enniskillen

To the memory of Dennis McCabe, who doesn't appear to fit on his headstone very well. Maybe it's a music joke - maybe he always held on over the bar line.

This is wonderful!

To the memory of Denis M'Cabe, Fidler who fell out of the St Patrick Barge belonging to Sir James Caldwell Bart and Count of Milan, and was drowned off this Point Aug. 15, 1770- 'Beware ye Fidlers of ye Fidler's fate Nor tempt ye deep lest you repent too late You ever have been deemed to water foes Then shun ye lake till it with whiskey flows On firm Land only - Exercise your skill There you may play and safely drink your fill'. D.D.D. J.J. "Originally erected at the point of the Rossbeg peninsula, it was moved a couple of times before being set in its present location at the entrance to Castle Caldwell Country Park." From - www.enniskillencastle.co.uk/collections/mapping-the-colle...

Flickr is sometimes amazing! In 2011 via Hector

"Sir James had a genuine interest in music but this was not because he had any talent in that direction himself and only because of the pleasure it gave to others. He organized a series of concerts to amuse his friends and he helped organize similar functions in Dublin for the Rotunda Hospital to aid a fund for the charitable purpose of helping the blind poor of Dublin. His own band featured in the Jubilee celebrations which marked the winning of the improvement premiums he gave to the local tenant farmers. It is likely that Major Ridsdale, tutor to his sons composed the Fiddlestone inscription. TO THE MEMORY OF DENIS McCABE FIDLER WHO FELL OUT OF THE ST. PATRICK’S BARGE BELONGING TO SIR JAMES CALDWELL, BART., AND COUNT OF MILAN & WAS DROWNED OFF THIS POINT AUGUST YE 15 1770 BEWARE YE FIDLERS OF YE FIDLERS FATE NOR TEMPT YE DEEP LEAST YE REPENT TOO LATE: YE EVER HAVE BEEN DEEMED TO WATER FOES, THEN SHUN YE LAKE TILL IT WITH WHISKY FLOWS; ON FIRM LAND ONLY EXERCISE YOUR SKILL, THERE YOU MAY PLAY AND DRINK YOUR FILL. D.D.D. J.J. Arthur Young, the English writer on agricultural topics in his famous Tour of Ireland, when leaving Castle Caldwell records taking his leave of the place in a six-oared barge with colours flying and a band of music playing and he also records the exact place where the fiddler was drowned as he journeys up the lake towards Enniskillen: “Eagle Island first salutes us, a woody knole. Others pass in review; among the rest Herring Island, noted for the wreck of a herring-boat, and the drowning of a fiddler, but the boat-men love herrings better than music, and gave their name to the Isle rather than that of the “Son of Apollo”. The island in question lies near the southern shore of Lower Lough Erne near Magho Cliffs but has had its name altered in concept though not in sound by being recorded now as Heron Island and not Herring Island. In relation to the cryptic initials J. B. Doyle records the fiddle stone in 1854 as “stone shaped into the form of a violoncello but he does not mention the letters D.D.D. or J.J. so perhaps this settles an uncharitable argument as to what they mean, e.g. Denis Died Drunk or Denis Died Damned. These letters are most likely an addition by a later and more uncharitable hand." fermanaghastoryin100objects.wordpress.com/2014/10/24/fidd...

The fellow standing on the left (not the lurker) has on his right forearm a "four-bar Chevron" which evidently denotes years of overseas service in WW1.

The Overseas Service Chevron was created by the British Army on 20 December 1917 and was awarded for each year of overseas service. It was retroactive to December 31, 1914, and was eligible for award until May 1, 1920.
Overseas service was calculated from the day the soldier disembarked from the United Kingdom. A blue chevron was awarded for each 12 months of overseas service after December 31, 1914, with a maximum of 4 blue chevrons (or 5 if the soldier served in Russia after the war). A single red chevron could be awarded for at least a year or more of overseas service before December 31, 1914, and was worn under the blue chevron(s). The Overseas Chevrons were worn on the lower right sleeve of the uniform jacket. Official wear was discontinued in 1922."
From - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_Service_Chevron#
Also - lawranceordnance.com

Which might imply the photo is 1918 - 1922 (??)

The fellow seated second from right (smoking a cigarette with ash on his leg!) has chevrons on his left forearm denoting 'Long Service/Good Conduct Badge'. See the second link above.
Edit - He also has a medal bar on his chest. No idea what ...

beachcomber australia Alright, hazarding 1918-1922? above.

Football team and ball?

We have encountered Mr J.S. Coombs the photographer previously. Based in Portland, UK. I wonder if this and another photo are somewhere near Portland ?
catalogue.nli.ie
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/53705945897/]

maps.google.ie/maps?q=Florence+Court,+Enniskillen,+United... Street View

DannyM8 Thank you, Danny! Stand by for a fourth image this morning - think you might like it...

Florence Court was the seat of the Earls of Enniskillen before the National Trust acquired it in 1953, shortly before a devastating fire destroyed the upper floors of the house. Extensive restoration efforts have since returned Florence Court to much of its former glory, although some rooms on the upper floors remain closed. The house is best known for its exquisite Rococo decoration and fine Irish furniture. Many original items of furniture, previously sold, have been re-acquired and returned. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Court

National Library of Ireland on The Commons I will wait like a 6 year old waiting for Santa!

They did enjoy their manly sports killing sprees at Florence Court. Belfast News-letter September 2nd, 1828, quoting the Erne Packet

ENNISKILLEN, AUG 28. - The Earl of Enniskillen has his hospitable mansion at Frorence-Court filled with his numerous friends and relatives, where all kinds of manly sports and amusements are going forward. Grousing in the highest perfection - his Lordship's sons and nephews, headed by other veteran sportsmen; kill their stint, viz;- ten brace a gun each day. His Lordship's brother-in-law, the Honourable Berkley Paget, and othe Gentlemen, prefer fishing occasionally. While gaiety and good humour crown the evenings; each party terenstrial and aquatic, joyously proclaim the fetes and adventures of the day. - Erne Packet.