The Village People. (Page 05)

Ann Fitzgerald, Annie Molloy and Biddy Morrissey enjoying a social drink at the end of a hard day.

A photo taken in the Candlelight Inn by Billy Power at Joefy Murphy’s wedding back in the 1970’s. Those in the picture are, left to right: Tommy McGrath, Con Barlow, Sean Kearns, Brendan Horgan and Jim Mason.

The named fishermen are Paki Foster, Maurice Mahony, Jimmy Murphy and Johnny O'Grady. One man is unrecognised.

A photo of Tom sitting on a fancy car. This picture was taken up over councillors, probably in the 1950's.

Ned Power was a measured man, one who believed in moderation in all things. This photo catches him on a Saturday night, enjoying a quiet drink in front of the American flag, at a time when that symbol was still respected.

I had the good fortune of working alongside Ned for a spell in the South and East Co-op, though my very first day there was anything but easy. Ned and Johnny Furlong were operating the salting trough, while Nicky Bowe manned the salt shovel. Ned would work the paddle, mixing herrings into the salt before pushing them down through a hole into a waiting barrel below. Johnny’s job was to move each filled barrel aside, where I’d haul them away and line them neatly in the corner, topping them up to ensure they were full.

The problem was, Ned and Johnny were far more interested in reliving a GAA match than in filling barrels properly—most of them were only two-thirds full by the time they reached me. Struggling to keep pace, I eventually suggested that perhaps the barrels might be filled properly before being shifted along. Ned paused, took a long pull on his pipe, and after a few thoughtful puffs, delivered his verdict:

“There’d be no need to have you here then, Von. There’d be nothing for you to do.”

That was my lesson—Ned always had the last word. After that, things ran smoothly, and there was never a cross moment between us again.

Paddy Regan and Geoff Power were neighbours in Killea for many years, and like all wise neighbours they knew the value of looking out for each other. Both men had learned long ago that Killea in the winter could be one of the coldest and windiest places on earth.

So, while others spent their August days soaking up the sunshine, Paddy and Geoff were busy preparing for the darker months ahead. Together they stacked timber, sharing stories and laughter as the woodpile grew high. To them, the clatter of logs and the smell of fresh-cut wood meant comfort and security when the winter gales would howl in from the sea and up the Killea Road.

By the time the first frosts arrived, they were ready. While the August sunbathers later shivered and complained about heating bills, Paddy and Geoff could settle into their armchairs, warmed by the glow of their open fires, content in the knowledge that preparation always pays off.

As the saying goes — age brings wisdom, and in Killea, wisdom brought warmth.

A photo of Kathleen and Pat which was taken when Pat still had a razor.

A photo of Kitty Taylor when she worked in the Shamrock Factory.

A photo of Bertie McNamara, Maurice Power, and Rocky Power aboard the Lydia Ann. Bertie is wearing a very stylish Mac in this photo, it was the ultimate in 'Fisherman's Chic' that season.

A parish trip to Mount Melleray, suspected to have taken place in 1955. The names below come from a Facebook post by Helena Synnott, the photo itself is from a different source.

Back Row – Left to Right: Michael Walsh, Bridget Doyle, Michael Cleary, Linda Doyle, Ann Colfer, Sean Fitzgerald and my uncle, Tommy Hearne.

Front row – Left to Right: Chrissy Mitten, Alice Duffin, Peggy Mulally, Margaret Walsh, my aunt, Josie Hearne and Betty Ivory.

A photo of an unusual looking fish, with Paddy Power, two George Roche’s and a chap from town who used to work with them in the shed.

In this photo, Thomas McGrath and Joefy Murphy can be seen giving a demonstration on how to use the latest fishing poles of the time, which were on sale in Kitty Burke’s shop. These poles were known as the S.B.H.2’s and could be used as sweeping brush handles when they weren’t required for fishing purposes. The boys caught many eels with this equipment over the years and always swept up around where they had been fishing afterwards. The boy on the right of the photo has envy in his eyes from the sight of their experimental gear. 

After many hours of dangling their lines, Thomas and Joefy land the catch of the day, thus enhancing their fishermen credentials, as well as proving the efficiency of their fishing gear.

Joan Power R.I.P., enjoying some playtime with her son Mark on the ‘Dock Strand’ in the 1950’s.

A photo of Peter Nolan R.I.P., and John O’Donnell, with John ‘Busty’ Griffin R.I.P. and Stephen ‘Mull’ Mullally. 

This striking photograph captures Enda Flynn standing proudly beside what was said to be the first, the fastest, and the finest car ever to drive across the Commons. Local legend has it that Enda set out for town one day with the simple intention of buying a bicycle — but fate, and a fine motor car, had other ideas. The story goes that when he spotted this gleaming machine, the bicycle was quickly forgotten. By all accounts, he made a very good choice.

The image was featured in the Gaultier Calendar of 2017, where it stood out as a favourite among many — a reminder not just of changing times and modes of transport, but also of the wit, spirit, and spontaneity that have always been part of life in the Barony of Gaultier.

This picture, taken in the 1930’s, was originally uploaded to Facebook by Eddie ‘Duffin’ Fitzgerald, and features a number of his ancestors. The lady with the baby is Eddie’s grandmother, Annie Robin Power, and the baby is the future postman of Dunmore, Paddy ‘Duffin’ Fitzgerald, before he learned his letters. The couple standing are Eddie’s great grandparents, but he didn’t reveal their names. The man on the left is Eddie’s grandfather, Pat Fitzgerald, with a dog that looks like it might have been crossed with a sheep. The lady sitting on the right is Jane Fitzgerald, grandmother of Dunmore woman Janet Cunningham. A stylish, fashion conscious looking group, it has to be said. 

