Ireland from the Life archives. (1940s-1970s)

Not life as in real life but Life as in the American photo journalism weekly whose heyday spanned from the late 1930s until the 1970s. The publication really came into its own during World War II and was the source of the seminal WW2 kiss photo, which may or may not have been sexual assault. Here is a selection of interesting images depicting Ireland that I gleaned from the magazine's archives. They date from the 1940s until the 1970s and as can be seen, vary widely in tone.

Here's a comely barmaid at the bar in Shannon Airport, 1948. This photo was taken at a time when Shannon was becoming an important refueling stop in transatlantic aviation. In the year of the Gathering I'm sure images echoing this one abound.

A 30 year old Mr. Brendan Behan taking a wee sup sometime in 1953.

British soldiers in Newry, Co. Down, c.1972. A reader kindly identified the church in the background as Newry Cathedral.

 Here's the picturesque harbour at Carna, Co. Galway, in 1946.

 This is the Falls Road, on the corner of Waterford Street, in 1941. In the archives it is described as a "Catholic Ghetto".

Ormond Quay, Dublin, 1943.

This image has probably been reproduced a lot in recent weeks since the 50th anniversary of JFK's visit to Ireland occurred recently. It's John F Kennedy being snogged by his cousin in Dunganstown, Co. Wexford and of course dates from 1963.

 Auld wans in a Dublin pub, c1953. This image as well as the image above of Brendan Behan were part of a series that accompanied an article on the playwright Sean O'Casey.

This image shows advertising for contemporary live entertainment in Dublin in 1943. Can anyone tell me which church that is in the background?

These lads were new army recruits, at the Curragh, Co. Kildare in 1940. Although the Irish Free State was neutral during World War II, many young soldiers, including perhaps some of those photographed above, deserted in order to join the British Army and fight against the Nazis.

Bachelor's Walk, Dublin, 1948. It's worth noting the relative paucity of vehicular traffic as well as the road being two way at the time. The Ha'Penny Bridge can be seen in the background to the left.

A British soldier, interrogating a stylish individual, outside a butcher shop somewhere in Northern Ireland, 1972. The graffito says "McShane wants to ---- anywhere." I doubt it is referring to Ian McShane. Next door there's a boutique.

Irish Soldiers cleaning an armoured car at the Curragh Camp, 1941. This vehicle would have been all that stood between freedom and Nazi domination had Operation Green ever come into effect.

 Trinity College Dublin, 1946. This was in the twilight days of the old trams.

 Ulster Defence Volunteers, being trained by the B-Specials, somewhere in Northern Ireland, 1941.

Lady hanging washing in a Dublin "slum", sometime in 1948. I'm not sure where this was taken.