Whose funeral is this?

[Wiggy]

I think the bloke in the second row with his head down is just in a contemplative mood!

We could always wait until Colur gets back  after reading the book !!

Wiggy   

[Colur]

Hi Everyone,

When first laid out the Marine Road was known as the 40 Foot Road (because of its width) It links Georges Street (which St Michaels Church fronts onto) and Victoria / St Michaels Wharf.
Half way down its length it forms a junction with Eblana Avenue on the left and Gresham Terrace on the right. Gresham Terrace leads up to the Royal Marine Hotel and the avenue would have provided ample parking for the large number of cars accompanying this? funeral. The photo only shows half the width of the road and indeed half its length giving the impression that it does end and turn sharp right which IS the case with the church on Carrickbrennan Road.

Kingstown / Dun Laoghaire hosted many turn of the century events such as Royal visits and in 1932 the arrival of the Papal Nuncio but all of these were very lavish affairs full of buntings, banners, flags and cheering crowds.

I am delighted with the interest this photo has generated and will forward it on to the National Library as suggested to see if they can throw any light on it. Deans Grange was the only cemetery accepting burials in the area from the mid 1860’s on so I am guessing that was where the funeral was heading.

The books contain upwards of 300 notable burials in Deans Grange and basing my search on a ‘seasonal’ one I am going through them and eliminating those who were interred during the months between April and September.

As I said earlier I will try for some photos of the area this morning before the town gets busy.

[Jean McGurn]

This is a fascinating photo. So many questions.

 I have been looking at the Kingstown website which has pages and pages of information including a page for Boy Scouts from Dublin who died in the Great War and I wonder if, as there appear to be some scouts in the parade, if perhaps it was the funeral of a local boy/man who died after returning from France.

I don't know how large Dun L was at that time but in the listings of soldiers who died there are a number who were buried at Deans Grange.  Is there anything on the reverse of the photo to give a clue as to the date?

Jean
 

[Colur]

Hi Jean,

Fully agree that the photo has generated so many questions.

I am going through some books at the moment had had dismissed pre 1920 burials in Dens grange but will check back now on the C W G C Section as yours is a very good point.

Thanks,

John.

[heywood]

I've really enjoyed reading this thread and all the detective work going on. 

I only realised the photographer's name when I read Colur's post. I had been looking for Neville photographers - now I see it as C Neville Cook 

One thing though that puzzles me is that Kingstown reverted to Dun Laoghaire (or the anglicised version)  in 1920 - would the photographers continue with the stamp as Kingstown after that or would they have changed it? Did it continue to be known by both names?

[JenB]

Well  I for one think it is a funeral ....

a) wreaths leaning on the side wall of the church

I don't think they are wreaths. I think they are bicycles. They are parked at about 45^o to the church wall. You can clearly see the wheel of one of them (directly below the right-hand window on the church), and what appear to be the pedals of another.

[Wiggy]

Agree - I don't think they are wreaths either.  Bikes!     

[Colur]

Hi Heywood and thanks for your interest. You and me both, I thought it was a family photo until Annie pointed it out. It was suggested to me yesterday that Cooks might have used old stocks of paper for printing when I pointed out the 'Kingstown' name.

I took some photos this morning of the area as it is now . Much changed but those of us who were living out there before the changes will know the original photo as being that of St Michaels and the Marine Road

The three story building is where Cooks Studio used to be up until the late ‘50’s and where I think the photo was taken from.



This is from roughly the same angle but from ground floor level. The road has much changed since the fire and the building of the new church and shopping centre but as can be seen the road travels on down to the ferry terminal where once the wharf was.
The glass building on the right is where the cars are exiting to join the funeral procession.



This photo shows the avenue from which the cars are exiting and turning left onto the Marine Road.

[heywood]

It's fascinating what posters see and point out.

I agree with Jenb re the bicycles.