Gougane Barra 1902 Photograph
The front cover of our 2005 Journal carried a
worn photograph of the first
Irish classes held in Gougane Barra in
1902
My name is Deborah Lacy.
I live in Dallas, Texas in the United
States of America. Sean O'Sullivan of your
historical society has asked me to write to you.
I would like to tell you the story of my picture
of the Reverend Richard O'Daly and the Gaelic
revival at St. Finbarr’s Island, Gougane Barra,
County Cork,
Ireland in the year of 1902.
Recently I heard a squirrel in my attic.
I wasn't thrilled about him living in my
house and paying no rent, so I set a trap to
catch him.
While in the attic
I spotted a wonderful old group photo that I
bought back in the 70s at
a flea market here in Texas. Over the years I've
gotten many things that now reside in my attic
and none of THEM pay rent either. Anyway, my old
picture was under a blanket of dust, but I could
see that the people in my picture deserved
better treatment than I was giving them, so I
brought them downstairs.
Then the really fun part began.
I could see that at the bottom of the picture
there were the words
"Gaelic revival
St Finbars Island
Gougane Barra
County Cork
Ireland."
By the people's fashion of dress I dated it
around the turn of the century...well not this
last turn, but the one before the last!
So I sat down at my computer and started doing
searches on these words and
looking for Gaelic groups. This technology wasnt
available when I originally bought the picture.
I sent out many emails and soon heard
back from none other than Mr. O'Sullivan
himself.
Turns out Sean was able to tell me all about my
wonderful old picture.
Who the people were,
why they gathered,
where they gathered and the year their
gathering took place.
The more I studied my picture the more I fell in
love with the spirits
residing therein.
The old man who brought this group together,
Father Richard O'Daly, was born in Australia in
the 1800s!
Can you imagine what life was like in
Australia in late 1800?
The group of students he brought together that
day are actually teachers from around Ireland,
come to learn how to teach Gaelic to their
students.
To literally revive the Gaelic language!
They look like they were NOT all work and no
play to me.
So many grins on their faces.
The snappy straw hats on the gentlemen
and the ladies who tried to look pretty while
wearing all those heavy clothes!
What did they do in the evenings while
there and not studying?
Did the have a pint or two?
And was it their first time away from
home?
Did they know what a wonderful cause they were
about to undertake?
I think they must have been very proud to give
to future generations something that was in
danger of being lost forever.
I love to think about them.
I wish I knew each of their names.
How did my picture get to a flea market in
Texas?
This, I don't think I will ever know.
When I removed it from it's frame I found
a little stamp that says Royal Photography,
San Rafael,
California.
From the way the stamp looks and the age
of the frame, I believe this company made the
copy that I now own, in the 1920s. San Rafael is
a small town near San Francisco and there would
have been many immigrants coming through that
port.
I have tried to contact historic groups and
Gaelic groups in California, but I've had no
replies.
Anyway, back to the here and now.
I sent Sean digital copies of my picture by
email.
And he asked me
to make a good copy of my picture, which
he now has in his possession.
Sean also asked that I write my story of
my lovely old picture for you to read.
It's often we feel we can do something for
someone we know.
And sometimes we feel we can do something for
someone yet to be born.
But I feel like I've done something for some
people who came and went before me, and for that
I feel honored and grateful.
If someone in this picture was a relative of
you, the reader, then all the better. I extent a
hand across the water to you!
On a personal note.
My grandmother's name was Mae Yeates. I
know her people came from Ireland. Sadly, that’s
all I know of them.
Maybe that should be my next project!
Warm wishes to y'all from the great state of
Texas!
Deborah Lacy
Dallas, Texas USA
texasdb@yahoo.com