’s, the names according to Ann are as follows:

From the back, left to right:

Ann Colfer nee Cleary RIP, Pat Flynn nee Doyle, Helen Nicholson nee Power, Ena Roche, Maureen Murphy, Kathleen Mullally,? Flynn girl Leperstown, Ann Fitzgerald nee Boland RIP, Nuala Donovan, Joan Harding nee O’Rourke, Helen Power RIP?, Valerie Reddin, Eileen Ayton nee Cullinane, Margaret Sheehan nee Molloy, Kathleen Redmond nee O’Regan, Mary Kearns nee Dunne, Rita Murnahan nee Power, Kathleen O Driscoll nee Morrissey, Madge Barry nee Donovan? Bernie Doherty nee Dingley, Flynn girl Leperstown?, Kathleen Mc Donagh, Carol Murphy nee Power, Kathleen Boland.

Second row from front:

Mary Healy nee Mullally, Chrissie Hutchinson Nee Mullally, Kathleen Phelan nee Glody, Ruth Murphy, Ann Nugent RIP, Myra Larkin nee Power, Agnes Abramson nee O’Regan RIP, Joan Whelan RIP, Mary, Joan’s Sister, Margaret Ryan and Margaret Power.

Front row, Left to right, Paddy Mullally RIP, Seamus O’Regan, John O’Regan RIP, John and Nicholas Murphy, David Carroll and Joe, Billy and Ann Taylor.

This colourful photograph shows Madge Taylor and a friend at work in the garden — their hands busy among the flowers, deadheading and picking weeds, their attention turned toward the tasks of the day. The image most likely dates from the early 1950s, a time when every garden in Dunmore, Ballymacaw, and across the country, was both a sanctuary and a necessity.

For many households in post-war Ireland, a garden was more than decoration — it was the heart of the home. Vegetables, herbs, and flowers were carefully tended, often shared with neighbours, and always treated with quiet pride. The act of gardening with a friend was a way of socialising, while at the same time making sure nothing was eating your lettuce or cabbage.

Looking at this photo, I can almost hear the hum of bees among the flowers. This was a scene replicated in countless back gardens around the country — in an era before television and computers began to absorb so much of people’s free time.

This photo was originally shared by Ann Taylor on her Facebook page, and the original version can be viewed in the comment section.

A photo which featured in the News & Star back in the early 60’s when it was taken. In the picture are, Barbara and Audrey Rutter with Ann Taylor and the McCluskey children, David and Jennifer. Johnny Taylor can be seen in the background. Barbara can also be seen here sneakily pulling the head off a daffodil, she was lucky Mrs. Deevey didn’t see her, or she’d have been barred from the park for life.

A picture of Madge enjoying the sun amongst the flowers.

This photograph shows Maggie Taylor of Ballymacaw with her son Joseph, taken in 1938, only a short time before the Second World War would change their lives forever. At the time, it was simply a family photograph: a mother standing beside her son. Within a few years, however, Joseph would be serving at sea aboard one of the Royal Navy’s best-known destroyers, HMS Kelly.

HMS Kelly was a K-class destroyer, launched in 1938 and commissioned in 1939, just as Europe was moving towards war. She served as the leader of the 5th Destroyer Flotilla and was commanded by Lord Louis Mountbatten, later the last Viceroy of India. From the beginning of her wartime service, Kelly earned a reputation as a ship that endured extraordinary punishment. In December 1939 she was damaged by a mine near the Tyne, and in May 1940 she was torpedoed by a German E-boat in the North Sea. Despite severe damage, she survived and was brought home for repairs. These incidents helped make both the ship and her crew well known for their resilience and determination.

By May 1941, HMS Kelly was serving in the Mediterranean during the Battle of Crete. German forces had launched a major airborne invasion of the island, while the Royal Navy fought to stop enemy troops and supplies being brought in by sea. The ships involved were exposed to repeated German air attacks, often with little or no air protection of their own.

On 23 May 1941, HMS Kelly was attacked by German dive-bombers south of Crete. She was hit and sank quickly. Another destroyer, HMS Kashmir, was sunk in the same action. Lord Mountbatten survived, along with a number of officers and men, but many of Kelly’s crew were lost. For families at home, including the Taylors of Ballymacaw, the news came not through personal accounts or final goodbyes, but through the cold and devastating wording of official wartime telegrams.

