Category: 1930’s

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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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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Who’s in the Lead?

by irishvisions

Story
Local residents are pictured watching the annual Clare Island regatta. In the distance, West Coast hooker boats (an húicéiri) compete in a heated race. Local to the Connemara coastline, hookers were used around Clew Bay and Achill to transport goods and people. Despite near extinction by 1960, there has been a recent resurgence in constructing these old-fashioned sailboats. Now they are used primarily for pleasure, sport and to preserve traditional boat building techniques.
Location
Clare Island Regatta, Co. Mayo
Date
1938
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Lobster Fisherman, John Gallagher

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
Clare Island, Co. Mayo
Date
1938
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Ribs and Oars of a Currach

by irishvisions

Story
In 1938, Helen and Ernie O’Malley visited Inishbofin Island just off the Galway coast. Transport to the islands was via large boat that would often carry a currach on board. If a port had no pier, the crew could lower the currach, unload the ship’s cargo and row their goods ashore. This image highlights a plank-built currach with its wooden oars and thin wood ribs inside a tar-covered shell. Once made out of stretched animal hides and now canvas, the thin skin is all that separates the fishermen from rough, cold ocean waters.
Location
Co. Mayo
Date
1938
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