This picture of an idyllic scene, a tiny village from across a body of water with hills in the background, gives a romantic view of Ireland at the turn of the 20th century. It puts a gloss over the hardship and poverty of rural Ireland at that time. With that cheerful note, we can look forward to the end of September and the start of October at the weekend!
With subject and location already established here, some of today's investigations focused on dates. The general consensus is that (based on the family businesses pictured) the image may have been taken close to the 1901 or 1911 censuses. Perhaps even c.1906/1907 when we know the French/Lawrence were in the area seemingly overlapping with a
visiting tourist bus. Whether or not we can refine it to the turn of the century, it seems likely to have been taken in the later decades of the 50-year catalogue range...
Photographer:
Robert French
Collection:
Lawrence Photograph Collection
Date: c.1865-1914 (though possibly c.1900 per notes)
NLI Ref:
L_CAB_00346
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 Commons
Source:
Flickr Commons
Views: 33239
DannyM8
Gaynors pub is still there, I do remember that the old bridge was washed away a number of years ago in a big storm.
philfluther
Comments 3. An island, 'sea' mountains. Possibly a wall box, between mid half doors. En peat air, Gaynors.
B-59
"Following torrential rain on 18 July 2007, the only river bridge in the village was swept away, cutting the town in half. It was part of the N59 national secondary road and had stood there for 182 years. A permanent replacement bridge was constructed with increased traffic capacity." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leenaun
B-59
Streetview 2009 goo.gl/maps/xXQ8BVnncwR2
ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq
Droneview 2016 !! - youtu.be/qMxaex6_yL4 (made me giddy)
ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq
King Edward VII's visit to Mrs Maloney's cottage in Leenane - trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/171509561
ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq
There is a later photo (which needs a flip) where that twin-gabled house on the right has been rebuilt - catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000325431/Image?lookfor=http:... . Might help with dating. EDIT: Most of the other houses have been restored or had new roofs by the time of the other photo. There must have been considerable investment in the place, or a boom. The two photos are like "before" and "after" ...
DannyM8
Michael Gaynor 32 Years - a publican and farmer 1901 Census - living with his sister Jane Michael 43 Years (A Shopkeeper) with his wife Maria and two children in the 1911 Census Perhaps that is him in the doorway??
dantheserene
https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] It is fascinating to see a current street view next to these old photos, isn't it?
DannyM8
1911 Census Delia McDonnell 25 years and a Publican Again perhaps her in the doorway??
DannyM8
Tynan 1901 - Merchants Tynan 1911 - Merchants
guliolopez
Leenaun was the home of the original Cheery Bounce (or at least the Leenaun Hotel was, about 1km west along the Clifden/Kylemore Road). As regards dates, I'm inclined to agree with [https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]]'s suggestion that this is around the census years. Certainly the attire of the man in Gaynor's doorway suggests a date in the latter half (rather than earlier half) of the 1865-1914 catalogue range. The other French/Lawrence "Cherry Bounce" image from Leenaun was dated to 1906/1907. www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/6851004167/
Seanie's Site
Leenane , the setting of J.B.Keane's Film , The Field starring Richard Harris and Brenda Fricker .. Leenane is actually situated near the end of Rep of Irelands only Fjord , so you are actually looking at salt water from Killary Fjord which is 16 km long, A beautiful place to travel . You are also only a few miles from Ashleigh Falls, ( a river and falls that flows into Killary .. ps , the Tide is out.. A great photo of old times yet the village has not changed a whole bunch. I love this place , very peaceful We Live to learn ..
silverio10
Buenas fotos antiguas .
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
Thanks all! Have updated map/tags/description...
succinct oranges
excellent
Rom4rio Photography
Great capture
le cabri
Masterpiece
rich lewis
lovely work
Betti52
Fantastico panorama !!
BlueisCoool
A wonderful black and white image!
Owen J Fitzpatrick
Superb shot from the archives. Well done The National Library of Ireland. You guys do a fabulous job. Wonderful Flickr gallery to boot.
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
Thanks https://www.flickr.com/photos/owen_fitzpatrick!
joemagfhionnghaile
Agree with the suggestion by @DannyM8 that the Lady in the door of McDonnell's is Delia - she's the cut of her daughter. Also think the graffiti on the bridge is by Delia's brother Petie Joe (b. 1892). He was later the head of the West Connemara IRA Flying Column, but at the time of this photo, he was evidently a very bold boy.
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] Joe, very interesting, please do tell us more. Mary
joemagfhionnghaile
My Grandmother was from just outside Leenane. She moved away, but summers were all spent in Leenane for my father, uncles & aunts, from 1930s through to 1950s. My Dad & I studied the higher resolution version of this photo at catalogue.nli.ie yesterday. We guessed that the lady in the doorway could be any age between 15 and 30. In his opinion, she is "the cut of Nancy Hamilton" Nancy was a daughter of Delia McDonnell (1885-1964). We also noticed the initials PMD written on the bridge. We reckon these are almost sure to be the initials of Petie McDonnell (1891-1967). Both 1901 & 1911 censuses show there is nobody else with these initials (either PD or P McD) in Leenane or in the entire surrounding Electoral Division of Letterbrickane/Letterbrickaun. An early act of rebelliousness, maybe foreshadowing the important role that Petie would later play in the War of Independence. In terms of dating the photo: We can guess that Petie would have to be at least 8 years old to reach that spot to write legibly on the bridge. If true, this dates the photo to 1899 or a few years after that. If the lady in the doorway is Delia McDonnell (we can't be certain of this), and she looks at least 15 years old; that would date the photo to 1900 or later. The huge, neat haycock on the hill behind Gaynors suggests this was probably around September.
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] Lovely story, Petie was quite a lad!