Old Ireland in Colour, created by John Breslin and Sarah-Anne Buckley is a magnificent compilation of vintage images from around Ireland, vividly portraying Irish life in years gone by.
Today, I’m delighted to share this wonderful book with you. It was one of the top selling books in Ireland over the 2020 holiday period, and when you see its spectacular images, you’ll fully understand why.
Happy Days – c.1946, Feothanach,Co. Kerry; Members of the O’Sullivan, Griffin and Kavanagh families
This lovely publication is now available in the United States, and to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, the publisher Merrion Press has graciously shared a copy with Irish American Mom, for one lucky reader to win.
But before I share details of this giveaway, let’s first take a closer look at this Irish treasure.
Life In Ireland Long Ago
Have you ever wondered what life was like for your ancestors in Ireland?
Have you ever held an old black and white family portrait or landscape photograph, and imagined it in color in your own mind’s eye?
Have you ever truly imagined how the people of Ireland lived in years gone by?
If so, then you might truly enjoy this book. It boasts beautifully restored images of Old Ireland, that bring the lives of our forebears to life before our very eyes.
Old Ireland In Colour
Old Ireland in Colour celebrates the rich history of Ireland and the Irish through the colour restoration of stunning images of all walks of Irish life, and the Irish abroad, throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
From the chaos of the Civil War to the simple beauty of the islands, each image has been exquisitely transformed and every page is bursting with life.
Fair Day – 4 May 1910, Ballybricken, Waterford City
Old Family Pictures As Inspiration
Old Ireland in Colour started in 2019 when John Breslin developed an interest in historic photo colourisation, enhancement and restoration through personal genealogical research.
He began to colorize old family photos – photos of his grandparents from Fanore in Co. Clare and Glenties in Co. Donegal. Using a combination of cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology and his own historical research,
John moved from family photographs to photographs of Galway and Connemara, and then on to others taken across the island of Ireland in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. After a few months, the Old Ireland in Color project was born.
For this beautiful book, John has meticulously colorized a varied and fascinating selection of images, with breath-taking attention to detail and authenticity.
With photographs from all four provinces, and accompanied by fascinating captions by historian Sarah-Anne Buckley, Old Ireland in Color revitalizes scenes we thought we knew, and brings our past back to life before our eyes.
Vintage Images of Ireland
Let’s take a look at some of these Irish cultural treasures.
Sisterly Love, 22 September 1883, Ahascragh, Co. Galway
The Dillons were a Norman family who initially received grants of land in Westmeath and who later acquired properties in neighbouring counties, including Roscommon and Galway.
Woman Baking – c.1910, Galgorm Castle, Ballymena, Co. Antrim
A photograph by Mary Alice Young, inspired by Flemish art. Young was the eldest daughter of the Rt Hon. Sir F.E.W. Macnaghten, and in 1893 she married W.R. Young, the eldest son of the Rt Hon. John Young and the owner of Galgorm Castle near Ballymena.
Between 1890 and 1915, she took over a thousand photographs and is therefore one of the period’s most prolific female photographers.
The Claddagh Catch, c.1905, Spanish Parade, Galway City
Pictured here are Nonnie, or Nannie, O’Donnell, Mary Rodgers, Kitty Conneely and Mrs Gill, all from the Claddagh, Galway City.
The women are wearing the Galway shawl, which was a heavy-weight shawl that became popular at the end of the nineteenth century.
‘The Spring’ – 18 November 1925, USA
Lady Hazel Lavery (née Martyn) (1880 –1935) dressed as Flora in Botticelli’s painting The Spring.
Born in Chicago to a family of Irish descent, Lavery was an actress, painter and socialite. In 1909, she married Belfast-born John Lavery, who was twenty-four years her senior.
Her portrait by John featured on all Irish Series A banknotes from 1928 until 1976. From then until the adoption of the euro, her likeness was used as the watermark on all Irish banknotes.
Teatime, May 1954, Loughrea, Co. Galway
Members of the Sheridan and O’Brien families from the Irish Travelling community at mealtime.
Sixties Style, 1960 –1966, Winetavern Street, Dublin City
Linda O’Reilly (née Ward) was an American model who married Brendan O’Reilly, a presenter on Sports Stadium on RTÉ Television.
