Donnolly Swifts & Oliver McCrossan Photo Studio

[Matt McNamara]

The following photographs were sent to this evening and show the final look at Donnolly Swifts and Oliver McCrossan's old photograph studio. There may have been photographers there before this time as a Camp Photographer was part and parcel of the Curragh Camp going back the British times. Another small Camp landmark gone. Thankfully Dan was there to record the moment for us.

Thanks again the Dan Whelan for the photographs.

Matt

[kathyo]

Hi Carmel
What a lovely photo of you and Reggie I love it
kathyo

[danwhelan438]

hi matt

cheers matt thanks again for posting them just a small error in the father in laws photo,s he was a CQ not sgt in the ones i sent the other day .
sorry also to carmel forgot to mention her yesterday in the post about the demolition hope you like the one of you and reggie.

cheers dan

[jjcurran]

Hi all
With regard to the Donnelly Swift area I seem to remember a chemist shop located there also.
Can't remember the name, perhaps some of the forum can enlighten me.
The name had MPSI after it. Some unruely kids (probably from Pearse) used to get great fun shouting as they passed,
"Monkey's P*** sold inside".
Regards
JJ

[maurakearney]

Lovely Picture of Carmel and Regie Carmel went back to her roots where she started her Hair Dressing Training. Maura.

[kathyo]

Hi All
do you think Reggie's will be next for the chop
kathyo

[kellquinn]

Hi JJ
Young’s Chemist now also based in Newbridge was the original Chemists later taken over by Dermott Pheeley. Before he last moved down to the Old Market Square Area opposite the New Museum. In addition, we Pearse lads were so refined that our saying was My Pills Stay Inside (MPSI), which really meant Members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland) It was them Mc Donagh Ruffians who stated that it meant Monkey P.ss Sold Inside.
Regards
JKelly Up Pearse!

[kellquinn]

Hi Dan
Good shots there of another old landmark going to that great Studio in the sky, another negative exposure in the lack of preservation, only our photographic memories left. I think Carmel is getting younger looking must be that Curragh air in the lungs.
PS. I hear Reggie is not cutting hair any longer......
Again well done
Regards
JoeyK

[jjcurran]

Hi Joey
Thanks for that. I remember an incident associated with Young’s Chemist circa 1958. I had read an old book I found in my grandfather’s house in which the recipe for making gunpowder was given. Being the type of brat that I was at the time I decided I would have a go at making some. I still remember the ingredients but given the times we live in I will not repeat them here but one ingredient was saltpetre. This was also used by pig farmers for curing bacon. It was decided among ‘our gang’ that we would each go in separately to Youngs and each buy one of the required ingredients allowing a suitable time lapse between each purchase in case the chemist copped on to what we were up to.
I went in first and asked for some saltpetre in as casual a manner as my brazen face would allow. The chemist said “What do you want saltpetre for?” I replied that my father had pigs and he wanted it for them. He replied “I know your father, he does not have any pigs. Get out of here or I’ll have the PA’s on to you. So that put an end to my deviation into the manufacture of IED’s. The photo of Reggie’s triggered my memory and reminded me of the delinquent I was growing up on the Curragh.
Regards
JJ

[johnnykelly]

Re: Donnolly Swifts & Oliver McCrossan Photo
Hi JJ
whenever us Pearse gang required salpetre we would go into Youngs and request it and when asked for what purpose, we would always say for curing rabbit skins,and this was always accepted,curing pigs me a;;se, up Pearse cute squeres that we are. bye for now Johnny

[andybrennan]

Gee wiz,

I go away for a few days on maneuvers and come back to see snaps of Donnolly Swifts no more, gone with a flick of a bucket.

fair dues to Dan for recording the moment.

Andy

[Frank O'Connor]

I'm amazed that old tin shack survived so long. I'm 58 years old and that old shack stood there all my life and is (or was) a lot older than me. Anybody know how old it was by any chance?

As for Reggies barber shop, well do I remember as a wee lad being marched down to Reggies for the regulation haircut, which was about as welcome as a trip to the dentist. When I was very small, too small for the barber chair, he had a plank that was placed across the arm rests to raise you up high enough for scalping.

I remember also that Reggie had a second room that I think was reserved for officers and cadets. If he heard one of these arriving on the other side he would leave you stranded half-scalped while he disappeared for what seemed like hours to deal with these v.i.p’s. That was where I got my first lesson in social inequality and the class system. Needless to say I never forgot that lesson.

When I got a bit older I discovered an alternative barber shop down by MacAteers. This chap didn't mind accepting instructions about how I wanted the finished haircut to look, unlike Reggie who had obviously been brainwashed by my dad (or so I thought). Does anybody know the name of that other barber?

There was also Joelle's (?) which first opened when I was about 10 years old I guess, but that was of course the exclusive preserve of the female persuasion for whom getting your hair done was clearly not the same ordeal it was for us lads.

Eventually, I got old enough to stop getting my hair cut completely and like many of my generation took pride in growing it long and wild...Now that was true liberation!!!
(Sorry Reggie)

Francis

[gaul]

Hi Frank,
Very accurate resumé of the trials and tribulations of a young boy in the Curragh trying to maintain a modern look during the Elvis era.
I experienced exactly the same result as you.Even after trying to plamass Reggie to go easy on the mower I always ended up with a number one.It was many years after that I found out that there was collusion between reggie and my father.

I always thought that the barbers attached to McAteer's shop was McAteer.
Interesting point on inequality.I remember that Biddy Dobbins was where the mass went and McAteer's was where the quality went, and this was self imposed segretion,one was expected to know ones place.
However the segregation at the church, imposed by a uniformed military policeman at the officers door was official,as was the central roped off area for officers wives and their families at the annual school sports at the gym field.
Indeed the Curragh is a place of many memories.

[johnnykelly]

Re: Donnolly Swifts & Oliver McCrossans Photo Studio
Hi all
always will remember browsing at the latest edition displays of photos in the window of Swifts,as we passed the studio on our way to and from school,Communions Confirmations Weddings Sports of all sorts, trying to identify whomever was on display.so sad to see this great landmark gone, the way of the JCB. Gus Gannon would also help out Reggie in his barber shop as he worked in the bord of works he would always do a few hours after work.I think that the barbers name that worked in McAteers was Johnny Redmond he lived in Kildare and was a big soccer fan especially of Shamrock Rovers. and you could always ask him to cut your hair the way you wanted it, you could also ask Reggie to do the same but it was always the same no matter what you requested, come out like he put a bowl around your head No 1 for 1 No 1 for all! the famous sign in joe kellys barber shop in newbridge was "Army haircuts repaired"me thinking quick as the grey matter is kicking in I think that should read Johnny Taylor down in McAteers barbers. ps Carmel the next time a shadower from pearse says hello out side reggies please acknoledge. bye for now Johnny

[joemurray]

So sad to see another bit of Curragh history fall to the bulldozer.Was in the camp a few weeks ago and had my photo taken outside that little building,just in time it seems.My family have lots of photos taken inside Swifts.I fear that there will be little left for us older ones to view on our visits to the Camp.