curraghcamp

A super view of a pristine camp with a lot of history. Just yesterday on the Sunday Miscellany radio programme a contributor told the story of the Irish ship the Kerlogue during World War 2. The ship was sailing up the bay of Biscay from Portugal with a cargo of oranges when a German plane signalled SOS and that they should follow it. The captain turned and did so and came of the aftermath of a battle where three German ships had been sunk and dead a drowning sailors littered the sea. He picked up more that 150 survivors and brought them back to Cobh from where they were interned in the Curragh for the remainder of the war. The prisoners were very pleased with their conditions and many of them returned after the war to show their appreciation! A place with a very varied story!

British times
Edit: I can’t imagine Eason being given access to photograph a military camp during wartime, so think pre Great War

This is such a great photograph, with lots of interesting detail. The photograph is (was) outstanding.

12/20 and only 5 people visible - where would everyone be !.?

12:18 Lunchtime!

Good morning Mr Irwin from Newbridge !

Streetview

From the satellite it looks like the hotel has been demolished recently ...

OSI 25"

Yes, demolished in March 2011 - www.boards.ie/b/thread/2056212530

Fascinating image. There's a fair bit of movement from some of the soldiers. Gives it a slightly ghostly feel.

Nick Stewart Some of them were definitely fidgety and must have driven the photographer mad. Do you mean the chap with the newspaper in the row of chairs on the right? He must have been flying through that paper, leaning forward and back...

Great photograph but there are a number of things about it that raise a question mark. Why have they all (bar 1) got their caps on indoors in a recreation room? I've worn uniforms for most of my life and one of the first things one does is take the darned cap off and especially in a room such as this. They are all, more or less, facing the camera which would indicate that it was posed and if so why did the silly beggars insist on moving so much? The likelihood that an Irish ampersand is used in a religious text in a British army rec room is remote to say the least. This was a rec room for other ranks i.e privates as there are no officers present and no signs of ranks on the sleeves of tunics as far as I can see. As regards "Golden SCA text" I expect that it was something like Services Christian Association? Very interesting indeed! Another thought struck me, why all the flowers? There must have been a generals inspection coming off for this level of adornment?

Swordscookie Definitely agree about the posing! Caps were on for the photographer without a doubt. I have another one from the Curragh tomorrow, and again all are wearing their caps... So do you think 16.7.16 is safe enough to assume as the date??

I think it is safe enough. The flowers are "cut-flowers" and are fresh as distinct from pot plants and they are plentiful so that means spring/summer at the least. July is probably right for that shot! The ampersand used up to recently in material relating to the Dept. of Posts and Telegraphs did have the 7 shape but it was distinctively lower that the other numbers.