The Battle of Crete was one of the most costly naval operations of the war. During the campaign, the Royal Navy lost several ships, including the cruisers Gloucester and Fiji, and the destroyers Juno, Greyhound, Kelly, Kashmir and others. Yet, despite terrible losses, the Navy’s actions helped prevent German forces from successfully reinforcing Crete by sea and inflicted heavy damage on enemy convoys.

For Maggie Taylor and her family, Joseph’s service aboard HMS Kelly became part of a much wider story of sacrifice. His fate was a deeply personal tragedy, but it also reflected the loss felt by countless families across Ireland and Britain, where the war reached into even the quietest villages, farms, harbours and homes.

Locally, Joseph is remembered with pride and sorrow: a son of Ballymacaw who served during some of the darkest days of the Second World War. His story, like that of HMS Kelly herself, speaks of duty, courage, endurance and loss. The photograph of Maggie and Joseph, taken before war changed everything, remains a poignant reminder of the young men who left home to serve and never returned.

This photograph was taken in 1957 in Marian Terrace, one of Dunmore East’s most elegant areas. On the left is Annie McCarthy (nee Burke), grandmother of the Taylor family. Annie lived at Hook View on the Dock Road, directly across from Gertie Burke’s shop. 

Beside her sits her cousin, Mrs. Katie Power, mother to Billy, Ena, Teresa, Richie, Nellie, Ned, John (Rocky) and Maisie. Katie lived in Glenville Terrace, opposite the Anchor Bar — now known as The Spinnaker.

Both women appear relaxed and content, quietly enjoying the sunshine, something Lower Dunmore has always been blessed with in generous abundance.

This photo was likely taken on Christmas morning, judging by the expressions of wonder on the boys faces.

This is a photo of Bobby Taylor, son of Bob Taylor (senior) and Eily Kehoe of Ballymacaw. After Bobby married his wife Betty, they made their home in Tramore, where they raised their family. Bobby, who I believe worked in one of the local schools, was a brother to Ann Power of Tramore and the late Josie Kearney, who ran the garage on the Old Waterford Road. Bobby passed away some years ago, but his wife Betty is still living in Tramore. 

This photograph shows Johnny Taylor (far right) during one of his naval tours of duty. He is pictured in uniform, enjoying a drink, alongside four other sailors and three women. The setting appears to be a social event, likely an evening ashore or a gathering connected with the ship’s crew.

The men in uniform are probably fellow servicemen, and the women may be their wives or partners, which was common in group photographs from naval social occasions of the period. The uniforms and general presentation reflect the standards and traditions of naval service at the time.

While life at sea was demanding—marked by long periods away from home and the routine of naval operations—moments like this provided a brief opportunity to relax and maintain morale. The photo offers a clear record of the people Johnny served alongside and the social side of naval life.

This photograph takes us back to late August or early September 1973, and to the wedding day of Tony O’Connor and Claire Kearney.

Claire was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Kearney of Railway Cottages, Waterford Road, Tramore. Tony was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur O’Connor of St. Otteran’s Terrace, also in Tramore. It was very much a local wedding, with familiar Tramore and Dunmore names gathered together to mark a happy day in the lives of the couple.

Tony’s brother Ted stood as best man, with Patrick Curran as groomsman. The bridesmaids were Carmel Hallissey and Claire’s sister, Kathleen.

Around 120 guests attended the reception, which was held in O’Shea’s Hotel in Tramore. Later that day, the newly married couple set off in the traditional fashion, tin cans rattling from the bumper of the car as they left town. Their destination was the West of Ireland, where they honeymooned on the Aran Islands, an exotic enough location in those days.

The photograph itself is a great gathering of family and friends.

In the back row, from left to right, are Ann Taylor, Josie Kearney, née Taylor, George Corcoran and his wife Eileen, Biddy Taylor, Maurice and Ina Power, Kitty Taylor, and Ann Power, née Taylor.

In the front row, from left to right, are Billy and Kay Taylor, and Agnes and Joe Taylor.

In the background on the right are Willie Halley and Fintan O’Brien. Fintan is the man wearing the glasses.

I have no doubt that a great day was had by all who attended.

Johnny and Biddy, still looking happy after many years of marriage.