“I don’t know the street photographer and don’t have the original any more. It was taken in O’Connell St., (Rotunda in background) prior to 25 December 1940 and most likely in 1939 or 1940..
The lady on the right is Mai Medlar (m. Ledwidge). She was born on Bloody Sunday (21/11/1920) and died aged 90 (21/1/2011). She was my godmother and my mother’s cousin.
The lady on the left is her grandmother (Granny Donohoe). She was born, Ellen Brennan, in 1861 in Ballyellin, Co. Carlow, married John Medlar and after his death James Donohue. Her son, and Mai’s father, Patrick Medlar, was an Alderman and City Councillor on Dublin City Council (1920-1942) and an undertaker in James’s St. Ellen died on Christmas Day 1940 at her brother’s funeral in Ballyellin.
Mai’s age in the photo is estimated a minimum of 19 which would put the photo at least at 1939, and Ellen’s death in 1940 puts that as an upper limit.
The photo is from an album of Mary (Blondie) Brennan (m. Worth), Ellen’s niece and Mai’s cousin, who was raised on the Upper Ballyellin Lock (Goresbridge) and who died aged 91 (6/3/2011).
Further details on all that family are at http://photopol.com/dca2/medlar_lecture_plan5.doc”
(1939)
Submitted by Pól Ó Duibhir