The Village People. (Page 03) 

This is Councillor Geoff Power, foreman in the South and East Co-Op for many years and a fisherman for many years before that. Geoff had a remarkable talent for handpicking the finest workers in Dunmore East every herring season, ensuring top-quality results year after year. 

This is a photograph of Tom Doyle — a man for whom shipwrecks were an unfortunate acquaintance. Tom was never far from a well-earned pint of Guinness (always in moderation) and could spin a yarn from dawn to dusk for anyone willing to listen. If there are pubs in the hereafter, you can be sure Tom is holding court in one of them, entertaining the angels with his stories.

You might mistake this photo for a scene from a film, but it's actually Margaret and Paddy Barry enjoying a pleasure trip off the Hook on board ‘The Catherine’, likely on a Sunday afternoon. 

A photo of Denis Myler R.I.P., Paddy 'Dursey' Healy and Paddy Mulally R.I.P. Looks like they were at a wedding, maybe in the Candlelight. 

Another happy couple who walked down aisle.

A photo taken at the wedding reception of Diana and Paddy O’Regan, in the Ocean Hotel. 

This photograph features Paddy and Mary O'Neill on their wedding day. I think Paddy bears a strong resemblance to a young Sean Connery in this photo, had he not answered the call of the chicken business, he would have made a great James Bond.

Paddy holds the distinction of being the first person to introduce chicken to the palates of Dunmore residents. Prior to this innovation, Sunday dinners typically featured pigeon, seagull, or crow. Despite scepticism that chicken wouldn't take off like other birds, within months, demand had soared.

I recall attending one of Ken O'Neill's birthday parties which was held at Paddy’s house, the sole party invitation I ever received. Many schoolmates were present, and we were thoroughly enjoying ourselves. Paddy even brought us up to the sheds to see the chickens.

As the afternoon progressed, a few of us were playing in the garden when three shadowy figures emerged from the woods. Before us stood John 'Busty' Griffin, Gerard 'Gus' Walsh, and Gerry O'Regan. They weren't there to play; they were mad as hell and demanded cake. Ken informed them that all the cake was gone but offered to provide eggs for them to bake their own. Gerry O'Regan, however, took offense at this offer and declared himself to be Johnny Ringo, inspired by a character from the film "The Gunfighter", which had screened the previous week on RTE. He then astounded us with the speed at which he drew his imaginary gun. Fearing the confrontation, my friends and I swiftly mounted our imaginary horses and fled back to the chicken ranch, with Johnny Ringo metaphorically firing shots at us as we galloped away.

It seems Gerry O'Regan's cake demands on that day were not unique, as he soon earned the permanent nickname Ringo, the boy with a reputation as a formidable gunfighter.

In spite of the attempted cake raid, the party was a huge success, with every boy returned home full as an egg and uninjured. Paddy’s chicken business went on to thrive for many years after.

A photo of Michael Power, on the right, when he was a young man serving in the Irish defence forces. 

A man seldom seen without a smile on his face throughout his life. The world needs more like Nick. 

Another man, the likes of whom you don’t meet every day, out strolling in the summer sunshine with his lady wife. 

The position of the men named in the photo might be hard to follow, but I’m assured that all those named are present. This picture belongs to Michael Quilty, who kindly sent it to me. It was taken on the 4th of November, 1940, during the threshing at Flynn’s of Fornaught.

Back Rows, Left To Right: Joe O’Toole, Johnny Beamish, No. 3 & 4 Unknown, Paddy Boland, Jimmy Brien, Paddy Regan, Jimmy Delahunty, Robert Power, Martin Burke and Mickey Dalton.

Front Row: Maurice ’Mock’ Morrissey, No 2 Unknown, Richie ‘Vesty’ Power, Stephen Mulally, Richie Power, Joe Power, Ca Regan, Dick Quilty, Micky Flynn. 

Katie Power, Paddy Griffin, Bertie MacNamara, Peter Power, John Roche and Tom Mulalley. The child is unknown, but is probably Paddy Griffin’s son or daughter. I would say that a great day was had by all. 

Ca Regan and Dave Forsey attempt to attract customers into the 'Olde Dunmore Inn' back in 1990.

A picture of Noreen Bowe with Mandy Manahan, the dog from Manahan's Shop, photographed in 1978.

A photo of Nellie Dunne and Margaret Sheehan, the two children remain unknown.

The only person positively identified in this photograph is Tommy McGrath senior, center in the picture, who appears to be about 40 years old here, placing the photograph around 1940. When I asked David Carroll, who lived on the quay during the 1950's and 60's, if he recognised any of the others, his view was that they were most likely “visitors” rather than locals—possibly workers from Donegal, the Isle of Man, or even Scotland. At the time, there was a strong tradition of travelling crews who followed the herring shoals from port to port.

I noticed that the original image bears the words Dunmore East along the bottom edge, with some additional lettering to the left. This suggests the photo may originally have been produced as a postcard, promoting the village during that era. But of course I could be wrong.

A picture of John Roche that was originally uploaded by William Power. John is seen here heading towards the lookout wall to cast an eye on the horizon. You never knew from one day to the next what might be coming ashore in those days. 

This is a photo of Kathleen O’Driscoll, nee Morrissey, with Michael O’Connor. The picture was taken in 1955 outside of Lawlor's Hotel. Paddy O’Connor R.I.P. originally uploaded this photo to www.dunmore-east.net.

This mixture of Convent classes, photographed in 1967, earned the nickname the ‘Flower Power’ children and have long been regarded as the brightest group ever to pass through the school gates. It was a time when boys had their hair cut with blunt scissors and pudding bowels, (Note the crooked fringes) whereas the girls all look like they just left the hairdressers.

Many of this group went on to become consultant doctors, rocket scientists, astrophysicists, and other professions I’d struggle to spell. Dunmore will hardly ever see such concentrated brain power under one roof again. Oddly enough, I’m right in the middle of the bunch—there’s always going to be one I suppose. 

The players are, in a clockwise circle from the front, The Shepherd, Eddie Cullinane, unrecognised top of a head, Maurice ‘The Crab’ Power, Patsy ‘Fancy’ Power, Laurence ‘La La’ O’Rourke, Mickey O’Toole I think, and Peter Queally. It could be ‘The Raven’s’ elbow on the right hand side. Bottles of Guinness, Harp and Smithwicks adorn the shelves. I can almost smell it.