Pictured here on a photoshoot in Dublin, she swapped New York for Dublin’s modelling scene, and this picture shows two local boys admiring her fashionable outfit.
Posing on the Doorstep, 21 September 1933, Leperstown, Dunmore East, Co. Waterford
This photograph depicts Mrs Bridget Flynn and five of her children – Francis (boy standing), Bridget (mother), Margaret (toddler), Philomena (girl standing), Norbert and Mary (seated).
Survivors, 8 May 1915, Cobh (formerly Queenstown), Co. Cork
The Riley family, from Bradford, England, were survivors of the Lusitania sinking.
Photographed here are parents Annie and Edward Riley and their 4-year-old twins, Sutcliffe and Ethel. Of the almost 2,000 persons aboard the Lusitania, 764 were saved.
Smiling and Curious, c.1924, Great Blasket Island, Co. Kerry
Two young girls from the Blasket Islands, which were inhabited until 1953 by an Irish-speaking population.
At their height, the islands had 175 residents; there were twenty-two by 1953.
Sublichs, May 1954, Loughrea, Co. Galway
This photograph depicts members of the Sheridan and O’Brien families from the Irish Travelling community.
Sublichs is the Cant (a language spoken by the Travelling community) term for boys.
About The Authors:
John Breslin is a Professor at NUI Galway, where he has taught engineering, computer science and entrepreneurship over a twenty-year period. He has written over 200 publications and co-authored two books.
Dr Sarah-Anne Buckley is a lecturer in History at NUI Galway and President of the Women’s History Association of Ireland. She has published two monographs, four edited volumes and numerous articles. She is co-founder of the Irish Centre for the Histories of Labour and Class.
Bringing Yesteryear To Life
This book brings yesteryear to life.
It’s a perfect gift for anyone who loves Ireland, but for older generations it may evoke childhood memories. These images are a great way to take a little trip down memory lane. You’ll find many great topics for “do you remember” chats.
I received a copy of this book as a gift for Christmas. I found the pictures to be poignant and evocative. Each image is matched with just enough text to enlighten the reader, perfectly elaborating each topic.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who has Irish roots, grew up in Ireland, or those who simply have a deep interest in Irish culture and life.
The photos have been digitized and colorized with great skill, making them look like they were taken yesterday. A decade or so ago I recall seeing vintage images with added color. The results were not good, with unrealistic results. This is definitely not the case with this book. The color palate achieved is very realistic, and each shot portrays the humanity and simplicity of Irish life in years gone by.
Where To Purchase Old Ireland In Colour
Old Ireland in Colour is published by Merrion Press and is now for sale in the United States.
It is available through Amazon.
There are many reviews included on the Amazon page, with delighted customers sharing how impressed they are with this work. This book makes a perfect Irish gift.
You can follow Old Ireland in Colour on Instagram, where they share many of these amazing photographs.
They also have a Facebook page which you may like to follow.
The Giveaway
One lucky reader will win a hard cover copy of Old Ireland in Colour.
To enter simply leave a comment on this blog post by noon Eastern Time on Saturday, March 20th, 2021.
Any comment will do. What you write does not affect your chance of winning, but if you need inspiration why not tell us if you have any treasured family photos, or vintage images from Ireland or beyond.
A winning comment will be chosen randomly. Remember to leave your e-mail so that I can contact you should you win. Your e-mail won’t be published, just used to contact our lucky contestant for mailing of the prize.
The winner will be announced on Saturday, March 20th, 2021, at the bottom of this blog post.
You may check out Irish American Mom’s complete terms and conditions for sweepstakes’ entries by clicking here.
Thank you to all who support this giveaway and share it with family and friends.
And thank you to Merrion Press for sponsoring this prize.
Update: Winner Chosen on March 20th, 2021
Our winner has been randomly chosen using the Pick Giveaway Winner Plug-in for WordPress.
And the lucky reader is ….
Kira Law
I’ll send an email to arrange mailing of her prize. A big thank you to everyone for supporting this giveaway by leaving comments. I thoroughly enjoyed reading each and every comment.
Thank you all for supporting our Irish American community.
