Frank MasonSome of my old family photographs,many need to be identified and dated |
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| Photographs up to 1900 | Photographs from 1901 to 1935 | Photographs from 1936 to 1970 |
My Maternal Grandfather, Thomas O'Connor, born 1855, died 1933.
The very faded photo on the left is the oldest photograph that I have. It was taken in 1876 when my grandfather, then aged 21yrs. and 4mths. was recruited into the Royal Irish Constabulary. Thanks to the magic of modern digital photography and photo manipulation I was able to bring that faded image to life and give a good representation of what the young Thomas O'Connor looked like. I think it is the only photograph I have of him in uniform; however that was not the uniform worn by Constables following their graduation from training. to full serving Constable.
As a keen photographer since I was in my early teen years I am absolutely fascinated by this photograph. Photography was in its infancy in 1876 and it wasn't until 1871 when Richard Leach Maddox invented the gelatin dry plate silver bromide process - negatives no longer had to be developed immediately. This gives some indication that this photo above was made at the dawn of popular photography.
A couple of years ago my cousin, Michael Twomey, grandson of Thomas O'Connor of course, and myself did a search in the National Archives in Dublin for Grandfather's service records and helped by a little prior research that I had done we were successful on our first visit there. In the interest of others who may read these pages in time to come I will give the details of what we found. His Service Record Nº was 42,382 and he was 21 years and 4 months when appointed on the 7th of July, 1876. His height was 5 feet 10½ inches. His Trade or Calling on his recruitment was described as Labourer. In fact he was a Farmer's son so could have been described as a Farm Labourer. He married on the 7th of July, 1896 and his Allocations are as follows - County Mayo 29th of March, 1877; Reserve Force 24th of August, 1884; County Waterford 12th of March, 1887; Belfast 3rd August, 1888; County Cork E.R. (meaning East Riding) on the 1st of June, 1894 and County Waterford again on the 1st of April, 1896. He was pensioned on the 4th of March 1906. Many years later his widow, my grandmother, was granted a pension on his death. Her Pension ref. was 1/598/2
Some years later, Grandfather O'Connor again before the camera.
This photograph was taken in a studio in Belfast, grandfather was stationed there from 1888 to 1894. He was transferred to County Cork East Riding on the 1st of June 1894. I can't put a more definite date on it than between those years. He looks quite young, I can't imagine the occasion for the photograph. I don't think that he knew my grandmother at that time, in fact grandmother herself told me that she first met him in Blarney in a public house which was owned by a cousin of hers.
My Maternal Grandparents, Thomas and Hanorah O'Connor on the occasion of their wedding. They were married in 1895, probably in Blarney, Co. Cork. My Grandmother was from nearby Garrycloyne and Grandfather was from Barrigone near Foynes, Co. Limerick. I presume that this photograph was taken on a day other than their wedding day, it is obviously a 'studio' photo and such studios were few and far between in those days. I knew Granny very well, she died in 1962. However, Grandfather died before I was born so I never knew him or he me. Granny often said to me that Grandfather would have loved to be with me. He was very skilled at many crafts and I, as an only child, liked to dabble in things such as trying to make model boats, experimenting with basic telephony and such things. The photo above is a very clever 'pose'. Granny was quite petite in stature, more especially in later life when I knew her. Grandfather, on the other hand, was quite tall so I imagine if they stood side by side he would tower over her. By sitting, his height is not so apparent and Granny, on her own admission, was standing on a box behind the piece of furniture! I suspect that a similar ploy was engaged to make Granny seem taller than she probably was. Who notices that their feet are not visible. A lovely photograph nevertheless.
My Paternal Grandparents, Michael and Katie Mason in their Sunday best. This looks like they are about to go to Sunday Mass or have returned. My guess is that they have returned as they seem to have time to pose for the photographer. Note what looks like a prayer book in Granny's hand, and gloves of course. This photo was taken in or about 1930, as Grandfather looks older than in other photos I have of him.
On the right is their home, in the Townland of Sheeaun. This was built 1927. I would expect that most of the work was done by Grandfather and some of his sons with help from neighbours. The 'style' is probably a mixture but very untypical for houses in the area in those times. Notice the sash windows and detail of the corners of the upper floors with a very substantial slated roof. I don't know what the pole to the left of the house is. My guess is that the photo was taken by my mother who first met my father in 1930 so the photo would be later than that. Radio Éireann first broadcast in Dublin as 2RN in 1926 but by 1933 was broadcasting as Radio Athlone and the transmitters were located in Athlone. It is very likely that the pole would have been for an 'aerial' or antenna in an attempt to receive Radio Athlone that would have been not too far away from Scariff.
