Ballykinlar internment camp players: a troupe of prisoners formed during their period of internment
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Where: Unknown
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When: 01 January 1921
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This interesting Hogan photograph shows a group of men who were interned in Ballykinlar together. Here shown after taking part in some amateur dramatics.
Ballykinlar Internment Camp, County Down, was a detention centre for republican prisoners during the War of Independence, and while it's possible that the photo was taken there circa 1921, the troupe also performed in Dublin in 1922 (after release).
Whether it was during internment or afterwards, sharon.corbet and Carol Maddock highlight some incredible sources (including the fantastic program and posters sourced by Sharon from the camp itself). The Freeman's Journal article of 1922, which Carol sourced, indicates that the Ballykinlar Players are likely shown here in costume for "The Lord Mayor", a play in three acts by Edward McNulty. From the article:
The leading role is filled by Mr. K[it] Mullen, who makes the ideal “strong, silent man of the Corporation”, and his scheming wife, Mrs. O’Brien, is well represented by Miceal O Leimne. Dick Saunders sustains with marked ability the part of Moira O’Brien. Jimmie [Seamus or JJ] Mulkerns (The Rajah) interprets Gaffney faultlessly, and Paddy Byrne acts with spirit as Gaffney’s clerk. The other parts are taken by Liam Wilson, Tom Fullam, George Hogan (creditors), Mick Gaynor (Major Butterfield), Jas. Mallon (servant), Peter Mulvey and Sean Connolly (charwomen).
Freeman’s Journal, 7 February 1922
Photographer: W. D. Hogan
Collection: Hogan-Wilson Collection
Date: circa 1921
NLI Ref.: HOGW 132
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Source: Flickr Commons
Views: 51206
Ballykinlar Internment Camp, County Down, was a detention centre for republican prisoners during the War of Independence, and while it's possible that the photo was taken there circa 1921, the troupe also performed in Dublin in 1922 (after release).
Whether it was during internment or afterwards, sharon.corbet and Carol Maddock highlight some incredible sources (including the fantastic program and posters sourced by Sharon from the camp itself). The Freeman's Journal article of 1922, which Carol sourced, indicates that the Ballykinlar Players are likely shown here in costume for "The Lord Mayor", a play in three acts by Edward McNulty. From the article:
The leading role is filled by Mr. K[it] Mullen, who makes the ideal “strong, silent man of the Corporation”, and his scheming wife, Mrs. O’Brien, is well represented by Miceal O Leimne. Dick Saunders sustains with marked ability the part of Moira O’Brien. Jimmie [Seamus or JJ] Mulkerns (The Rajah) interprets Gaffney faultlessly, and Paddy Byrne acts with spirit as Gaffney’s clerk. The other parts are taken by Liam Wilson, Tom Fullam, George Hogan (creditors), Mick Gaynor (Major Butterfield), Jas. Mallon (servant), Peter Mulvey and Sean Connolly (charwomen).
Freeman’s Journal, 7 February 1922
Photographer: W. D. Hogan
Collection: Hogan-Wilson Collection
Date: circa 1921
NLI Ref.: HOGW 132
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Info:
Owner: National Library of Ireland on The CommonsSource: Flickr Commons
Views: 51206
hoganwilsoncollection
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ballykinlar
ballykinlarplayers
internmentcamp
actors
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prisoners
warofindependence
rajahoffrongoch
thelordmayor
seamusmulkerns
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D.G-S
Not a happy bunch! Understandably!
sharon.corbet
There's program from the "Ballykinlar Players" from April 1921 as well as a poster from October (1921?) in South Dublin Libraries.
sharon.corbet
Apparently they went on in 1922 to play in the Queen's Theatre.
derangedlemur
Odd that it's called "Ballykinlar" with an 'a'. It's Ballykinler on the map, as far back as the 6", and also on the roadsigns: www.google.ie/maps/@54.257872,-5.7995965,3a,43.3y,222.49h... Looks like they wouldn't let the gogglemobile in to look at the camp.
derangedlemur
You can see it over the fence here: www.google.ie/maps/@54.256589,-5.7989077,3a,16.3y,200.14h...
sharon.corbet
Louis J. Walsh mentioned the following in "On my keeping and in theirs : a record of experiences "on the run", in Derry Gaol, and in Ballykinlar Internment Camp": "On Easter Sunday we produced two plays a touching little curtain-raiser entitled " The Four Provinces," which was played with superb skill by George Nesbitt and Tom Meldon and the rest of their little company, and my own comedy, 'The Pope in Killybuck.' " "The caste for " Killybuck " was filled from my Ulster friends, Frank Doris, P. MacGartan, Tom Larkin, John Bonner, E. Cooney, Hugh Bradley, Georgie Goodman and F. Kearney, with Jim Lalor, from Kilkenny, as the auctioneer. They all played their parts very skilfully."
