Women and children preparing for Cahirmee Horse Fair, Buttevant, Co. Cork

[graphic]
Bibliographic Details
Main Creator: Wiltshire, Elinor, 1918-2017, photographer
In collection: The Wiltshire Photographic Collection
Format: Photo
Published / Created: July 1954
Subjects:
Notes:Negative shows dot on woman's hair in foreground

Photographer's note: Travellers preparing for Cahirmee fair

Research by our Flickr community narrowed the date of this photograph from some time in 1954, to July 1954, based on the date of Cahirmee Horse Fair. This Fair still takes place on 12 July every year.

Featured in the National Library of Ireland's "Photo Detectives" exhibition at the National Photographic Archive, Dublin, 2017-2018.

Following the launch of "Photo Detectives", Maeve Burke identified the young woman in the foreground of this photo as "... my Nanna Elizabeth "Lizzie" Furey Hanafin (niece of the late, great Ted Furey). This was taken when she was 17 and only 2 years before she got married to my Granda who cannot believe how popular this picture has become and how famous his Lizzie is! She passed away 4 years ago but I can tell you she would've loved making the front page of The Irish Times today nevermind being in an exhibition in Dublin! She'd have every copy in the country bought & be up at the exhibition herself! She was a great storyteller, a tough-cookie and well known and respected in Kerry. Her and my Granda bought a chipvan and went all over Ireland to festivals and fairs making friends wherever they went. She told me and my sister lots of stories about when she was travelling with her mother Dolly Furey, who would play the accordion for money and all the hardships they faced, especially during the cold winters in the wagon. We're lucky too that she taught my mother and us the Gammon (which would've been her first language) and passed on many great traveller traditions and crafts like crocheting, sewing, singing, lilting and storytelling. She really was an amazing woman and this is a picture our family will treasure forever".

Additional information about this photograph is available on the National Library of Ireland's Flickr Commons photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/6136023633

Physical description: 1 photographic negative film 6 x 6 cm.

Physical description: 1 photographic print on card 15.5 x 15.5 cm.

more
A family in their beautifully decorated caravan en route to the Cahirmee Horse Fair (which we now know is held on 12 July every year) at Buttevant, Co. Cork,
Thanks to Frank Fullard for letting us know that "the fair of Cahirmee (which is now actually held in Buttevant) is still going strong and the members of the travelling community are still as much a part of it as ever." In fact, Frank took some great photos at the Fair in 2011...
The day this photo featured on the front page of the Irish Times (14th Sept 2017) marking the opening of our Photo Detectives Exhibition. A new detective Maeve Burke reports "The woman in the front is my Nanna Elizabeth "Lizzie" Furey Hanafin (niece of the late, great Ted Furey). This was taken when she was 17 and only 2 years before she got married to my Granda who cannot believe how popular this picture has become and how famous his Lizzie is! She passed away 4 years ago but I can tell you she would've loved making the front page of The Irish Times today nevermind being in an exhibition in Dublin! She'd have every copy in the country bought & be up at the exhibition herself! She was a great storyteller, a tough-cookie and well known and respected in Kerry. Her and my Granda bought a chipvan and went all over Ireland to festivals and fairs making friends wherever they went. She told me and my sister lots of stories about when she was travelling with her mother Dolly Furey, who would play the accordion for money and all the hardships they faced, especially during the cold winters in the wagon. We're lucky too that she taught my mother and us the Gammon (which would've been her first language) and passed on many great traveller traditions and crafts like crocheting, sewing, singing, lilting and storytelling. She really was an amazing woman and this is a picture our family will treasure forever. Thank you so much to everyone who commented on this, she would've been over the moon!"
Photographer: Elinor Wiltshire
Date: July 1954
NLI Ref.: WIL m12[54]
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie

Comments

Abaraphobia
What wonderful faces!! :)
Posted: 11.09.2011  
 
Swordscookie
Isn't that a lovely photograph of some very handsome people? That young lady in the foreground is very pretty, the children look happy and well cared for and the older ladies show their pride in their home. God bless them all.
Posted: 12.09.2011  
 
