Memory lane: Cover stars help launch compilation of historic photographs

A VISUAL treat jam-packed with the best the Irish Examiner’s picture archives have to offer, Remember When is the kind of evocative coffee table compilation that has something for everyone in the audience.

Launched last night at the offices of the Irish Examiner, Lapp’s Quay, Cork city, the collection of images by staff photographers maps much of our social history over more than four decades — from the familiar face of the legendary Kathy Barry to the first baby born at the new maternity unit in the Victoria Hospital; from workers of the now defunct Thomson’s Bakery; to May processions and garden fetes.

The book’s cover stars can be traced back to 1946 — the day five-year-old Owen Cashman escorted his young sister Mary, who was “almost four”, to what should have been their first day at the new school in Brooklodge, Glanmire.

Caught on camera as they returned home ahead of schedule when the opening of the school was delayed by a day, both attended last night’s launch.

“The power of the press is amazing,” Owen said.

“The Irish Examiner ran a very clever campaign and we had people ringing us telling us they recognised our picture from the paper and that the Irish Examiner was looking for us. I even got a letter from a lady who had been in school with me. She addressed it to ‘Owen Cashman, Brooklodge’, and even though I live in Glounthane now, I still got the letter.”

Their family farm fell foul of the Glanmire bypass and Mary fell in love with a garda and moved to Ennis, but the picture preserves an important moment in time.

Dan Linehan, staff photographer, who launched Remember When, said it paid tribute to the genius of the photographers who had worked for the newspaper over the years, including: Thomas Barker, grandfather of the current deputy image editor Paddy Barker; as well as Con Finnerty, Dan’s great-grandfather; his own father, Dan snr; and Michael Minihane, father of current staff photographer Denis. Tribute was also paid to Anne Kearney, head of library services, who compiled the stunning production.

The book is published by Collins Press and retails at €29.99. It is available in all good bookshops, as well as from the Irish Examiner office on Lapp’s Quay or online at www.irishexaminer.com