The usual geniuses keep using this photo, to make their usual dumb/hateful anti-immigration arguments.
Quite ironic, to say the least.
A few facts about this photo, for anyone interested in who those women were - and what their stories might tell you about Ireland. /1
Quite ironic, to say the least.
A few facts about this photo, for anyone interested in who those women were - and what their stories might tell you about Ireland. /1
That photograph is taken from the National Geographic feature on Ireland from March 1927, titled:
"Ireland: The Rock Whence I Was Hewn"
The author of that beautiful work, Brian Oswald Patrick Donn-Byrne, died tragically aged 38 in a car accident in Cork on June 18th, 1928.
"Ireland: The Rock Whence I Was Hewn"
The author of that beautiful work, Brian Oswald Patrick Donn-Byrne, died tragically aged 38 in a car accident in Cork on June 18th, 1928.
The brilliant photographer, of illustrations of everyday life in Ireland, was Clifton R. Adams.
Clifton sent by National Geographic to tour Europe and he produced over 30 albums of autochrome photos.
Unfortunately Clifton also died tragically, aged 43, on June 27th, 1934.
Clifton sent by National Geographic to tour Europe and he produced over 30 albums of autochrome photos.
Unfortunately Clifton also died tragically, aged 43, on June 27th, 1934.
This 1927 photo of paternal grandmother, mother, daughter, taken by Clifton R. Adams in Letterfrack East, Connemara.
On right, Bridget Kane (neé Coyne), aged 84.
On left, Annie Kane (neé Mulkerrin), aged 48.
In middle, Bridget Kane, aged 16, born December 20th, 1910.
On right, Bridget Kane (neé Coyne), aged 84.
On left, Annie Kane (neé Mulkerrin), aged 48.
In middle, Bridget Kane, aged 16, born December 20th, 1910.
Bridget Coyne (grandmother) married Martin Kane on March 14th, 1866, when she was 23-years-old.
Annie Mulkerrin (mother) married Martin Kane Jr on February 12th, 1904, when was 24-years-old.
Kane family had worked on the humble farm in Letterfrack East for many, many years.
Annie Mulkerrin (mother) married Martin Kane Jr on February 12th, 1904, when was 24-years-old.
Kane family had worked on the humble farm in Letterfrack East for many, many years.
I can't know for a fact but seems Bridget was named after her sister, who died earlier that same year.
On January 24th, 1910, baby Bridget died at 2-days-old, due to complications of child birth.
On December 20th, 1910, Annie welcomed a healthy baby and named her Bridget ❤️
On January 24th, 1910, baby Bridget died at 2-days-old, due to complications of child birth.
On December 20th, 1910, Annie welcomed a healthy baby and named her Bridget ❤️
Death of baby Bridget in early 1910 was the 3rd time Annie buried a child.
It's my first thought, when gobshites use their photo and say stuff like "wonder what she'd think of what Ireland has become."
Maybe Annie would have loved how rare neonatal deaths are in 2024.
It's my first thought, when gobshites use their photo and say stuff like "wonder what she'd think of what Ireland has become."
Maybe Annie would have loved how rare neonatal deaths are in 2024.
A few months after the NatGeo photo in 1927, Annie lost another child but not to death.
Her 16-year-old daughter, Bridget, emigrated to America and became the fourth of Annie's children to emigrate to USA in the 1920's.
All of them searching for a better quality of life.
Her 16-year-old daughter, Bridget, emigrated to America and became the fourth of Annie's children to emigrate to USA in the 1920's.
All of them searching for a better quality of life.
Bridget didn't have a penny to her name and had to beg & borrow for those first few years in the US.
Her older sisters in Boston paid for her passage over but none of them were happy in Boston, made worse as two of them couldn't find a job.
The girls headed for New York.
Her older sisters in Boston paid for her passage over but none of them were happy in Boston, made worse as two of them couldn't find a job.
The girls headed for New York.
Bridget changed her name to Betty in 1930.
According to her living relatives, she did that because she felt employers weren't giving her any opportunities due to the fact she's an Irish immigrant.
Thought she might have better luck with the more American-sounding Betty.
According to her living relatives, she did that because she felt employers weren't giving her any opportunities due to the fact she's an Irish immigrant.
Thought she might have better luck with the more American-sounding Betty.
Betty settled in Prospect Heights after she married.
In the 1930's, Prospect Heights was an area of Brooklyn that had a large black population. By the 1950's it was 80% black.
Betty's neighbours and friends were black, doubt she'd want racists in 2024 misusing her photo.
In the 1930's, Prospect Heights was an area of Brooklyn that had a large black population. By the 1950's it was 80% black.
Betty's neighbours and friends were black, doubt she'd want racists in 2024 misusing her photo.
Annie Kane died in Galway on February 9th, 1972 at the age of 93.
Sadly none of her children, who left for America in the 1920's, ever saw their mother again.
Air travel was a novelty in earlier decades and unaffordable for poorer immigrants, until deregulation in 1979.
Sadly none of her children, who left for America in the 1920's, ever saw their mother again.
Air travel was a novelty in earlier decades and unaffordable for poorer immigrants, until deregulation in 1979.
As for the question of what those women, photographed in 1927, might think of Ireland in 2024?
It's easy to surmise they'd be amazed at a century of human progress.
So much has changed for the better since the 1920's in Ireland, a decade that was bleak for most people.
It's easy to surmise they'd be amazed at a century of human progress.
So much has changed for the better since the 1920's in Ireland, a decade that was bleak for most people.
Grandmother, on right, lived her life in poverty.
Mother, on left, lost most of her children; 3 died as babies and 4 of them left & never came home.
Daughter, in middle, emigrated and struggled with anti-immigrant prejudice, yet made a better life for herself.
RIP 💚
Mother, on left, lost most of her children; 3 died as babies and 4 of them left & never came home.
Daughter, in middle, emigrated and struggled with anti-immigrant prejudice, yet made a better life for herself.
RIP 💚
I relied on this lovely Irish Central article from 2016, as a starting point for this thread, and then went through archives to see what I could add to it.
If anyone found this thread interesting, give the article a read to support good journalism 🙂
irishcentral.com/roots/history/…
If anyone found this thread interesting, give the article a read to support good journalism 🙂
irishcentral.com/roots/history/…
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