This picture was originally uploaded to Facebook by Jack Martin. According to the information given by Jack, and from comments on the post, the men featured are:

Back row from the left: Unknown, Issac Ryan, and Paddy Fitzgerald,

Front row from the left: Omney Butler, John Cullinane and Pat Fitzgerald, grandfather of the legendary Gaultier footballer, Eddie ‘Duffin’ Fitzgerald.

An iconic photo from 1982, depicting the day that the ‘Butchers Beer Squad’ set off for Thurles to support Waterford playing Cork in the Munster hurling final. Some of this squad hadn’t been outside the door of the ‘Butchers Bar’ in years, never mind Dunmore, these guys were ready to party. However, the occasion was too much for some and they couldn’t get off the bus when it arrived in Thurles. The Beer Meister, Alan ‘Big Al’ Kearns, did his best to control the group, but things got out of hand in spite of his best efforts. No one could remember who won the match or if they’d seen any of it by the time they got back to Dunmore. It was a bit like what is often said of the 1960’s, if you can remember it, you weren’t really there. 

Mickey McSweeney managed the South and East Coast Fisherman's Co-op for many years and was very highly thought of in the village. He was a true gentleman in every sense of the word and was well respected by fishermen all around the coast. Sadly he is no longer with us, but he won't be forgotten any time soon.

This photo captures three men taking a break from a hard day’s work to pose for the camera—Jimmy ‘Fancy’ Power, Anthony ‘Fancy’ Power, and Mick D., likely taken in the late 1950s in Portally. The two young Powers, fit and able-bodied, work under the watchful eye of the older man.

In those days, the men of Portally balanced two trades during the summer months. Mornings were spent hauling lobster pots into their punts, bringing in bountiful catches each day. By afternoon, they’d swap the sea for the fields, turning and cocking hay under the warm sun. It was a life of relentless labour, but there was a simplicity to it—a harmony between land and sea that shaped their days.

When evening fell, they had a choice to make: a stroll to the village or a longer walk to Ballymacaw, where a small bottle of stout awaited as a reward for their day’s work. Portally’s position between Dunmore and Ballymacaw meant they could follow their whims—or the company they sought.

This was summer in another era, when the living was easy in its own way—measured in tides turned, hayricks built, and quiet drinks shared among friends. The photo freezes a fleeting moment in time, when hard work was rewarded with simple pleasures. They may not have had much by modern standards, but in some ways, they had everything the modern world is missing.

This colourised photograph captures Kathleen “Morrissey” O’Driscoll during her wild motorcycling days in Dunmore East. A proud member of the local “Hell’s Angels” chapter, Kathleen was known far and wide as the fearless rider who tore through the village at breath taking speeds. The Gardai had no hope of catching her on their bicycles — no matter what they did, they couldn’t stop her. She was a rebel without a pause.

This photo is of Ned Farrell, a Dunmore man born on the 19th of December 1902. He lived all his life at 3 Glenview Terrace, beside Jimmy Cullinane the bus driver. My mother’s family also lived in Glenview Terrace before moving to Kilmacomb in the 1930s.

Ned grew up in turbulent times and, like many young men of his generation, he joined the IRA during the 1920s. He remained a staunch republican for the rest of his life. But Ned wasn’t defined by politics alone—he also played his part in the cultural life of the parish. I came across this piece of Gaultier Gossip in the News and Star of July 20th, 1945:

VARIETY SHOW

Dunmore East went gay on Sunday night last when the Fisherman’s Hall was packed for the first new show of the new Ballymacaw Variety Co. 

Among the organisers of this show are Mr. Bob Kehoe, Lepperstown, Gaultier, the famous footballer. Bobbie is just as much at home on the stage as on the sports field. Other hard workers are Mr. M. Walsh, N.T., Corbally, and Mr. Ned Farrell, Dunmore East.

The members of the cast are to be congratulated in fostering this kind of entertainment that is badly wanted in Rural Ireland.

For most of his working life, Ned was foreman on the local County Council crew. Many will remember the hard manual labour the Council men did in those days—no machinery, just shovels, sickles, and sledgehammers. My grandfather, Tommy Hearne, and his brothers all worked under Ned. They spent long days keeping ditches cut back by hand and breaking large stones into road chips, often calling to our house in the Lower Village so my mother could boil water for their “Billy Cans.” I still remember them arriving covered in tar, tired but in good humour. Council work today is still tough, but it was a different world back then.

I remember Ned enjoying his later years with his neighbour Jimmy Cullinane. Almost every day they’d head down to the Strand around lunchtime, where they availed of Mike Foyle’s old-age-pensioner–priced bottles of Guinness. The two of them were always in great spirits.

Ned died on the 5th of February 1997. A touching acknowledgement was printed in the Munster Express and the News and Star from a couple named Thomas and Linda Morrissey, who were then living in the U.S.A. It read:

“Thirteen years ago Ned invited us into his home ‘in the lane’. We had become neighbours. Dad often recounted the special moments shared with Ned and a bit of Irish Mist by a hearty fire. Ned’s letters filled us with pride. His jokes of ‘Yankee treats’ left us smiling.

There was a knock on our door the night before we left Dunmore. We were surprised by the offer of Ned’s magnificent portrait of the men and women who fought for their nation in the Post Office during the 1916 Easter Rising. It hung over his fireplace for so many years. We did not feel worthy of such generosity. Ned ‘wished’ for us to have it since he may not be here on our return. We graciously accepted.

Now hung in our home in the States, Ned’s connection with the courage and compassion of Ireland is with us forever – a memory of the spirit of life.”