T.Birmingham's house, Moyasta, Co.Clare
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Where: Clare, Ireland
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When: Unknown
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We have a few photographs which we had readied for the Tríd an Lionsa program. We felt that we would not get the opportunity to post them in the normal course, therefore we have decided to post a number of them over the holiday period.
We hope you enjoy them and as always we welcome your comments and observations.
Photographer: Robert French
Collection: The Lawrence Photograph Collection
Date: Circa July 1888
NLI Ref: L_ROY_01777
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Source: Flickr Commons
Views: 16795
We hope you enjoy them and as always we welcome your comments and observations.
Photographer: Robert French
Collection: The Lawrence Photograph Collection
Date: Circa July 1888
NLI Ref: L_ROY_01777
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: 16795
ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq
Definitely not "T. Birmingham's house" - no branches in the chimney. But there is the river Shannon in the background. See comments on ... https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/22812392674/in/album-72157659547823814/
ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq
See also the "in the middle" view - https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/5691333973/
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
"The following attempts to pull together all details of this series of Eviction Photos. Your comments on same are very welcome." L_ROY_1760 Digitised------No On Flickr------No Zoomable------No Catalogue Title------Irish Life: Eviction Scenes: Evictions Corrected Title------No Change Notes------None -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- L_ROY_1761 Digitised------Yes On Flickr------No. We can request if needed Zoomable------Yes Catalogue Title------Irish Life: On the Road for Eviction Corrected Title------No Change Notes------None -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- L_ROY_1762 Digitised------No On Flickr------No Zoomable------No Catalogue Title------Irish Life: Eviction Scenes: Evictions. Eviction party arriving at house of John Flanagan, Tullycrine. Corrected Title------No Change Notes------None -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- L_ROY_1763 Digitised------No On Flickr------https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/5691333973 Zoomable------No Catalogue Title------Eviction scene, The Council Corrected Title------No Change Notes------None -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- L_ROY_1764 Digitised------Yes On Flickr------https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/23618242349/in/dateposted/ Zoomable------Yes Catalogue Title------Eviction of Michael Connell, Moyasta, Co.Clare Corrected Title------Eviction of Unknown Connell, Moyasta, Co Clare (Could be John, Michael or Patrick?? Notes------"The first tenant to be evicted was Patrick Connell. A turf fire lighted on the road somewhat retarded the progress of the Cavalry and the battering ram, and it had to be extinguished before they could advance. Connell's house -- an old and miserable thatched cottage situated on the banks of the Shannon -- was but feebly barricaded, and the doors and windows were only stuffed with bushes. An entrance was soon made through one of the windows, and then Connell came out and was placed under temporary arrest. The house, not being in a fit condition for a caretaker, was closed and deserted. A short march along the river bank took the sheriff and his men to the premises of Mr. Bermingham" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- L_ROY_1765 Digitised------Yes On Flickr------https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/23618242349/in/dateposted/ Zoomable------Yes Catalogue Title------Group gathered outside the house of Mary O'Dea, Tullycrine, Co.Clare following an eviction Corrected Title------Not Sure Notes------This Map may help understand the probable movement of the Evictors . https://www.flickr.com/photos/91549360@N03/23406107524/ .. The McGrath eviction Thursday 26/7/1888 - a photographer turned up - Robert French? was the one which got most attention and in retrospect, it can be seen with its accompanying tragedy, to have put immense pressure on the landlord. There were two further days of evictions with Mr. French, the photographer, present on both days. On Monday 30th July Patrick Carrig, Thomas Considine, John Flanagan, the Widow O'Dea and Johanna O'Dea from the Tullycrine area were evicted, and a Mrs.O'Dea had her door burst in with a sledge before the evictors realised they had come to the wrong house. On the following day the procession again moved in the Kilkee direction and evicted John Connell, Thomas Bermingham and Thomas Higgins. Thomas Higgins was the last person to be put out of his house and holding in the Vandeleur Evictions of the summer of 1888. ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- L_ROY_1766 Digitised------Yes On Flickr------https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/5648030772 Zoomable------Yes Catalogue Title------On the road for eviction Corrected Title------None Notes------"Same place.... L_ROY_1761 and L_ROY_1768 They were taken at Tullycrine/Tullycreen on the Ennis/Kilrush Road " -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- L_ROY_1767 Digitised------Yes On Flickr------https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/23357864414/in/dateposted/ Zoomable------Yes Catalogue Title------Michael Connell, Moyasta, Co.Clare after eviction Corrected Title------Thomas Considines in Tullycrine. 