Fair Day, Glenties, Co. Donegal
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Where: Donegal, Ireland
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When: Unknown
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A good way to start the week will be to visit Donegal and especially on a fair day. Sheep, cattle, poultry and the craic all in abundance. Hand spitting, hand slapping, walking away and then coming back to close the deal I can hear it and see it as if I were there once more!
Photographer: Robert French
Collection: Lawrence Photograph Collection
Date: between ca. 1865-1914 (though likely 1900 +/- 10y)
NLI Ref: L_ROY_09763
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Source: Flickr Commons
Views: 41672
Photographer: Robert French
Collection: Lawrence Photograph Collection
Date: between ca. 1865-1914 (though likely 1900 +/- 10y)
NLI Ref: L_ROY_09763
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
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Owner: National Library of Ireland on The CommonsSource: Flickr Commons
Views: 41672
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Niall McAuley
Streetview
Niall McAuley
Niah lets us down today - no data for glenties.
Niall McAuley
Patrick O'Donnell: 1901 and 1911
Niall McAuley
The huge building in the distance with towers is the Union Workhouse, built 1846ish, demolished in 1960.
Niall McAuley
The OSI 25" map from 1905 labels the Hotel at left as the Donegal Highlands Hotel, which is what it is called today. It seems to be simply O'Donnells Hotel here, suggesting before 1905.
B-59
The O'Donnell's hotel is mentioned in 'Highways and Byways in Donegal and Antrim - Part One - Donegal', by Stephen Gwynn, p. 56 from the year 1903 (books.google.com/books?id=Yn66BQAAQBAJ&pg=PA56&lpg...) and in 'What I Have Seen While Fishing and how I Have Caught My Fish' by Philip Geen, p. 139, from 1905 (archive.org/stream/whatihaveseenwh00geengoog#page/n201/mo...)
Niall McAuley
In this reverse view, we can see Cannon's hotel (termed a shop in both 1901 and 1911), and the Post Office, Peter Gallagher, subpostmaster badly transcribed in 1911. Listed as a Draper in 1901 - and shop is a Ware House, not a post office. Here he is in a 1910 street directory Also in the reverse view, John McHugh (Beyond gallaghers), who appears in 1911 aged 36, but not in 1901. James McLoone no help - there in both censusesessses. Without very much to go on, I'll say 1901-1905.
sharon.corbet
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/gnmcauley] I don't think that the hotel marked on the map as the Donegal Highlands Hotel is the same one as O'Donnells. O'Donnell's is the one right on the corner. The Highlands is between O'Donnells and the Cannon Hotel, with what looks like the Cyclists Tourist Club sign on the front. (As does O'Donnells).
Swordscookie
What a super shot? I love all the action in this, I can almost smell the sheep, the unwashed farmers and hear the noise of the fair day in full swing! The slightly long exposure makes the sheep appear to flow down the road!
Niall McAuley
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129555378@N07 I think you are right, so this could be later, out to the latest possible 1914.
sharon.corbet
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/gnmcauley] The 1918 Lennonwylie claims Patrick Gallagher rather than Peter as "spirit dealer and posting establishment, motor garage". In the 1907 he's not mentioned.
Niall McAuley
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129555378@N07 Peter is there in your 1918 link: Post Office, Telegraph, and Savings Bank - Peter Gallagher, postmaster Gallagher, Peter, C.P.S., commissioner for affidavits A "posting establishment" is a different animal, a place where once you could change a team of horses for fresh ones, post haste.
foss54
As always, a great shot of times gone by. The herding of sheep down the main street is fantastic and so many people.
Carol Maddock
O'Donnell's provided more than bed and board. Throughout 1910, dental surgeon Mr. Patterson (of 16 Great James Street, Londonderry) attended every Fair Day at Glenties at O'Donnell's Hotel. (Donegal News, 22 October 1910)
guliolopez
The circular thingumabob between the two windows upstairs in O'Donnells Hotel - do we think it's something structural (like an ornate anchor/pattress plate), or perhaps an old Cycling Tourist Club sign (this one)? The more I look at it, I'm fairly certain it's the latter. Which would corroborate a lower range of no earlier than c.1880 (There's another plaque looking thing a little further down on the right side of the street. But I can't make it out in this or the reverse view....) [EDIT: Sharon highlighted the CTC sign earlier today. Was too busy peering at the image to take stock of all the comments.]
Gerard Knight
Great capture
Vab2009
Haha!! https://www.flickr.com/photos/swordscookie You said exactly what I was thinking. But might not have typed about the unwashed farmers! Love the sheep moving in this! It would be a grand day to sit in the hotel and have a cup of coffee and watch it all happen!
guliolopez
In the reverse view, there's something very interesting happening in the centre of that umbrella covered huddle. Something more interesting than the people on the right hand side are finding French at any rate....
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
Thanks all! Date range, map, and tags all updated....
RETRO STU
Not one man to be seen without a hat upon his head!
Niall McAuley
https://www.flickr.com/photos/47297387@N03 Could you take a looksie and see if there is a notice on the appointment of Mr. Gallagher as a sub Post Master in Glenties between 1901 and 1911?
john.morgan374
amazing photo great composition... love ireland
Carol Maddock
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gnmcauley Will check in the papers later, Niall. But I had a quick look see in the Ulster Directories, and Peter Gallagher was post master from at least 1905 until 1921-22.
Niall McAuley
https://www.flickr.com/photos/47297387@N03 It's the earliest date I am after - I do not believe Gallagher was postmaster in the 1901 census, and an appointment date might move this up. Or I could be quite wrong...
Niall McAuley
50K views album, here we come!
Carol Maddock
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gnmcauley Nary a mention of Mr Gallagher in the Newspapers, Niall, and the earliest Glenties appears in the Ulster directories is 1905, sorry. As an aside, it's interesting to note the importance of the postmistress/master. For every town listed, it's always the very first position listed, above doctors, solicitors...
Niall McAuley
https://www.flickr.com/photos/47297387@N03 Yes, I suspect that Glenties was not mentioned before 1905 precisely because it was not important enough to have even a sub-postmaster. (there is also the fact that the Railway only arrived in 1895...) ... and thanks for checking :D
Carol Maddock
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gnmcauley I live to serve, Niall, live to serve! :)
FlâneurFloyd
Fabulous artifact of the past, love the combination of sharp focus and blurred movement.