Stay tuned for more stories and giveaways over the coming weeks and months.
Thanks for following my recipes and ramblings.
Slán agus beannacht,
(Goodbye and Blessings)
Irish American Mom
Disclosure: I do not have any financial connection with Merrion Press. The link for purchasing this book is an Amazon affiliate link, which means that if you should purchase this book through this link, I will earn a small commission. The price you pay is not affected. This post reflects my honest and unbiased thoughts about this work.
Copyright 2020 by John Breslin and Dr. Sarah-Anne Buckley. Images republished with permission from Merrion Press.
Here are some more recipes and ramblings you might enjoy…
- No-Bake Banoffee Pie – A Banana and Caramel British Treat
- What Is It About Ireland That You Love?
- Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes Irish Style
- Cherry Blossoms in Bloom in Saint Stephen’s Green
- Best Time To Visit Ireland
- Crockpot Creme Egg Chocolate Easter Cake
- Chocolate Covered Bunnies As Homemade Easter Treats
- Tender Melt In Your Mouth Lemon Shortbread Bars
I was adopted at birth but through a DNA test learned was Irish and Scottish. I learned my Irish ancestor came to America shortly before the American Revolution from County Antrim in Northern Ireland. His name was Joseph Cathcart and he was a spy for the Americans during the Revolutionary War. He was captured by the British and was going to be hanged as a spy, but his accusers didn’t show up for the trial so they had to release him! (My son said, “Lucky for us!” lol) As as adoptee, I was raised by people of Dutch heritage, so now I’m trying to learn all I can about my Irish heritage and I was so pleased to stumble across your web site!!
Hi Gail – Thank you for sharing your family story, and your journey of discovery through DNA testing. You have made amazing strides and uncovered an incredible story from your past. I’m so glad you found my website.I’m delighted you decided to follow my recipes and ramblings, and I look forward to bringing a little bit of Ireland to you each week.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Gail, you may have been raised by Dutch but your grand message sounds Irish, for sure. Funny how genetics take over our manners.
So true, Daniel. Gail’s turn of phrase sounds very Irish. Have a lovely Saint Patrick’s Day.
All the best,
Mairéad
What an amazing looking book that changes the way we see our past. ( I think most of us either have Irish ancestry or have Irish friends so I can see why this book is so popular! )
Hi Sandra – Readers of this blog all have deep connections with Ireland, or else they feel very Irish at heart. I love reading how some readers feel a strong connection to Ireland, and then afterwards discover they have Irish ancestry through DNA testing. It’s lovely to see this post generate so much interest and lovely comments. Thanks for stopping by to support this giveaway.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Would LOVE to have this! My family is from Ireland and I have always been fascinated with with Ireland and its history!
I have been following Old Ireland on Instagram and think the pictures are just beautiful! Would love to win the book to have the entire collection.
Hi Michele – I’ve added the links for Old Ireland in Colour on Instagram and Facebook. It’s a lovely way to connect with people of Irish heritage.
All the best,
Mairéad
Hi Jan – I’m so glad you enjoy the snippets of Irish history I love to share, and I hope they help you feel connected to Ireland, the land of your ancestors. I’m so happy you like this prize. It’s a beautiful, artistic volume, perfect for anyone with Irish heritage.
All the best,
Mairéad
What a treasure this book is!! I often look at places and things old and wonder what it was like back in the day. Someone will have the luck of the Irish and receive this beautiful book, for sure. Fingers crossed.
Hi Linda – So glad you like this prize. Thanks for stopping by to support our little giveaway. Best of Irish luck in the contest.
All the best,
Mairéad
This is so cool! Thank you for sharing!
Hi Maggie – Thanks for stopping by to support this giveaway.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
As I have stated on an earlier post I am now in the process of discovering my Irish heritage born as a McKenna this book would be a great resource to learn more about the past. I did celebrate a wee bit early St. Pattys day with a wee bit of Shepherd’s pie! (not sure if it was authentic or not as I have not eaten any from Ireland) but it was delicious!!
Hi Brian – Lovely to hear you enjoyed your shepherd’s pie. Once it’s delicious, that’s all that matters, traditional or not. This book would be perfect for you, to see what life was like in Ireland long ago.