I have been examining this photo closely and to my amazement I have noticed an 'insulator' suspended by a wire stretching from the pole to the right hand side of the photo. There is a wire coming down from this insulator which would be the feed into the receiver in the house. This is definitely an 'aerial' or antenna and confirms that Grandfather Mason was experimenting with radio reception in the very early 1930s if not before. This was at a time when there was no electricity grid in the East Clare area so the only source of electricity to power a radio would have been from a wet cell accumulator that would have had to be charged from an electrical source which raises another question. Where did this electricity come from? It is also probable that it was a 'crystal set' that he was experimenting with in which case he would not need a source of electricity as the 'set' would be powered by the feed from the antenna.
Probable date of this is 1924 My Paternal Grandparents with some of their children and two friends. I am indebted to my cousin Jarlath for identifying all in this photograph. It is a lovely photo to have and my thanks too to John Mac Mahon from whom I got it.
The date of the photograph is the early 1920s. Left to right are Guerin, a friend of Paddy's from Limerick, Granny Mason, John behind her, Maura, Bridget, Nell with the bow in her hair and Michael. Seated in front is the 'pater familias' Grandfather and a very special young friend. Cousin Jarlath O'Looney says the boys name is Michael Oliver and that he was a cousin. Jarlath also told me the name of the man on the left but I forget his first name just now. The dog's name is Hugger! None of the Mason's were married at that point.Fintan Mac Mahon is adamant that it was Sheila who was the photographer and that the Aunt with the head band is Bee (Bridget). Sadly I never knew my Aunt Bee as she died when I was quite young although I do remember being at her funeral.
Probable date of this is 1924 My Mother and two of her sisters. My cousin, Elizabeth Twomey, daughter of Agnes O'Connor, shown above on the right, gave me this photograph. It is obviously a 'studio' photograph and it was taken in the studios of Stritch in Fermoy, Co. Cork. Elizabeth and myself have wondered how this came about. Our theory was that Agnes, who worked in a Guest's Chemist Shop in Lismore may have had contact with the photo studio in Fermoy as part of the trade that Chemists did in those days. For some reason, possibly the vanity of three blossoming young ladies, they probably took the train to Fermoy, posed in their finest outfits and returned to Lismore in the afternoon by train. Elizabeth has another version of this photograph and while the same three ladies are in it they have swopped their outfits! For the record their names are, from the left, Eileen O'Connor, who became my Mother about twelve years later, our Aunt Nor O'Connor and Agnes O'Connor, who became Elizabeth's Mother about sixteen years later. Elizabeth and myself think that 'The Tree Graces' is a suitable title for this photo. If we are correct in saying that the year was 1924 it means that Eileen was fifteen, Nor was seventeen and Agnes was twenty four. Behind the photo is a sad story too. These three lovely ladies are the only survivors of my Grandmothers seven daughters. Two of their sisters, twins, died in infancy and two others died in their teen years.
Probable date of these two photos is 1928 or 1929 Aunts and Uncles holidaying at Kingstown, later to be known as Dún Laoghaire. John Mac Mahon sent me these two and identified those shown.
East Pier at Kingstown, now known as Dún Laoghaire. The photo on the left shows the bandstand in the background. This edifice is about to be refurbished at the moment if it can be decided whose responsibility it is to do so! On the right is the sunny side of the pier near the Marble Arches. John Mac Mahon remembers his Mother, Helen, tell him that they lodged with relations in 4 Adelaide Street. Her father's cousins I think she said. 4 Adelaide Street is a large Victorian house in the centre of the "Borough", three storey over basement , worth at least 5 or 6 million today. Jarlath O'Looney does not agree with this. He told me that they stayed with a work colleague of Helen's. Helen worked with her in Kilrush, Co. Clare. Those two pictures were processed in F. L. Mc Gees Chemists, Letterkenny. Their stamp is on the back. Strange.
I have recently received my Father's service records from the Gárda Archives and it shows that he was stationed in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal from the 7th of August, 1928 to the 14th of September, 1930 when he was transferred to Lismore, Co. Waterford. Based on this information I am certain that this photo was taken between those dates.
