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 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.

In the 1960s, the highlight of every child’s year was that long-awaited moment when they met Santa Claus and handed over their carefully written Christmas wish list. For many, the build-up began early — I know I used to start thinking about him as soon as I’d finished my last Easter egg.

This photograph shows Santa Claus with Biddy, Billy, and Ann Taylor outside Hearne’s shop on the quay in Waterford. The scene captures a familiar ritual from a time when Christmas in the city had a more modest, local character. Before the era of shopping centres and television specials, Santa’s visits often took place in small shops or parish halls — places that were part of everyday life.

Hearne’s shop would have been a busy place in the run-up to Christmas, selling a wide assortment of goods. It was a shop you could enter on George’s Street and exit on the quay. For children, meeting Santa in their local area was pure magic, and for the adults watching on, it marked the true beginning of the festive season.

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.

Biddy Taylor and Peg Power, two lifelong friends.

A picture of Peg Power and Biddy Taylor,
stepping it out on the dance floor.

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 is a photograph of Maggie Taylor from Ballymacaw and her son Joseph, taken in 1938. Joseph served aboard the H.M.S. Kelly, which was bombed and sunk during the evacuation of Crete on May 22nd, 1941. The ship was under the command of Louis Mountbatten.

On that day, six warships were lost defending Crete, including the cruisers Gloucester and Fiji, and the destroyers Juno, Greyhound, Kelly, and Kashmir. Despite the tragedy, eight officers and 120 men from the H.M.S. Kelly were rescued, including Lord Louis Mountbatten. A communique highlighted that naval operations in the Eastern Mediterranean had successfully thwarted any significant enemy sea-borne landing on the island of Crete up to that point. Additionally, heavy losses were inflicted upon enemy transports attempting to reach the island.

Joseph's fate was a tragic loss for his family and his community—a local hero who valiantly fought against the forces of evil. Families of the men aboard the H.M.S. Kelly later received telegrams informing them of their sons' disappearance, adding to the sorrow of the already devastating event.

This photograph, taken in the 1960s at Marian Terrace, Dunmore East, features Annie McCarthy on the right, grandmother of the Taylors, and Mrs. Katie Power, mother to Billy, Ena, Teresa, Richie, Nellie, Ned, John (Rocky) and Maisie. They appear to be enjoying the sunshine, something that there’s always an abundance of in Dunmore.

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.