This cabinet card shows a charming group photograph of the five Walshe children from Battlemount, Narragmore, Ballytore, County Kildare. The Lafayette studio’s rustic setting includes wooden steps and tufts of artificial grass and is completed by props such as a fishing net, basket, book and what has to be a stuffed dog!
The children are beautifully dressed as befits the family of a comfortable farmer from this prosperous county. The two girls to the front of the photograph wear velvet ruched dresses with beautiful smocking and buttons. The also wear fashionable lace-up boots. Both of the boys are dressed in matching suits with wide stripes and white collars. The elder girl wears a nautical dress and short hair which is perhaps an indication of a recent illness.
The village of Ballytore or Ballitore was the only planned Quaker village in Ireland and home to the ancestors of the explorer Ernest Shackleton. The census returns for 1901 and 1911 state that there were five children in the Walshe family and that their mother, Bridget, who was married in 1873 was widowed by 1901. It is likely that this photograph was taken in the mid-1880s when the youngest child, Michael (b.1881) was about five year’s old.
The above photograph of the family home, Battlemount House was taken many years later and shows the now grown children with their mother. As in the earlier photograph, two of the daughters appear to be wearing identical outfits. Perhaps they were twins? I discovered that one of the daughters, Bridget, was to emigrate to South Africa, and this image might mark one of the last times that the family were to be together.
A newspaper report from August1922 shows that Michael was seeking compensation of £235, from the government, for the loss of his Ford car during the Civil War – an indicator that the family continued to be quite well-off!
Marvellous amount of detail, Orla! I love the way the girls are still dressing the same as adults and the detail about the girl’s hair being an indication of a recent illness. I have never heard that before but it makes sense for the era. Wouldn’t it be marvellous to find another photo from the same studio with the “stuffed” dog in it. Personally I’m not so sure about his pulmonary status. This dog looks stuffed too http://cabinetcardgallery.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/adorable-baby-and-her-pug-in-salem-oregon/ but IS it?
Hello Katherine, I must do a post on stuffed dogs sometime! I have a few others in my collection. All the best, Orla.
The Daugher who went to South Africa was Mary Christine.
Fantastic photos – one of those girls, the daughter of Bridget, Mary Catherine Walshe married Michael Eunan Doherty and came to Kimberley, South Africa. She was my husband’s grandmother.
Thanks for your comment Ann – delighted to have some background information.
Which of the girls was Mary Catherine Walshe – I think the two boys names were William and Michael. All so very interesting. Isn’t it wonderful that some people took the care to keep all these wonderful old photographs. I found one of the house amongst my father-inlaw’s photos. Such special photos of a bygone time.
Ann is right, the girl on the right is Ann Christina Walshe, who Married Morgan (Murray) Sweeney of Sweeney’s Hotel, Dungloe. Murray was a Ist Cousin of Michaeal Eunan Doherty. I would love to know how you came by this photo! The family story goes that they were on holiday in Dungloe, and Murray took a shine to Ann, so her sister was sent down the road to neet cousin Michaeal. Bridget, the mother, died in Dungloe in 1915. My mother, (90 next year) who was a cousin of Murray, knew Ann well.
Bought the card for 11 euro on ebay in August 2011. The seller’s information states they were based Ireland but no exact location. Amazing to think of someone who knew her – I have a larger scan if you would like it?
http://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details/e984a00061810
Wedding of Anne Christina. What an amazing thing that you bought it on ebay, I am sure her grandchildren would appreciate a better scan. We have photos of bothe Ann and Mary and their husbands. Mary had a very stylish wedding – called in the family “the photo with the hats” Happy to email them to you if it is of interest. Wonder if the seller found them for sale or if they are long lost relatives? Anyway, I can tell you that lots of her relatives are grateful to you for buying it and putting in on line.
Hi, A million thanks for sharing the photos. Anne Christina Walshe was my grandmother, we are all so thrilled to see them. I will let my cousins know also that they are avaible to see.
I would love a larger scan if I could of my grandmother and her family
Hello Ann, If you forward on your e-mail address to me I’ll sort that out this evening, Orla.
Thanks Orla,I have logged into you site, with email
Hi Ann, I’ve emailed a larger copy through. Regards, Orla.