1960s | The Little Museum Collection

Kennedy In Dublin by Keystone, 1963

The visit of US President John F. Kennedy was seismic

It was a historic visit, not least because Kennedy, a young, dynamic Irish-American, had long made much of his Irish roots. Kennedy was mobbed by autograph hunters at a garden party held in his honour at the home of the President. His address to both houses of the Oireachtas on 28 June was a bravura performance; a sort of homecoming, as the Irish Times noted. During his speech, Kennedy described his heritage, made an attack on literary censorship and noted – to the delight of the assembled politicians – that Leinster House “does not inspire the brightest ideas.” Six months later he was killed in Dallas, Texas.

With thanks to Getty Images

Watch a video of President John F.Kennedy arriving at Dublin Airport:

Aer Lingus London to Dublin Ad, 1960s

Air Travel only became widespread in the second half of the twentieth century

Strange as it now seems, air travel was once perceived as a glamorous activity. This elegant poster advertises the Aer Lingus service between London and Dublin, costing £12. 18 for a return flight.

With thanks to Aer Lingus

Watch a vintage Aer Lingus advertisement:

Irish Telephone Directory , 1962

Telephones only became widespread in Ireland in the second half of the twentieth century

This small telephone directory covers the whole of the Republic of Ireland – and less than half the book is devoted to phone numbers outside of Dublin.

The first pages contain instructions on using a phone, with advice like ‘replace receiver before re-dialling,’ and ‘speak directly into the transmitter.’ There was no standard emergency number in those days – it is 999, 9999, 10 or 0, depending on the user’s location.

Permanent Collection

Prescott’s Dry Cleaning Poster, 1964

This poster has nothing to do with air travel

It is an ad for Prescott’s dry cleaners in Drumcondra, near the airport. The pitch borrows the glamour and speed of commercial air travel to make a mundane service seem more exciting.

The plane in the picture – a Fokker Friendship – puts the ad some time between 1958 and 1966, when the Friendships were phased out of service. A miniature incarnation of Dublin airport is depicted at the bottom of the ad. The airport was designed by Desmond Fitzgerald, who was only 26 years old when he secured the commission.

Permanent Collection

Rainy O’Connell Street Corner 1966 – 2009

These pictures show how much O’Connell street has changed in forty years

Pádraic McMahon, a photographer and former member of the Dublin rock band The Thrills, inherited a collection of photos of Dublin in the 1960s from an elderly neighbour, William Stafford (1915-2006). McMahon recreated the photos as faithfully as possible, using the same exposure settings, in the same locations – even at the same time of day and in the same weather

With thanks to William Stafford and Pádraic McMahon

Watch a video about the changing architecture of O’Connell Street:

O’Connell Street and Nelson’s Pillar 1966, O’Connell Street and the Spire 2009

These pictures show how much O’Connell street has changed in forty years

With thanks to William Stafford and Pádraic McMahon

Miss Ireland Poster, 1960s

The Miss Ireland pageant has been running since 1947

This poster advertises the Four Provinces ballroom on Harcourt Street. An iconic hangout for many years, the 4Ps later became the Television Club before being demolished. Showbands were popular between the mid 1950s and late 1970s; they usually featured a lead singer fronting brass and rhythm sections and a keyboard instrument, playing popular hits of the day.

Permanent Collection

Watch footage of Ireland in the 1960’s:

MiWadi Label, 1960s

MiWadi fruit squash is a part of many Dubliners’ childhoods

The name MiWadi comes from the original parent company – Mineral Water Distributors, formed in 1927. MiWadi was originally sold in chemists, because cordials were thought to be good for sick people. In the 1970s, supermarkets such as Dunnes Stores started making MiWadi more accessible. In the 1980s it was often mixed with alcohol.

Permanent Collection

Watch footage of Dublin in the 1960’s:

Marlene Dietrich in Dublin, 1966

A signed photograph of Marlene Dietrich

Marlene Dietrich, the celebrated German-American singer and actor, played two concerts here at the Adelphi cinema in November 1966.

Permanent Collection.

Listen to Marlene Dietrich singing ‘Everyone’s Gone to the Moon’:

Stafford and McMahon’s Dublin, 1966 – 2009

These pictures show how much O’Connell street has changed in forty years

McMahon recreated the photos as faithfully as possible, using the same exposure settings, in the same locations – even at the same time of day and in the same weather. In this photo the shadows on the Custom House – the large domed building in the foreground – are in the exact same position. Almost everything else has changed.

With thanks to William Stafford and Pádraic McMahon

Watch a video about O’Connell street:

Posts from the �s’ category