sidecar

Streetview. maps.app.goo.gl/3TJWZmduG4Hz78mX6

At left an RIC man with a forage cap, so after 1900. But is that another RIC man wearing a pillbox hat with him? If so, it must be just as the new hats were introduced in 1900. Or is could be a messenger or some other lad in uniform...

Browsing the Kilkenny Moderator for Wednesday 22 August 1888 this morning, I noticed the 'Aquatics' section of the Thomastown Regatta and Athletic Sports on the following Saturday. There were 4 boat races, with entrance fees and monetary prizes (or a cup).

- one for cots of any length, - the second open to pair-oared punts not exceeding 17 ft in length - the third only open to bona fide fishing cots - the fourth confined to fishermen of Thomastown in bona fide fishing cots

Between the last cot race and the pony race there was what would have been a highlight for me: "Greased pole. No entrance [fee]. Prize - A Fat Pig" "cot" was new to me. From irishwaterwayshistory.com/

The really important vessels on Irish inland waterways were not barges but cots — smaller wooden boats, which may have been sailed or propelled by a combination of oars and poles (quants, shafts) — but we simply have no idea of the extent of their use on inland waterways.

That was the first thing that struck me when looking at thos photo, the wheeled cart in the river! Also, looks like a policeman there, early 1900's I'd guess.

In the corresponding event in 1881, there was a race not for catamarans, but "pair-oared outriggers". There were 2 entries but neither crew turned up, so the silver teapot and egg-boiler were not awarded. There were several entries for the greased pole, but this time the prize went missing.

Pig on pole. A number of post entries were taken for this event, and when the competitors proceeded to business the first man on the card had cast hs longing eyes, with eager anticipation in his glance, to where the pig ought to be. it was not to be .seen. It then became evident that white the attention of the crowd was engaged upon the other events as they proceeded, some adventurous climber must have essayed to reach the pig, and did reach it, and has, no doubt, dined upon it sumptuously before these lines come under the notice of our readers. Keen disappointment was depicted on the countenances of several who had anticipated with delight a savoury dinner on the morrow as the result a succeeding in climbing the greased pole.

(Kilkenny Moderator - Wednesday 17 August 1881)

I’m afraid it’s one for the No Longer Standing album - according to a brief article on the castle it was demolished by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1944.

"Rostellan House was built by William O’Brien (1694-1777) the 4th Earl of Inchiquin in 1721. He built Rostellan as a replacement of the ageing old castle. He built this mansion for his wife Lady Anne (Anne Douglas-Hamilton) who was the 2nd Countess of Orkney. It was demolished in 1920." From a Flickr album of ruins - www.flickr.com/photos/be216cd1/albums/72157632905394471/ via Fred Dean

25" OSI

Not 100% sure ... streetview - goo.gl/maps/wfqCPsZQ2CJ3f5P19 ??

Rostellan lost its roof and contents in the early 40s, taken over by the land commission, subsequently demolished.

Could that be a box of photography equipment in the car? is it perhaps the photographers car?

"the woman of the house": "the person of the house" Dickens; the trousers of the house, too. One image puts me in mind of The Stolen Child.

The wooden chimney pot would hardly comply with todays building regulations.

And a chicken in the doorway...

The right-hand side of the house (with the bigger cross hatched window) looks like a later extension/addition. I wonder if Dermot Bannon's ancestor had some input.... (Several likely candidate locations in the 6" and 25" OSI maps. Might require local knowledge.)