Niall McAuley
Previously, at Ballykinler:
guliolopez
Based on the names in the incredible posters/programs that [https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]] found, and depending on whether the dates match-up, it would seem likely that one of the men pictured is Seamus Mulkerns (given that he was producer and lead in pretty much everything). The Mulkerns family seemed to be quite active in entertainment/acting (and later film) circles - I am not familiar myself, but perhaps he's the same Mulkerns who was also interned with Collins in Frognoch after the rising?
guliolopez
Transcript of the program (15/16 Oct 1921?):
And of poster (April 1921):Swordscookie
This is a very interesting and thought provoking shot. I was raised on a diet of British movies showing the determination and courage of their POW's in the hands of the Nazi's and Japanese. It is interesting to read how (a) they treated prisoners themselves and (b) how the said prisoners rose above the treatment and demonstrated both their inventiveness and humanity! The costumes and makeup on the artistes looks excellent and that central character looks as if he could have performed in any of the theaters in the country!!!!
sharon.corbet
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/] This article about his son, mentions: "His father, a veteran of the 1916 Rising, was known as "The Rajah of Frongoch", his skills as a conjurer, comedian and impresario keeping his fellow-internees in the Welsh internment camp in good spirits; he later founded the Ballykinlar Players to raise money for the support of ex-prisoners."
guliolopez
Thanks [https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]]. That seems pretty definitive. Based on the photo that accompanies this Rajah of Frongoch article, do we think we can confirm if he's pictured in "our" image? Is he perhaps the guy (with the formal collar and blacktie) on the furthest right? [EDIT] I found another image which makes me question whether my guess is correct. I wasn't convinced before, but am less certain that the man far-right is Mulkerns. If we knew what play/characters were pictured, it would possibly make identification a bit easier....
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/sets/72157651136879037 I have just added the 100th photo to our 50,000+ Views Album.
Swordscookie
Congratulations NLI on such a terrific achievement! 100 shots with 50K + views is remarkable! Ms. Maddock will be pleased:-)
Myrtille T.
VerY nice picture!
Carol Maddock
I think the play might have been The Lord Mayor. We have the gentleman in the middle dressed in robes and a chain and staff of office, and two “charwomen”…
Freeman’s Journal, 7 February 1922Carol Maddock
https://www.flickr.com/photos/swordscookie Delira, as always! :)
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
And by gosh I think https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] has it. The lead actor is undoubtedly in the garb of a mayor or counsellor. And, while it may be difficult to confirm that this photo was taken in Dublin in 1922 (rather than of the same play in the camp during internment), it does seem more likely that this is the case. Or, at least, I don't think we have any other Hogan photos which were taken inside an internment camp during the years of the war itself - suggesting that perhaps it was taken afterwards. The description duly updated to reflect this possibility. Thanks again all for the fantastic contributions!
oaktree_brian_1976
Yes, internment camp has such negative implications during the Wars. This seems rather interesting. Rather ugly looking ladies, men in drag though, so it's ok
excellent start
You should anticipate this image being removed from Explore by Flickr staff due to the presence of the photoborder.
judojudo
VERY BEAUTIFUL SHOT, CONGRATS ON EXPLORE !!. Look at my photo, thanks!
Niall McAuley
The play is by Edward McNulty, according to the Abbey website. Written in 1914, according to wikipedia.
sharon.corbet
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/gnmcauley] It's available to read online.
Niall McAuley
Partial typescript from 1914 is apparently at some place called the National Library of Ireland
sharon.corbet
Speaking of which, the NLI also has a couple of things from Ballykinlar Camp including some autograph books, another copy of the play programme, and a Certificate of Proficiency in Irish.
Niall McAuley
From Sharon's link, the character list with descriptions: Mr. O'Brien, an Ironmonger; afterwards Lord Mayor Mrs. O'Brien, his wife Moira, his daughter Gaffney, a Solicitor Kelly, his Clerk Creditors: Scanlan Doherty Mrs. Moran Major Butterfield, in the Secret Service Mrs. Murphy, Charwoman Mrs. Maloney, ditto Mansion house servants, creditors, aldermen, Councillors TIME - Present Day
Niall McAuley
K. Mullen is O'Brien, the Lord Mayor. Miceal O Leimne is to our left of him as the Mrs, and Dick Saunders on the other side is Moira. There are three other "women", I think the two to our left are the charwomen Peter Mulvey and Sean Connolly. I can't sort out the Major, Solicitor, Clerk and Creditors though, except that the other man in drag must be one of the creditors.
maev.kennedy13
The man in the dark coat on the far right is definitely not my grandfather, the Rajah. I wish I'd got his daughter Val Mulkerns onto this before her death in 2018, but I think JJ is the tall standing woman in the centre in the straw hat - he adored costume parts. He is of course the same JJ/Seamus/the Rajah who was interned in Frongoch in 1916, where he was also a leading light of the entertainment committee - some of the ballads he wrote there are in the Imperial War Museum collection in London. We have - and they will be coming to the library - some of his papers from Ballykinlar, include receipts for the weekly collection to buy a piano. From the backdrop, I'm pretty sure this is the Ballykinlar Players on tour, not in the camp https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] Hi Maev, thank you for your comment, I will include some of the others who have previously commented. Lets see what they have to say. Mary https://www.flickr.com/photos/gnmcauley https://www.flickr.com/photos/scorbet https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] https://www.flickr.com/photos/swordscookie https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]