In the left hand photo, from left to right, are Maura Mason, Michael Mac Mahon, Clement O'Looney, Sheila Mason and Michael Mason - my Father. It is probable that Helen Mason, who married Michael Mac Mahon, in 1936, took this photo as she is not in it. Maura Mason married Clement O'Looney in 1933 on the 12th of June. My parents married on the same day. The location of the photograph is Kingstown, now known as Dún Laoghaire.
The photo on the right, taken at the same time, shows from left to right Helen Mason, Michael Mac Mahon, Sheila Mason, Clement O'Looney and Maura Mason. I suspect that Michael Mason was the photographer as he is missing from the photo.
Grandfather Michael Mason 1859 - 1933
The photo on the left may have been the last photograph taken of Grandfather Mason. It is dated 1932 and I think that he died in 1933. He seems to have been a well dressed person, note the watch chain, bow tie and three piece suit. A gentleman and a person content with his achievements in life no doubt. I would love to identify the wall being him. It is probably in Scariff and could be found if one had the time.
On the right is another photo of a well dressed man. Can't quite make out the pattern in the material of his jacket but I think it is different from that in the other photo. Bowler hats were seen more often in those times than now but I don't think that too many small farmers in East Clare would be wearing one! This seems to be a 'studio' photograph as the shading or dodging around the photo had to be done in the processing laboratory, then maybe Grandfather had dabbled in photography too, he was a man of many parts. No date available for this photo but the hat looks like the one in a photo above that may be from 1924.
Mason Siblings c. 1931 Another lovely photo from the archives of John Mac Mahon. I have dated this at 1931 as my parents are not married then, I have noticed that my Father is not wearing a wedding ring, something that he always did from 1933 onwards. Dad was transferred to Lismore in September 1930 and must have met my Mother shortly afterwards.
Sitting on the left is my uncle Paddy Mason. This is the only photograph that I have of him to date. Near Paddy and behind him is my Mother, Eileen O'Connor, then Michael Mason my Father and in front of him Helena Mason, my Aunt and Michael Mac Mahon whom she married in 1932. I wonder who took the photograph.
My Maternal Grandfather in 'The Warren Gardens', Lismore, sometime before 1917. Known as Currey's Garden but probably more correctly The Warren Gardens or The Warren Nurseries. This garden was run by Miss Currey and she produced, on a commercial basis, daffodil bulbs for export. I also think that new breeds of daffodils were produced there but I can't confirm that at the moment. I have a recollection of Br. Murphy, who taught me in Primary School in Lismore, telling us that there was a 'unique' breed of daffodil grown in Lismore and that it didn't grow anywhere else. That is something that I am currently researching and it may be that several types of daffodils were bread there.
The photograph above, reproduced from a copy I got from the Waterford County Library, shows an almost formal group in 'The Warren Gardens'. The man in the centre with the hat and bow tie is my maternal Grandfather, Thomas O'Connor. I understand that he was Miss Currey's gardener. Seated in front of him and wearing an elegant hat is Miss Frances 'Fanny' Wilmot Currey, proprietor of 'The Warren Gardens'. The first on the back at the left is M. Behegan. The sixth from the left is Mike Parker. These two names I have copied from 'Lismore', a most interesting book by Eugene F. Dennis, whom I know. Unfortunately in his book he misnamed my Grandfather and called Miss Currey Mrs. I know that she was not a married person. On that account I would not be too sure of those two names. My Grandmother often spoke of Miss Currey. As a matter of interest I have a horse shoe that came from Miss Currey's pony and it is mounted on a timber plaque that my Grandfather made. I also have a brush, and I still use it for polishing my shoes, and my Grandmother told me that my Grandfather made it using hair from Miss Currey's pony. Come to think of it they could be from the noble animal in the photograph! This animal is described as a 'jennet'. Your dictionary will tell you that a jennet is a 'small Spanish horse', however, colloquially a jennet is what the offspring of a horse and a donkey is called. Simple items but full of significance to me. I don't want to elaborate on Miss Currey as there is much to tell about her but one of her many 'gifts' was that she was a horse 'whisperer'.
Eugene F. Dennis also names others that 'worked' in The Warren Gardens' but does not say that they are shown in the photograph. One that he mentions is Matt Kavanagh. I remember Matt very well. He was a particular friend of my Mother and always visited us when he came to Lismore on holidays. I think that he lived in England. He was a veteran of World War II and carried war wounds incurred in 'action'. He was awarded an M.B.E. by Queen Elizabeth II. He died in 1975. I don't know how old he was but assuming that he was about the same age as my Mother he would have been born in 1909 or a year or so before. I know that Miss Currey died in 1917. If Matt worked in the gardens he must have been just a boy as in 1917 he could not have been more than ten years old. So I am questioning that story.