Thanks for stopping by to support this giveaway.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
The sample photos that you shared are truly beautiful! Seeing the older photos are like going back in time. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Barbara – So glad you like this prize. Best of luck in our giveaway.
Take care,
Mairéad
I love looking at these pictures. I can feel an almost bond with my ancestors that lived there. Wonderful!!
Hi Cathleen – These photos are very real and human. They’re something poignant about the faces and places featured throughout these pages that makes us fee connected to our past. Thanks so much for following my recipes and ramblings.
All the best,
Mairéad
This book would be a wonderful way to share my family history with my nephews and nieces. Thank you
Hi Kitty – It’s lovely to know you’re proud of your Irish heritage and share it with your nephews and nieces. That is wonderful and this book would be a lovely resource for your family. Thanks for checking out my ramblings and for exploring our ancestral heritage here in our Irish American community.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
I am Irish-American. I had a trip planned to Ireland before the Pandemic. At least I had a chance to save more money. I loved the photos.
Hi Audrey – I hope it won’t be long before you are on your way to Ireland. I have a feeling the skies will be very busy in 2022. Thanks so much for following my recipes and ramblings.
All the best,
Mairéad
What a wonderful look at history! I love learning about my Irish ancestry and this is a wonderful look back in time!
Hi Zelva – This truly is an amazing look back in time. It highlights how poor the Irish were in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The photos clearly illustrate the reasons so many Irish headed to America in search of a better life.
All the best,
Mairéad
I am amazed how these pictures come to life with color.
As I looked at each photo their stories came to life as well.
So happy this book was published, it certainly is a beautiful
way to study old Ireland. Many thanks to John Breslin and
Sarah-Anne Buckley.
Hi Mary – I loved this book and was so delighted when I received it as a Christmas gift. The little snippets of history that accompany each picture add so much to the story each photograph tells.
Thanks so much for following my recipes and ramblings.
All the best,
Mairéad
Would love to win this. Back in the 80s , my grandma had our lineage traced back the 1500s in Ireland. This photo book would grace my living room beautifully.
Hi Jill – Your grandma did an amazing job to be able to trace your family all the way back to the 1500’s. I hope you have recorded her findings for future generations to cherish. I’m so glad you like this prize. Best of luck in our giveaway.
Take care,
Mairéad
What a sweet collection of photos! The children are just priceless! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Sandi – It’s amazing how happy all of the children look despite the poverty of their surroundings. Their eyes show great spirit and joy. Best of luck in our giveaway.
Take care,
Mairéad
I love seeing old photos showing what life was like from the time when my mother was born and growing up in Ireland. Would love to have this beautiful book!
Hi Renee – This book would be perfect for you, and one to treasure and browse through from time to time. Thanks for stopping by to support this giveaway.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Thank you for this post! I’m going to jump over to Insta and follow Old Ireland!! We were blessed to visit Ireland in 2019 and had already started making plans to go back but alas… well, we all know the story. But I’m saving anyway in hopes to return!! Your recipes are helping to keep it fresh. Thank you!
Hi Cecelia – Lovely to learn that you enjoyed your first trip to Ireland so much, you’re planning a return visit. There’s something about Ireland that just keeps calling us home.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Beautiful photos. Would absolutely love to have this book.
I love old black and white photos, but when colour is added they just seem to come to life. Would love to have this book. Thank you and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Best of luck in our giveaway, Geraldine. Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to you and yours.
Take care,
Mairéad
Hi Bernadette – Thanks for stopping by to support this giveaway.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
What an awesome keepsake book to have. Can’t wait to see all the inside pictures. I finally met cousins in Ireland 2 yrs ago. We connected thru Ancestory. It was an amazing trip.
How wonderful to connect with your family in Ireland. Ancestry is doing an amazing job reconnecting long lost cousins all over the world. So happy to hear you had a fantastic trip to Ireland.
Thanks for stopping by to support this giveaway.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
How amazing to see these photos of people who look like my relatives! Interesting comparison to the Midwestern photos of the same era.