30 July 1888. According to Clare Library Notes------"Same place as L_ROY_1761 and L_ROY_1768 They were taken at Tullycrine/Tullycreen on the Ennis/Kilrush Road. Considine's house was the second visited on Monday 30/7/1888, across the road from Pat Carrig (see O Mac's first photo above). Vividly described at trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/169707904 , including ... ... The forces then passed to a miserable looking cottage on the roadside, the holding of Thomas Considine. There was an appearance of some slight effort to barricade this house. The door and windows were filled with thick branches of thorn. The sheriff having demanded possession, Col. Turner called on those within to come out quietly, but no response was given save a dish of hot water and meal, which, however, did no harm to anyone. Colonel Turner said, ""Go on; we don't mind that. You had better come out quietly."" District-Inspector Hill called out— ""We are going to knock down the house, and you had better come out."" There being no sign of this request being complied with, the ram was brought up and an emergencyman, who got a small dose of hot water, meanwhile kept guard outside the door with a square shield to place the ram workers under shelter. Mr. Hill called out, ""the battering-ram is going to work, so look out."" The ram was then, with the usual cry from the ""boss,"" put in motion, and it dashed through the slight impediment of the bushes and soon drove them to one side. They were thrust forward again, however. When the sticks and brambles wheresic disposed of District Inspector Hill and the sheriff, both armed with shields, and a couple of policeman rushed in, and three young boys and two girls, who looked perfectly unconcerned, were brought out. The girls were sent away and the boys detained in custody. The extent of this holding, I should mention, was thirteen acres, and the rent £9, non-judicial. The tenant owed three and a half years to March last. He told me it had been raised from £1, and that 15s. had been put on his valuation. The women around gave cheers for the Plan of Campaign. The agent, addressing the tenant, said, ""You could settle now for £9."" The tenant's wife replied, ""We would not give you twopence-halfpenny now; you have turned us and our thirteen children out on the road, and see what comfort it will bring you."" The March was then continued to the holding of John Flanagan at some little distance. ... ..." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- L_ROY_1768 Digitised------Yes On Flickr------https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/5648030772 Zoomable------Yes Catalogue Title------Mathias Magrath's house, Moyasta, Co.Clare with the Battering Ram in front Corrected Title------Thomas Considine's house in Tullycrine, according to Clare Library. Notes------"Same House as .... L_ROY_1767 They were taken at Tullycrine/Tullycreen on the Ennis/Kilrush Road " -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- L_ROY_1769 Digitised------Yes On Flickr------https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/23690403360/in/dateposted/ Zoomable------Yes Catalogue Title------T.Birmingham's house, Moyasta, Co.Clare with Battering Ram and soldiers outside Corrected Title------ Notes------"Same House as .... L_ROY_1771 " -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- L_ROY_1770 Digitised------No On Flickr------No Zoomable------NO Catalogue Title------Irish Life: Eviction Scenes: Battering Ram Corrected Title------ Notes------None -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- L_ROY_1771 Digitised------Yes On Flickr------https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/22713809624/in/dateposted/ Zoomable------Yes Catalogue Title------Battering Ram "Back with them, away with them Corrected Title------ Notes------"Same house as L_ROY 1769 L_ROY 1772 L_ROY1773 and L_ROY_1774 The discussion on today's image covered so much that it's hard to summarise - We learned that it was taken near Moyasta in Clare in 1888, probably at the home of a tenant of the Vandeleur Estate named Thomas Bermingham. While there's so much more to say about it, for now we'll add the explanation, as provided John Spooner, of the image's title (from Freeman's Journal report July 1888) The battering ram is no stranger to Irish evictions ... from the centre hangs a chain which works a huge beam with an iron ferrule, and moved by ropes pulled by 17 or 18 Emergency-men ... they hammered and hammered with but little result. The captain of the Emergency troop, at each swing of the ram, cried out, ""Back, away with them. Back, away with them."" Just as sailors cry ""Heave ho."" The people in the foreground may be identified in the following extract. More about ""Mr and Mrs Tourist"" - this interesting discussion and photos (via 'The Gael' of 1901) on the Clare Library Forum - My great grandfather, Major E. J. O'Shaughnessy, his wife Margaretta Dunn O'Shaughnessy, and her sister Ellen Dunn, were witnesses to the evictions on the Vandeleur Estate in July 1888. My great grandfather wrote of his observations and opinions to friends and associates in New York City, and very likely to his family in Montreal, Canada. We know of three publications, two in New York City in 1889, subsequently reprinted in a Montreal newspaper, and the photo contribution to an article on Clare featured in the American magazine The Gael in 1901. We know that my great grandfather had several photos of the evictions in his personal collection. He did not take these photos and gives credit to a professional Limerick photographer Thomas O'Connor. Though my great grandfather's collection of photos is no longer in the family's possession, I suspect these were but copies, and that the originals still exist in a private collection. I also suspect that my great grandfather is to be photo in the background in one of the photos. He was keen to be recorded at such a historical and at the same time, to him, shocking, event. Of further interest to some, perhaps, is that my great father was not merely a tourist, but also an activist, a member of the New York City Land League organizations, a fund raiser for the Irish Parliamentary Fund, a former Canadian Fenian, he always said, and almost certainly a Clan na Gael member at the time of his visit to Clare. " -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- L_ROY_1772 Digitised------Yes On Flickr------https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/23392381204/in/dateposted/ Zoomable------Yes Catalogue Title------The Battering Ram has done its work Corrected Title------ Notes------"Same House as .... L_ROY_1771 L_ROY 1769 L_ROY1773 and L_ROY_1774 Some notes from Irish Times Article the previous week or so. Preparations for Evictions on a Large Scale. 