Photos taken in Mick JC O’ Sullivan’s bar McCurtin Hill, August 1964.
Jerome JC O’ Sullivan, former owner of O’ Sullivan’s bar and son of Maureen and Mick JC O’ Sullivan has confirmed these photos were taken on 13 August 1964.
Jerome recalls that Jack O’ Driscoll worked in England. He came home to Clonakilty every summer on holidays. It is likely this is the day he was heading back to England so everyone had gathered in the pub for a farewell drink. At the time emigration was very much a part of life in Clon.
Lily O’ Byrne, daughter of the late Joe Byrne, standing to the far right in the first photo, tells me he was a lighthouse keeper at the Galley Head. Her late mother was Margaret O’ Donovan from Fishers Cross pub. Her dad Joe used to come to town occasionally and his favourite pub was Mick JC’s.
Jerome O’ Sullivan provided some history on the pub: It was purchased by his great-great-grandfather in 1898 and remained in the family for ninety years. He sold the pub in 1988.
Many thanks to Jerome JC O’ Sullivan and Lily O’ Byrne for bringing these photos to life again.