John Mac Giolla Phádraig Leisen
Wonderful find, thank you for showing these,..Thank you from us all,..Respect..!
Posted: 12.09.2011  
 
FRANS VAN DEN DUNGEN DIGITAL ART
Excellent Image !! Love it, Greetings from the Netherlands ;)Frans
Posted: 12.09.2011  
 
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
@snarf1962 Hello Frans! Returning greetings to you from Dublin - sounds like Eurovision... :)
Posted: 12.09.2011  
 
cuisle west ... away awhile
Oh this is just too wonderful ... it breaks my heart to see so many are agreeing to settlement and shying away from the old ways. But, time does march on doesn't it ... and the past is sometimes forgotten, save for images like these. There's a wonderful old song (Starry Night) by Sean Tyrrell and Davy Spillane that speaks to the traveller's heart.
Posted: 13.09.2011  
 
 
cuisle west ... away awhile
Pretty wonderful, huh? Thanks so much for the new link! You can also download it from i-Tunes, only it goes by 'Starry Night' under Davy Spillane w/Seán Tyrrell, and as 'One Starry Night' when Seán sings it alone. Both great renditions. www.flickr.com/photos/32465819@N05/4196249675/
Posted: 14.09.2011  
 
artur sikora
fantastic! full of life!
Posted: 15.09.2011  
 
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
@artursikora Isn't it though?! There's a complete sense of "Ain't life grand!"
Posted: 15.09.2011  
 
Jack Falstaff
@32465819@N05 With great respect, Monica, if you had ever tried spending a winter's night in a bow-type lot like this one (a single thickness of canvas between you and a blizzard), when the firing is running low, you might say there is something to be said for settlement.
Posted: 15.09.2011  
 
dorameulman
This is a wonderful historical shot. The family are all scubbed up nice for the fair. Thanks for sharing ^_^
Posted: 10.10.2011  
 
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
@dorameulman It's a pleasure, Dora!
Posted: 10.10.2011  
 
Frank Fullard
Thankfully the fair of Cahirmee (which is now actually held in Buttevant) is still going strong and the members of the travelling community are still as much a part of it as ever. I have a set from this years fair here www.flickr.com/photos/frankfullard/sets/72157627123183585/
Posted: 27.10.2011  
 
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
@frankfullard They're gorgeous, Frank! Great to see that the fair is still going strong...
Posted: 27.10.2011  
 
Homemade Art
Wonderful picture of some beautiful people!
Posted: 17.11.2011  
 
AndrewSB49
Wonderful people
Posted: 02.12.2011  
 
DavidK-Oregon
They sure made the best of a hard life. Thank you for sharing a perfect photo of our Irish past.
Posted: 19.03.2012  
 
tonybyrne49
a brilliant photo, i love it
Posted: 03.04.2012  
 
Renira1
aren't they beautiful, with their pretty hair, beads and flowers
Posted: 09.04.2012  
 
corncrake68
This reminds me of the Ireland of the1940s when I walked over three mile along a country road to school. it was not unusual to see these type of caravans parked in at a gap in a ditch with the menfolk sitting at a fire making tin buckets, tin mugs, and different sizes of saucepans,etc. These were sold to surounding farms. If my older brother and I found any old rusted buckets we would sell the handles to them for 2 pence
Posted: 09.04.2012  
 
