austinfarrell

I'm taking a gamble here but I think that the trophy on the left as you face it is the Metropolitan Cup for coxed fours from the Dublin Metropolitan Regatta. This is one of the most prestigious trophies in Irish rowing and is also known as "The Blue Riband". It was also recognised as the unofficial fours championship of Ireland. I will send a link to someone in the rowing fraternity and see if they can identify it. If that is the cup, or 'pot' as they are known, the the names of the crew are likely to be inscribed on it. As far as I know Waterford Boat Club are still active and they had a great selection of old photos on display in their clubhouse so they may have the record also? Lets see how we get on?

Swordscookie Brilliant! We'll await developments. Have added pots as a tag...

whoever they were, they needed some undergarments.... : 0

Tammybeck, how could you;-) A bit like cycling, when sitting on the sliding seat in the boats, having seams across your backside could be very painful over time. When I was rowing there was a special seat in the shorts and today with spandex etc. there are no seams. I suspect that the absence of underwear was to minimise discomfort.

Tammy Now, hope you and swordscookie are not going to lower the tone of serious and earnest photographic research that goes on here... ;)

They are wonderful B&W and composition.

The way those two guys are sitting on the chairs can only be described as "Rebellious".

I'd bet the fella in the middle at the back is related to the man seated on the right

ccferrie Do you think?

If these guys won a Maiden Fours trophy then they were not a Senior four as listed. It was possible to row above your grade at that time in the more provincial regattas, if there was no entry for the senior levels then a crew could go "pot-hunting" and gather a senior trophy against little or no opposition. However they were then forever locked into the senior grade and could no longer row "Maiden or Junior"! The big trophy in the centre rear with the seven names is most certainly not a fours trophy but this four could have been part of an eight who won it. Lovely old shot and great memories.

This is Major Purcell O'Gorman chairman and a founder of Waterford Boat Club

Waterford Boat club also has their own photostream on Flickr www.flickr.com/photos/waterfordboatclub/

Gentleman on left seated is Austin Farrell, 1872-1934. He appears in other photographs NLI Ref.: P_WP_3697, NLI Ref.: P_WP_3697.....

Paul O'Farrell It would be great to see some of the early pictures from Waterford Boat Club on this photostream.

Brendan J. Grogan Hello again, Brendan! I've added links into the description above, so you can find all your great uncle's photos in one place. I'll add another photo with Austin Farrell on Monday. Hopefully you'll be able to help identify some of the others...

The doorway is still there.

White haired gentleman with the mustache in front looks like E. Walsh, the mayor in 1928-29. So the guy wearing the chain of office may be William Jones, mayor 1930-31. No, see notes below. That is Mr. Mercer, chairman, not the Mayor.

The gentleman on top row, 2nd from left, with moustache, is Austin Farrell, General Manager and Secretary Waterford Harbour Commissioners. He was my great uncle.

Brendan Grogan Thank you so much for this fantastic information! Could this be your great uncle when he was younger?

Yes, this is Austin Farrell, brother of my grandfather, Walter J. farrell, Harbour Master Waterford 1903 to 1940. Austin Aaron Farrell, born 22nd February 1872, died 28th February 1934. He was married 26th October 1897 at St. Mary's Clonmel, to Gertrude Josephine O'Mahony daughter of Denis Patrick O'Mahoney of 1 Anne Street Clonmel (Corn Merchant), and Mary Ronan Shandon House , Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. He was Secretary and General manager of Waterford Harbour Commissioners. Austin Farrell died 28th February 1934 at Summerville House Waterford and is buried in Ballygunner Cemetery, Waterford. Brendan Grogan