'The Vandeleur Photographic Collection', which is funded by Clare County Council and The Heritage Council contains over 300 images of different members of the famous Kilrush-based Vandeleur family, their relatives and friends. The photographs date from 1857 to 1871, the post famine years when West Clare was struggling to recover from the devastation of crop failure, evictions and starvation.
Even though Kilrush has existed since the 16th century, it was until the 19th century that it began to expand into a bustling estate town. Much of this transition was initiated by the Vandeleur family, which invested huge sums of money and time into designing the layout of the town.
"The Vandeleur Photographic Collection is of great historical importance as it reveals much about both the public and private lives of one of County Clare's most influential families in the years after the famine", stated Rene Franklin, Clare County Archivist.
She explained, "The collection provides a rare and fascinating glimpse into the daily lives of the Vandeleurs; their homes; leisure activities; families and friends; travels; and fashions of the day, at a time when the rest of the county was struggling to survive."
Commenting on the content of the photographic collection, Ms. Franklin said "No traces of the hardship endured by the local people can be found in these images as the subjects pose formally for their portraits. The men are often captured in military attire and women sport the most up to date fashions, some even in fancy dress. The settings are luxurious and very much removed from the poverty that was gripping the country at the time."
"The photographs themselves are all black and white although a small number have been tinted with colour. Further colour is added to the album through the use of beautifully sketched borders and the use of stamps (both personal and official) on some pages. Each page of the photographic album contains annotations, and the volume is indexed and provides the name and date of many images", concluded Ms. Franklin.
Of Dutch origin, James Vandeleur established the family homestead at Sixmilebridge in East Clare during the late 1630s. Reimbursed by the Cromwellians for losses during the 1641 rebellion, the Vandeleur family prospered before moving west to Kilrush in 1688. The Vandeleurs soon became most prominent landlord family in West Clare and established some of Kilrush town’s most recognisable features. They include Kilrush House and the town's wide streets, many of which were named after Vandeleur family members.
Up until the succession of Colonel Crofton Vandeleur in the mid 19th century, the family name was highly respected around Kilrush and west Clare. Despite his role in the Great Famine evictions, the selective folk memory of Kilrush has almost absolved him for his mistreatment. Unfortunately for his successor Hector Vandeleur, the local tenants were not so forgiving. During his role as landlord in Kilrush, eviction and disease reduced the population of southwest Clare to such an extent that it never attained its pre-famine number.
Today, comment on the contribution made by the Vandeleur family to Kilrush and the West Clare peninsula varies. However, the Vandeleurs impact on the town can be seen to this day.
Fiona Mooney, Kilrush Town Clerk said that the Vandeleur family contributed greatly to the design and development of the town.
"The layout of the town is unique and our wide streets and estate buildings are the envy of other towns across Ireland", she said.
Ms. Mooney expressed delight that the collection of photographs will be exhibited at the Vandeleur Walled Gardens in Kilrush.
"The locating of the Vandeleur Photographic Collection in Kilrush will complement part of a heritage exhibition entitled 'Kilrush in Landlord Times', which remains on display throughout the Vandeleur centre. The Vandeleur family is very much part of the town's heritage and history", Ms. Mooney stated.
Clare County Archives has confirmed that the exhibition will be relocated from the Vandeleur Walled Gardens to the Clare Museum in Ennis at the end of September 2007.
Further information on 'The Vandeleur Photographic Collection' is available from Rene Franklin at Clare County Archives (065 6846414)
Notes to Editor:
- Rene Franklin, Clare County Archivist (065-6846414/
- Images taken from The Vandeleur Photographic Collection are available on request.
- The Vandeleur Walled Garden and Centre was funded with the assistance of ERDF grant through Shannon Development, Great Gardens of Ireland, LEADER 11/RRD Ltd, FÁS, Clare County Council and Kilrush Town Council.
Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
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County Clare
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