Miss Currey was an extraordinary woman by any standard but considering that she was born in 1848 she must have been extremely untypical of her time. She was very talented and knowledgeable. In 1870 she founded the Irish Amateur Drawing Society. She was twenty two years old at the time. She later founded The Watercolour Society of Ireland. She produced many drawings and watercolours. I don't know if any of these are catalogued. She spent some time at the 'Mountain Barracks' on the road to the Vee, a local 'beauty spot' and did many drawings and paintings while there. The planting of rhododendron ponticum there is also attributed to her and they are still flourishing although now days considered to be a 'weed' by some as they kill undergrowth with their dense evergreen canopy. The design and stone carving of a pulpit in St. Carthage's Cathedral, near her gardens, is also attributed to her. Quite an amazing piece of work for a person who did not 'serve in the trade'. She died in 1917. She was the daughter of Francis Edmund Currey, a noted pioneering photographer, agent to the Duke of Devonshire and they resided in Lismore Castle, Co. Waterford. Among her friends were Helen O’Hara, the watercolourist, and the well-known authors Somerville and Ross. Aside from an extensive exhibiting career, she was also a published author and a passionate gardener.
I have recently been in contact with the Lindley Library of the Royal Horticultural Society of Britain and they have 'Lists of daffodils sent out from the Warren Gardens' for the years 1900, 1902, 1903, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911 and 1912. This probably confirms that the Warren Gardens were in full production during those years and it would place the date of the photograph above, somewhere during those years. It may have been included in one of the 'lists'. On my next visit to London I will visit the Lindley and peruse the 'lists'.
In September, 2006, on a rare visit to Lismore, I met an old neighbour and was made most welcome. She gave me the address of an old school friend of mine with whom she has kept in contact over the years. This was Jim Ballantyne who now lives in West London. Since then we have exchanged many letters and emails and have helped each other to recall our youth in Lismore. I told Jim of my interest in Miss Currey and that some 'Lists' of Daffodils that she produced and sold were in the Archives of the Lindley Library in West London. He very kindly offered to look them up for me and has sent me copies of some of them. These are most interesting and add enormously to my knowledge of Miss Currey and my Grandfather, Thomas O'Connor, who was her Gardener. It will take me some time to get all this information organised into a presentable form but I look forward to being able to tell the full story sometime soon.
I have a lot of information on Miss Currey but will make that available later, probably on another web site.
Grandfather O'Connor and his brother John. The little fellow in the middle of this photograph is my first cousin, Michael Twomey with his Dad, Denis Twomey. Michael thinks that he was about three years old at the time so that would date the photograph to 1935. The occasion was a visit of John O'Connor, from Barragone, near Foynes, Co. Limerick, to Lismore to visit his brother Thomas O'Connor, my Grandfather. My Grandmother often told me about Grand Uncle John but I don't remember ever meeting him. I was born in September 1936 and my Grandfather died in 1935. I regret not having met either of my Grandfathers.
Uncle John, as my Grandmother called him, lived on the O'Connor family farm in Barragone near Foynes. I don't know who lives there now but suspect that it may be not a direct descendent of the O'Connor family.
My Mother, Eileen O'Connor, at Lahinch. This photograph, on the left, is of my Mother. The location is the 'Prom' at Lahinch. I remember those iron railings very well and that large block of concrete below on the sand. This was the remains of a former promenade that was washed away by Atlantic gales. I am guessing the date as 1933. My parents were married in that year and it is likely that they spent some time in Lahinch. I know that they honeymooned in the Isle of Man in June 1933 but the visit to Lahinch could have been later in the Summer.
On the right is a photograpy of my Mother's father, I am fairly sure of that. He was my Grandfather, of course, and I suspect that he is smoking or holding a cigarette. I never heard that he smoked.
Two Photographs from 1937 On the left is a photo of Nial Murray holding me aged about one year old. The date must be Summer 1937. Nial was a realtion and a close friend of the family and practiced as a Solicitor in Lismore at the time. I remember hearing about our holiday in Clonea, Co. Waterford, where this photograph was taken. Note the louvred bonnet of my Father's 'Baby Ford', registration number PI 6802. He bought it in 1934 and 'Electric' Blue was the colour. This was most unusual for cars in those days.