Hi Emily – There definitely is a similarity between these Irish photos and some Midwestern photos from America. In the early 20th century many Irish had settled in the Midwest. Depression era photos from America hold the same poignancy as many of these shots.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
My favorite photos are Woman Baking, Posing on the Doorstep, and Curious…
Hi Ann – The Woman Baking is a spectacular shot, and so reminiscent of Flemish and Dutch paintings. The lighting is perfect. Posing on the doorstep is typical of many Irish photos of the time. Mrs. Flynn looks like she is pregnant once again as she holds her baby. My father was one of thirteen children. Irish families were very large back then. The curious girls from the Blaskets is a captivating shot. I love their smiles. Their clothes may be shabby, but they look so happy and carefree.
Take care,
Mairéad
What a treasure! The pictures are so wide in range and we are lucky so lucky that someone took the time to do this and compile them all in a book. Love it.
Hi Angela – It is wonderful that the authors took the time to complete this project. Much work went in to creating such a treasure trove of social history.
Best of luck in our giveaway.
Take care,
Mairéad
Woweee. What a BEAUTIFUL book. I love the short descriptions of what each picture depicts. If I win I might donate it to the local Irish ceilidhe club that I now belong to. Maybe they can include it in a raffle to raise $$. They have been around since 1955 but had to remain closed the past year. They are hurting financially. They had to close their St. Pat’s day celebration just before St. Pat’s day last year which is usually their BIGGEST fundraiser. And now this year too! They are doing some online lectures etc, but they money coming in is small.
Hi Judith – This book would be a perfect prize for a fund raising raffle. Many clubs like yours are hurting financially. I hope that when life returns to something closer to normal, people will realize how important it is to support clubs, and groups that have been devastated over the past year. Thanks for stopping by to support this giveaway.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Wow. This looks like someone took this photo’s just yesterday. The images are amazing. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Tracy – The colorization process used for these photos is lovely – nothing too bright or gaudy. They all still have a charming, nostalgic look, but all hold so much history.
Thanks so much for following my recipes and ramblings.
All the best,
Mairéad
Beautiful, touching photos. And as the author of A History of the Irish in America (Chartwell Press, 1985), especially moving to see faces who may have been among the many emigrants to the States over the centuries!
Hi Ann Kathleen – Thank you so much for stopping by. I own a copy of your book and have read it a few times. It’s a wonderful history of the Irish in America. I think you might be correct about the faces featured on the pages of this book. Many may have ended up in America. Thanks for stopping by to support this giveaway.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Oh my! What a fantastic book. Thanks for the chance to win!
Hi Kelly – Best of luck in our giveaway.
Take care,
Mairéad
Irish mom living in America too I love this giveaway and loved it even more when i saw the sisterly love picture from my hometown Ahascragh ❤️
Hi Lorraine – That’s a wonderful old photo of the two Dillon girls from Ahascragh. Thanks for stopping by to check out this giveaway and this amazing book.
All the best, and have a lovely Saint Patrick’s Day.
Mairéad
New to the blog and love it! Hoping to win a copy!
Hi Heather – I’m delighted you found our little corner of the internet. Welcome to our community. Thanks for following my recipes and ramblings.
All the best,
Mairéad
With an English Mother and an Irish Father and growing up in England some how I am more drawn to my Irish roots and my visits to Cork have always been amazing..What a wonderful book How I wold love to browse these pages in quite moments.. Thank you..
Hi Christine – My family are also from Cork, and I always love to be there. Thanks for stopping by to support this giveaway.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Looks like a lovely book. Brings back fond memories of my trip to Ireland in 2003. We stayed in my friend’s gran’s cottage in Malinmoore.
Hi Kathleen – I’m so glad you’ve had the opportunity to visit Ireland, and that this post brought back some fond memories for you. Irish cottages are so welcoming, and lovely places to stay. Thanks so much for following my recipes and ramblings.
All the best,
Mairéad
I’m part Irish. I would love to read this book.
Hi Alberta – Best of luck in our giveaway.
Take care,
Mairéad
The pictures look as if they came out of my own photo albums both from photos I’ve taken and photos shared from aunts, uncles and a million cousins back in Ireland. I really want to go back very soon and things like this make the want stronger. What a lovely book. I’d love to have it and share with the family here. I enjoy all your posts, recipes and blogs. Many times they conjure up memories I hadn’t thought about for years. Thank you!