“The Kenrick Photo Collection is the work of amateur photographer Patrick Kenrick (1872-1950) who produced over 830 plate glass negative images between 1895 and 1915. Patrick Kenrick was born in Fethard, Co Tipperary. He was the son of a tailor and lived with his family on Main Street. Unable to work in the family business, Patrick had several jobs which included School Attendance Officer (1901 census), chauffeur and Land Agent (1911 census) for Richard Burke at Grove. He was also a remarkable amateur photographer.

In the curation of this exhibition the selected photos were chosen as examples of the many themes contained within the collection. Kenrick photographed the full stratigraphy of social life in Fethard at the turn of the twentieth century. From the barefoot child on the street to the affluent middle-class family and their peers.

The exhibition showcased as many of the themes of the collection as possible. Family life, social occasions, sporting events and community gatherings are included. Kenrick also photographed the landscape, antiquarian portraits of heritage sites still familiar today. Within some of these we can view modernity and antiquity together, such as the Rock of Cashel and the first car registered in Tipperary.

Many thanks to Roisin and Ann Marie from the Tipperary Heritage Office, Joe Kenny, the Newport family and our colleagues at Tipp Studies.”

– Stephanie Woods, curator