The photo on the right has a bit of 'international' history about it. It is a family group taken outside the Murphy's home at Templemartin, Co. Cork. The fine fellow on the left with the 'military' type hat/cap is Seán B. (Bobby) Murphy. I am in the photograph too in my Dad's arms and that puts the year at 1937. Bobby fought in the Spanish Civil War on the Franco side with a brigade sent to Spain by General O'Duffy. Fortunately Bobby survived the war and one can only wonder what would have happened if Franco's forces had been defeated! Others in the photograph are, from the left, standing, Michael Mason, my Father with me in his arms, Aunt Liz Murphy(nee Hallissey), Bobby's Mother, Hanorah O'Connor(nee Hallissey, sister of Liz Murphy). Standing in front from the left are - Eileen Mason (nee O'Connor, my Mother and daughter of Hanorah O'Connor), Betty Murphy (later to marry Seán Kennedy. Daughter of Liz Murphy.) and Jim Murphy, father of Bobby and Betty.
Bridget Mason, husband Martin Egan and children. The quality of the original photo shown here is not great, it was quite small. Dympna Egan, my first cousin, told me that it must date from before she was born. That would put it in about 1938 and it shows Dympna's Mother, my Aunt Bee, Dympna's Dad, Martin Egan, her sister Mary Francis in her Dad's arms and Donal and Vinnie.
Little Mary Francis died some years after the photo was taken and Vinnie, shown on the right, died at quite a young age some years ago.
Myself at the tender age of 2 years in 1938 I don't remember this photo being taken but I know it was taken by my Mother who liked to photograph. The location is outside the back door where I lived in Lismore, Co. Waterford. The 'trike' served me very well. It was sturdily made, as most things were then, and I used it for many years until I graduated to a two-wheeler. I suspect that the trike was 'second-hand' when I got it from Santa. I was always fascinated at the spot of 'gold' on the handle bar where it was attached to the central pillar. Years later I realised that this was a repair that was done and the gold was brazing. I wonder who did that repair and who owned the trike before I did. As was the case with many things in those days the trike was sold or passed on to someone else when I outgrew it. The 'throw-away' society had not yet arrived. In fact World War II had not yet started!
Happy memories of summers in the garden at Lismore. This photograph, on the left, was taken in the garden in Lismore under the majestic Bramley apple tree. I'm guessing the year to be 1938 as I look about two years old in it. The man standing at the back is Mr. Boot; in the middle is my Aunt Nor and beside her is Mr. Boot's son. Seated in front is my Aunt Agg, her daughter, my cousin Mary Twomey; then myself and my Mother, Eileen Mason. In front sitting on the grass is my cousin Michael Twomey. I remember Mr. Boot visiting us at least once, perhaps more often. I really don't know much about him but think that he was a friend, from England. He was friendly with Charlie Guest, who was a close friend of my Mother's family. Charlie was a Pharmacist and worked in England for Boot's the Chemist! Now, I wonder if Mr. Boot is a member of the family that started the huge Boot Chemist network. He lived in Leamington Spa and I am certain of that.
On the right, above, is a photograph of my Mother and myself with Lil Browne, our next door neighbour. She was Aunt Lil to me, a lovely person. The dog is Trix and true to her name was able to perform many tricks. Lil's brothers Bob and Jim also lived there and were 'Uncles' to me. Bob was a Commercial Traveller for a Distillery and Jim traded under the name of 'Browne Printer Lismore'. This name always fascinated me as he was a 'black' printer. I never saw him printing anything in any colour other than black! Maybe, even as a child, I was a bit of a thinker! Bob died in his middle years but Jim and Lil lived out their full allocation. None of them married. My Grandmother often spoke about Mrs. Browne, their Mother. She said that she was a lovely woman and a great support for Granny when she was bringing up her family. Such was our friendship with the Browne's we had a private gate between our two gardens giving each of us access to the others garden. I have many happy recollections of playing pitch and putt in our garden being watched by Jim who would get a good laugh at a badly taken shot. Jim was an allround sportsman himself and can be seen in Eugene Dennis' book, Lismore, with the Lismore Cricket Club. He also played tennis and was an accomplished musician specialising in the piano. I have so many happy recollections of having the Browne's as neighbours.
