Author: irishvisions

Bringing in the Potatoes

by irishvisions

Story
A Burrishoole Lodge farmhand places recently dug potatoes in burlap sacks and then buries them under mounds of clay. These clay hillocks protected the harvest from vermin and weather. Later the potato sacks were transported to storage closer to the home. This image was taken on Helen Hooker O’Malley’s own farm at Newport, Co. Mayo.
Location
Burrishoole, Co. Mayo
Date
1943
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Regatta Day, Roscahill

by irishvisions

Story
Given the amount of rainfall in Ireland, bogs are generally quite wet and dangerous to traverse. In this scene, a bog face has been recently cut. Its damp sods of turf are tossed upon the bank to begin the drying process. Farmers will then stack the pieces to allow more air to flow through the turf. Once dry enough, the peat is stacked in ever larger mounds and eventually into an enormous reek. Turf reeks are frequently positioned near a bog path to allow easy access for the horse and cart that bring the fuel home.
Location
Clew Bay, Co. Mayo
Date
1938
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Newport Sheep Fair

by irishvisions

Story
Market fairs for selling livestock was an important part in the life and economy of rural Ireland. This image portrays a sheep fair in Newport, Co. Mayo near where Ernie and Helen O’Malley lived and operated their own farm in 1943. A large weighing scale resembling a catapult is seen in the background. The photograph can be dated by the make and model of the motor cars appearing in the lower left of the town scene. It is a wet day, and the men are outfitted accordingly with their heavy coats, traditional caps, and walking sticks.
Location
Co. Mayo
Date
1943
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National Turf Cutting Competition

by irishvisions

Story
Since turf played such an important role in Irish rural life, it is not surprising there were turf-cutting competitions for locals to prove their prowess at an extremely difficult task. This is a photograph of the annual, national turf-cutting competition in the Bog of Allen, Co. Kildare. Spectators and judges are stationed to look down on the participants who work in teams of two. One man cuts the sod then heaves the wet pieces to his teammate on the bank who “foots” the turf in stacks for drying. Cutting turf was backbreaking and essential work.
Location
Bog of Allen, Co. Kildare
Date
1937
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Awaiting the Start: Carrowmore Horse Races

by irishvisions

Story
Before the horse races start on the strand at Carrowmore, spectators assemble and chat in groups. Traditional horse races would take place during low tide hours. They were held then so the horses had a wider flat stretch of sand upon which to run. The Carrowmore Races took place on Wednesdays so more people could attend the festivities as midweek was the half-day in the area when banks, stores and businesses were closed.
Location
Louisburgh, Co. Mayo
Date
1975
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