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
@crexcrex 2d back in the day was a good income for you and your brother.
Posted: 11.04.2012  
 
corncrake68
Yeah...Two bucket handles got you into the pictures.
Posted: 11.04.2012  
 
brother dave
great picture,every face has a story.I truly like this picture.
Posted: 07.05.2012  
 
 
staticgirl
I love it when you get a really great picture and then some useful comments below it.
Posted: 13.06.2012  
 
 
vince brophy
Oh this is brilliant it make my heat beat faster
Posted: 17.07.2012  
 
 
carolsayles90
Wonderful photo, they all look so happy...this is priceless...
Posted: 11.08.2012  
 
williamkiely12
Really great shot.
Posted: 31.08.2012  
 
Supra Samus
@32465819@N05 Don't you think it is a little unfair to expect others to live in abject poverty purely for your enjoyment? We continue to live as we always have, adapting to our environment. We are no less now then we were in the 1950s (or even in 250 BC for the Romani). "The old ways" were always hard, as someone who spent most of their childhood in a vardo (Romani not Pavee) I can tell you that it wasn't always easy. That said I appreciate your support for those of us who do wish to continue to travel (either permanently or for seasonal work), unfortunately most of our traditional achin tans (safe stopping places) have disappeared and roads are more dangerous now than ever so it's not always a matter of choice. That and forced settlement, theft of our children, harassment, (ill)legality of travelling lifestyle, loss of traditional industry and trade (tinkers, basket waiving etc), border control - national security and fear of terrorism. It's good to see that the Cahirmee/buttevant fair is still permitted to go ahead. Far too many have been closed down around Ireland and UK. They're still as important now to us as they always have been.
Posted: 09.09.2012  
 
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
@86927622@N05 Thank you for that passionate contribution.
Posted: 30.09.2012  
 
riverrock77
they are different from the travelers I have seen in Moscow. These are much cleaner and full of happiness and pride.
Posted: 17.11.2012  
 
ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq
Already 9,611 views, and I just came across this wonderful photo. For anyone interested, a good deal more information about Irish Travellers .
Posted: 22.11.2012  
 
CameraGirlUSA
On a small scale I relate to these travelers and their lifestyle. My own ancestors were with the USA railroads. They ran a railroad car cafe and traveled where ever was needed for them to go. My husband always says that I get my traveling spirit honest from them. His own family came to the USA from Germany so they too traveled far before they settled. For the last twelve years we have full-time caravaned and love the freedom and lifestyle of movement at will. There is something to be said for the trade off of the comforts of a real house but not enought to ever get me to move into a house again. We rather like rolling down the roads, always something to do or to see that's new.
Posted: 27.11.2012  
 
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
@55044407@N05 "Rolling down the road" sounds great! Probably not a lifestyle for everyone, though? It was obviously in your blood from your railroad ancestors. :)
Posted: 28.11.2012  
 
mazurka666
An amazing image from time past!
Posted: 03.12.2012  
 
Gerris2
Great shot! Not a cell phone in sight.
Posted: 17.12.2012  
 
Carine06
A great piece of history.
Posted: 29.12.2012  
 
larryball31
A great old shot of how something so simple as a wagon looks terrific with a personal touch!
Posted: 06.06.2013  
 
Snappy Larry
@86927622@N05 @86927622@N05 SupraSamus, interesting comment. Not sure I see any comments here which suggest that they "expect others to live in abject poverty purely for their enjoyment". Maybe I am not scrolling far enough back.
Posted: 29.06.2013  
 
thebaz_dublin
wonderful image B
Posted: 17.10.2013  
 
EdZiomek
Absolutely wonderful, throwback in time. The priceless value of a photographic image!
Posted: 21.11.2013  
 
Bitofapilchard
A wonderful image. My mother-in-law was born in a vardo like this.
Posted: 05.01.2014  
 
steelerdave891
Very nice, the lady in the front standing on the left is a Beauty
Posted: 13.02.2014  
 
seánÓcearbhaill
Great photo this, I remember near one of our rivals pitches, when I was playing hurling, there was an old caravan, there for a long while just left to rot. But you could still see the colours on it. I always thought it was a shame.
Posted: 06.05.2014  
 
hobbitcamera
Talk about an interesting photo!
Posted: 06.05.2014  
 
Charlotte Clarke Geier
It looks like many of them could be redheads - like me! :-)
Posted: 12.02.2015  
 