Aunt Liz and her son, Michael, who was ordained in 1936 and left for the Missions in the Far East in 1940. I am guessing that this photograph was taken in 1940. It may have been Fr. Michael's last visit with his Mother, my Grandaunt Liz, before he left for the Missions in the Far East. I remember, very well, meeting him in Lismore. I can actually remember talking to him as a four year old. I was standing in front of him and he was seated. Sadly, he never returned, World War II had started in Europe and was soon to spread to most of the rest of the world and he was caught up in it and suffered an untimely and cruel death when the Japanese overran the island of New Ireland in Melanesia where he was.
Boy in a boat, about 1946 This boat was made one Summer when my cousins Odran and Jarlath were visiting. I think it was in 1946 and I was ten years old then. It was not pretty to look at but it carried the three of us on the local small river, the Owenashad. This is a tributary to the Blackwater sometimes dubbed the Irish Rhine! The word owenashad comes from the two Irish words, ábha meaning river somewhat similar to Avon as in many English name places. The shad is a corruption of sheóda and that is the Irish for gem or pearl. The story is that pearls were one time found in the Owenashad. These came from fresh water oysters or maybe freshwater mussels. Myself and my cousins had a lot of fun with the boat during the Summer that year but some spoil sport stole it from where we had it stowed on the river bank. No trace was ever found of it and I presume that the wood from it was used to heat someone during the cold Winter months. Not a bad outcome really, we enjoyed it during the Summer and someone else enjoyed it during the Winter.
Lismore Golf Club group, circa 1936 - 1940. I think that this is a great photo. In 1987 I wrote to the person standing to the extreme left of the group. His name is Nial Murray and is a relation of my late Mother. When the photo was taken he was a Solicitor in practice in Lismore, my home town. He was my only hope of getting the names of those in the group as my Father was long since dead as was Fr. Tobin and the others or their families no longer lived in Lismore. I asked him first if he could put a date on the photo. I then asked him if he could tell me the occasion, obviously prize giving day. My final question was to name the people in the photo. I knew most of them but there were two whose names I was not sure of or whose name belonged to whom. In his reply he told me how glad he was to have a copy of the photo but could not put a date on it other than to tell me that he practiced in Lismore from sometime in 1936 to 1940. He confirmed the names for me as follows - standing from left to right - Nial Murray, Mr. Harrington, Jack Fogarty, Fr. Tom Tobin and Michael Mason
- seated from left to right - Seán Quinlan, Edward Hipwell and Jack Frawley with Dick Fogarty in front. I am happy to be able to record that as I write this, in the month of January, 2003, Nial Murray is enjoying well earned retirement and is living with his only daughter, Laura, in Carrigaline, Co. Cork. I guess his age to be over ninety years. I was delighted to get confirmation of the date of the photo as I guessed that my Dad you have had me in the photo if I was old enough to be there. I was born in 1936 so I feel that the photo dates from before 1940. Unfortunately Nial Murray could not remember the photo being taken not did he remember the occasion. If anyone recognises the silver ware I would love to know if they are inscribed and what the inscription is. I don't think that I will hold my breath on that one!
I have recently done a little 'research' in my family papers and found a newspaper cutting which had an item about my Father. It was on his retirement in 1961 and among other things his interest in golf was mentioned and it went on to say that he was the Hon. Secretary of Lismore Golf Club until it lapsed 'about twelve years ago' (sic.) That would mean that the club ceased to exist as a functioning club in 1949. I suppose it was amazing that it continued through World War II when the economic situation in this country was so bad. Very few people played golf in those days and in a small town like Lismore there was very little interest. It wasn't until about 1965 that the present club was established and is now a well run and very popular facility. Sadly my Father died in 1962, he would have loved to have dusted down the old clubs and had a few rounds with me. I can't find any dedicated web site for Lismore Golf Club that I could direct you to. If you do a search you will find many references to it but they are sketchy and don't show the lovely woodland where the club is situated.
Some of my daughters are taking after their paternal Grand Father, who was a golfer, in that they also play golf. Two of their paternal Grand Aunts were also prize winning golfers in their day. They were my Aunt Sheila and Aunt Helen.
