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Where: Dublin, Ireland

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When: Unknown

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A rare indoor shot from Dr. Clarke for this one, with two National Library Staff (please note that there are no women) concentrating on their work! I'm not too sure what we can find out about it, but It does show how little has changed in the Reading Room in the interim.

To all those who extended kind wishes for my recent surgery I would like to say they were much appreciated! I now have a new knee to keep me occupied and am making progress day by day. Thank you all!

As Carol Maddock and sharon.corbet point out, it is longstanding lore in Library Towers that this image captures Seán T. O'Kelly. One-time Library Towers employee (1898-1902), and later President of Ireland (1945-1959). While this story/theory has not been corroberated by today's inputs, it equally hasn't been discounted.


Photographers: J. J. Clarke

Collection: Clarke Photographic Collection

Date: Catalogue range c.1897-1904?

NLI Ref: CLAR71

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: 20982
clarkephotographiccollection jjclarke johnjosephclarke 1879–1961 brianpclarke–donor nationallibraryofireland readingroom nli staff desk cards seántokelly librarian library clerk work files assistant president

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  • profile

    Niall McAuley

    • 05/Sep/2018 07:17:22

    Google LibraryView

  • profile

    Niall McAuley

    • 05/Sep/2018 07:20:11

    A few suspects from 1911. There are fewer in 1901 claiming the NLI specifically, A roundup of 1901 suspects. Some more of them.

  • profile

    sharon.corbet

    • 05/Sep/2018 07:21:38

    Libraryview I see that the notes in the catalogue wonder if that is Sean T. O'Kelly. Glad you're feeling better!

  • profile

    domenico milella

    • 05/Sep/2018 07:39:42

    Congratulation for your beautiful Album.

  • profile

    Carol Maddock

    • 05/Sep/2018 07:41:28

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/scorbet That's always been the word on the street here at Library Towers! Would be great to prove/disprove that it's Seán T. O'Kelly, one way or the other...

  • profile

    DannyM8

    • 05/Sep/2018 07:46:23

    It might be Mary's Da!!

  • profile

    Niall McAuley

    • 05/Sep/2018 07:56:45

    The same John Kelly in the 1901 census, aged 18, Library Assistant. (Later the 2nd president of ireland from 1945).

  • profile

    ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq

    • 05/Sep/2018 07:57:08

    Ooo! The bentwood hatstand (beyond the boy) has moved . . . goo.gl/maps/GQAi5BzmXFB2 (and the glove is still unclaimed!)

  • profile

    DannyM8

    • 05/Sep/2018 08:08:11

    Good to have you back Mary, I hope that knee bends to your wishes.

  • profile

    ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq

    • 05/Sep/2018 08:17:04

    Mr Kelly parted his hair on the right, [ed] and had a mole near his left nostril - see his wikipedia photo - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Se%C3%A1n_T._O%27Kelly "... O'Kelly joined the National Library of Ireland in 1898 as a junior assistant to T. W. Lyster, remaining there until 1902, and becoming a subscriber to the Celtic Literary Society. ..." More information kneeded !

  • profile

    BultacoFan

    • 05/Sep/2018 08:43:07

    Although it must be nearly 30 years since I was last in the Reading Room, accompanying my late mother on her genealogy research visits, I recognised it immediately.

  • profile

    Niall McAuley

    • 05/Sep/2018 09:00:15

    [https://www.flickr.com/photos/beachcomberaustralia] The "mole" is gone by 1954 - I think it may be a blemish on the photo rather than Mr. O'Kelly. That image also says 1909, but it looks older than 26 to me.

  • profile

    oaktree_brian_1976

    • 05/Sep/2018 10:02:40

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] sticky bun for you sir.

  • profile

    oaktree_brian_1976

    • 05/Sep/2018 10:03:48

    card catalogues are the way to go. no computers.

  • profile

    sharon.corbet

    • 05/Sep/2018 10:42:43

    There is supposedly a "Photograph of Sean T. O Ceallaigh as a boy c. 1900" in the Sean T. O Ceallaigh Papers.(MS 27,672). Which would be about this time period.

  • profile

    Domhnallcos

    • 05/Sep/2018 15:07:49

    It's hard to tell when most Sean T photos are decades later, but I'd say NLI lore, ear, nose and chin, all suggest that it is Sean T.

  • profile

    Dr. Ilia

    • 10/Sep/2018 07:00:06

    remarkable image

  • profile

    Crystalset

    • 17/Feb/2019 15:34:31

    Sean T. was very small, he must be sitting on a high stool here.