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
There is no doubt that this is a very special photograph, Elinor O' Brien Wiltshire captures an image which brightens the day of the viewer every time it is seen. It has attracted many comments, some controversy and now it has reached 100,000 views. I love this photograph, to my mind, like many of the other photos on this stream it gives us a glimpse of the way Irish people lived in the past, it is important that these images are preserved and shared. It is said that a picture paints a thousand words, I think this applies perfectly here. I am now adding this photo to our 100,000+ views album, our 14th entry. Check out our most viewed photos below. [https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/sets/72157651599255125]
Posted: 04.06.2016  
 
ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/coldbrook/7623526408/]
Posted: 05.06.2016  
 
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/beachcomberaustralia] Very nice.
Posted: 05.06.2016  
 
kristavanichinnsamy
wooooow so beautiful and colourful.
Posted: 12.06.2016  
 
genutriness1
Beautiful
Posted: 03.05.2017  
 
DannyM8
About the Photographer [https://www.flickr.com/photos/79549245@N06/34110493353/in/dateposted/]
Posted: 27.05.2017  
 
Heidi Schulze
wunderschön. i am born in february 1954
Posted: 23.07.2017  
 
Maeve Burke
The woman in the front is my Nanna Elizabeth "Lizzie" Furey Hanafin (niece of the late, great Ted Furey). This was taken when she was 17 and only 2 years before she got married to my Granda who cannot believe how popular this picture has become and how famous his Lizzie is! She passed away 4 years ago but I can tell you she would've loved making the front page of The Irish Times today nevermind being in an exhibition in Dublin! She'd have every copy in the country bought & be up at the exhibition herself! She was a great storyteller, a tough-cookie and well known and respected in Kerry. Her and my Granda bought a chipvan and went all over Ireland to festivals and fairs making friends wherever they went. She told me and my sister lots of stories about when she was travelling with her mother Dolly Furey, who would play the accordion for money and all the hardships they faced, especially during the cold winters in the wagon. We're lucky too that she taught my mother and us the Gammon (which would've been her first language) and passed on many great traveller traditions and crafts like crocheting, sewing, singing, lilting and storytelling. She really was an amazing woman and this is a picture our family will treasure forever. Thank you so much to everyone who commented on this, she would've been over the moon!
Posted: 14.09.2017  
 
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/158392574@N02] Hi Maeve, thanks for your comments, we love to hear stories from family members. Do you know the names of any of the others? I will update the description - when I hear from you. We also have these other photos that might be of interest to you. catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000047000 catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000047002 catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000047008 catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000047001 catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000046985 catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000046998 catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000046976 catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000047004 and there are more on this link catalogue.nli.ie/Search/Results?lookfor=travellers&ty...
Posted: 14.09.2017  
 
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
Irish Times Front Page - 14/09/2017 [https://www.flickr.com/photos/158392574@N02] [https://www.flickr.com/photos/79549245@N06/37030548216/]
Posted: 14.09.2017  
 
Vab2009
What a great wee of new information!
Posted: 21.09.2017  
 
tracimont
Amazing photo, and the woman standing outside the caravan to the left, is just stunning, cant take my eyes off her beauty..
Posted: 11.12.2020  
 
gennadyalexandrov
lovely
Posted: 12.03.2021  
 
dubairentacar.ae
iconic photo
Posted: 04.09.2021  
 
oldirelandincolour
We recently colourised this for "Old Ireland in Colour 2", and we've just heard on Facebook from Dan Hill Jimmy that "The lady in the wagon is my grandmother Bridie Sheridan but after married she became Flynn"
Posted: 23.09.2021  
 
Flickr
Congrats on Explore! ⭐ January 15, 2024
Posted: 16.01.2024  
 
Sigurd Krieger
Congrats on Xplore!!
Posted: 16.01.2024  
 
Ian Betley Photography | ianbetley.co.uk
Congrats on Explore! ❤📷❤ great image! regards.
Posted: 16.01.2024