100 Men of the Berkshire Regiment. Battering Ram for use by the Evictors has been forwarded to Captain Croker Sheriff of the County. 100 Tenants under notice of Eviction. Arrears amount to £60,000. All owe at least 3 years rent some 12 years. Common People and places identified https://www.flickr.com/photos/79549245@N06/23765421760/ " -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- L_ROY_1773 Digitised------Yes On Flickr------https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/23392381204/in/dateposted/ Zoomable------Yes Catalogue Title------Eviction scene "Ready for hot water" Corrected Title------ Notes------"Same House as .... L_ROY_1771 L_ROY 1769 L_ROY1772 and L_ROY_1774 Back of Thomas Bermingham's house on the banks of the river Shannon. NB reversed shrubbery in the chimney, compared with " -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- L_ROY_1774 Digitised------Yes On Flickr------https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/23392381204/in/dateposted/ Zoomable------Yes Catalogue Title------Eviction scene, Ireland Corrected Title------ Notes------"Same House as .... L_ROY_1771 L_ROY 1769 L_ROY1772 and L_ROY_1773 Back of Thomas Bermingham's house on the banks of the river Shannon. " -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- L_ROY_1775 Digitised------Yes On Flickr------https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/23685759709/in/dateposted/ Zoomable------Yes Catalogue Title------Eviction scene at the house of John Connell, Moyasta, Co.Clare Corrected Title------ Notes------"Same House as .... L_ROY_1764 John Connell Could be correct description for this house - see notes sbove on L_ROY_1764" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- L_ROY_1776 Digitised------Yes On Flickr------https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/22812392674/in/dateposted/ Zoomable------Yes Catalogue Title------Eviction scene, Ireland Corrected Title------ Notes------It looks to me that this is in the same area as the previous 4 photos. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- L_ROY_1777 Digitised------Yes On Flickr------https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/23945800642/in/dateposted/ Zoomable------Yes Catalogue Title------T.Birmingham's house, Moyasta, Co.Clare Corrected Title------Not Sure - BUT NOT T. Birmingham's House Notes------It looks to me that this is in the same area as the previous 4 photos. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- L_ROY_1779 Digitised------Yes On Flickr------https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/23427171183/in/dateposted/ Zoomable------Yes Catalogue Title------Eviction scene (Battering Ram) Corrected Title------ Notes------This is I think the same house in process of demolition as L_CAB_04918 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- L_CAB_04918 Digitised------Yes On Flickr------https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/23144955540/in/dateposted/ Zoomable------Yes Catalogue Title------Mathias Magrath's house, Moyasta, Co.Clare after destruction by the Battering Ram Corrected Title------ Notes------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Melinda Young Stuart
There certainly were a lot of well-heeled young men around with nothing better to do than watch these sad scene carried out.
ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/melystu] I agree with you - there is something very arrogant about the men posing, their clothing, sticks etc. A sharp contrast to the poverty, resignation and dignity of those being evicted. But at least one of them did have a very important role in reporting the events in the Dublin and London newspapers (particularly in the 'Daily News', which was started by Charles Dickens, no less). Then the stories were syndicated around the world to expatriates, particularly in America, Canada, and Australia, feeding nationalistic ideas and support. One of those "well-heeled young men" reporters visited the "peasants" (Tom Higgins and Murty McMahon) before they were evicted and wrote this article for the 'Daily News' - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/115459754 . Strong stuff, one of several published articles.
Clare4XRemvd
Photo 1777 is taken at John Connell’s eviction. The ram was not needed. Brush was pulled from a window and the authorities had a discussion with Connell. Then one of the District Inspectors climbed through the window and escorted Connell outside. Compare this photo to a sibling photo in my article on ‘photographing the evictions on the Vandeleur Estate’, found online. The Lawrence Collection houses only half of the photos known to exist of these evictions.
Clare4XRemvd
In photo 1776 we see the Sub-sherriff, Captain Crocker, walking towards a house. In his hand we see a pad of paper. Likely the eviction sequence, and whatever notes he scribbled down. We see this pad of paper in his hand in several NLI Lawrence Collection photographs. Crocker was a tall, athletic Scotsman.