The 'Orange' Eaters 1946 This group of 'orange' eaters was taken in our front garden in Lismore and it must have been about 1946. The significance of the oranges is that these were the first oranges that any of us had seen. None were available since before the War and few of us were old enough before that to eat them. Sitting on the wall from left to right is Frank Mason (me), my first cousin Michael Twomey from Cork, Seamus Byrne, Gerard Byrne (brothers), Joe Martin. Standing from left is Teresa Martin, Joe's only sister and who sadly died in the late 1980s leaving a young family, Elizabeth Twomey, my first cousin and sister of Michael Twomey shown on the wall. On the extreme right is Finola Byrne who now lives in Portugal. School Group Lismore 1945 I may have the faintest recollection of having this photo taken. I had forgotten all about it but just the other day 'came across' it when looking through some old photo albums that came from my old home in Lismore.
Fortunately my father had the foresight to write, in his beautiful copper-plate writing, on the back the date and the names of all the fellows in the photo. Had he not done that I would not have remembered more than about six of their names. There are twenty three of us in the photo but I'm certain that we were not all from the one class. My guess, at this remove of nearly sixty years, is that there were three classes there, definitely two.
The following are the names, starting at the back left hand side -
J. Morrissey, Michael Tobin, Tom Connors, J. Connors, Michael Doocey, J. Singleton, Mick Doherty, Michael Uniacke, Peter Neville.
The middle row from the left -
Michael Murphy, Another Uniacke - brother of Michael, Tom Cahill, Seán Dennis, John Lamb, Willie Walsh and Frank Mason (just nine years old)
Seated in front from the left -
Frank Frawley, Richard Broderick, Joe Martin, Des. Frawley (brother of Frank), Paddy Hickey, Willie Madden and R. Burke.
As far as I know only two in that photo still live in Lismore, they are Seán Dennis and Tom Cahill. Joe Martin, my closest pal even from pre-school years lived most of his working life in Clonmel but retained the old family home in Lismore. Two others became 'men of the cloth', viz. Richard Broderick whose older brother became a Cistercian Brother in Mount Melleray and who died some years ago, and Willie Madden. Willie was a year or so older than I was. He is now retired and has returned to Lismore where he lives in the old family home. Michael Doocey became a senior Officer in the Gárda Síochána and is probably retired now. One of the Uniacke brothers, I think Michael, died many years ago. Tom Cahill is probably still farming in Lismore. Des Frawley was also one of my close pals. His family left Lismore a few years after the photo being taken and I have recently traced him to Croydon in England. His brother, Frank, also lives somewhere in England. It would be great to contact all the fellows in this photo, just to find out what we all did and where we now are!
Sadly Joe Martin died on the 17th of December, 2012. I had visited him a couple of times in hospital but did not realise that he was close to death as he seemed in good form and improving following his admission to hospital some weeks previously. Just yesterday, the 1st of February, 2013, I had a short email from a daughter of Paddy Hickey, now known as Pat, and following that communication I had a very nice and informative email from Pat who lives in Australia. I look forward to hearing more about him and his family.
My Grandmother O'Connor in the Summer of 1958 You may remember seeing Granny's wedding photo near the top of these pages. She was elegantly dressed then and a life time later, in 1958, she still took care with her dress. Typical of the time she wore black following her husband's death in 1933, but always had a little broach or a corsage of flowers to 'brighten up' the black. One would not be dressed without a hat, of course, and she never went out without one. I remember taking this photo. It was one of the earlier colour photos that I took and I think it was a transparency. Granny was sitting in the rear seat of my first car, a black (yes) Renault 8 also called a Dauphine. Didn't have much luck with that car, it gave me a lot of trouble especially starting. The problem was, I feel, that it was a six volt system with a rear engine but the battery was in the front of the car and there was about nine feet of wire between the battery and the starter motor. Just imagine the power loss there, assuming that the battery produced about five volts on a good day I would be lucky if three got to the back. This was quickly 'absorbed' by the starter motor leaving very little for the low voltage feed to the high tension coil. This model car was quickly dubbed 'The Dawfake', a colloquialism for a poor quality item. I somehow agree and have never owned a Renault since!
My Mother with her three grandchildren in 1967 This is a lovely picture of my late Mother, Eileen Mason (O'Connor). It was taken in 1967, the year that Laura was born. It must have been late in the year as Laura's birth month is May. Oonagh, our eldest is on the left and Barbara is on the right. Those who know George Hopkins, Barbara's second son, will see a strong resemblance to him in Barbara. The photo was taken in Blackrock, Cork.
Most of the photographs on this site have been taken by members of the family. Some of the older photographs have been taken by professional photographers and I have tried to contact them for permission to reproduce them. I have failed so far to make any such contact and will reproduce them as they are so interesting. Latest update of this site was on the 2nd of February, 2013.
