I was going through Tom Finn’s (1927-2007) slide collection today and came across this photo, probably taken back west. We are not sure who the men are, let alone the nuns they seem to have rounded up. We think the men are Tom’s climbing buddies Brian Daly, Denis Switzer, and Bill Edwards. If anyone can confirm this, we would be delighted.
Tom was a founding member of the club, a pioneering mountaineer, and a keen photographer. He usually had his camera with him when he went mountaineering and illustrated details of all climbs were entered into a club logbook or a personal journal. These provide a fascinating insight into the development of mountaineering as a sport in Kerry, as well as the history of Tralee Mountaineering Club.
If you have any ideas about what was going on in this photo, or a suitable caption, get in touch!
CW&NF
COMMENTS:
“You know the nun in the square wimple is wearing a habit like Auntie Pat’s but I don’t think it’s her. In the early days she had to stay in a convent – she used to stay at Pres but I don’t recognise any of the nuns. I think it’s definitely Denis, Bill and Brian.”
Clodagh Finn
“I like the symbolism of the nuns on the mountains on today February 1st the feast day ‘Saint Bridget’ which traditionally marks the beginning of spring representing rebirth and renewal, hope, youth and growth.”
Picking up on Mags’ point about Lá ‘Le Bríde or Bridget’s Day, just in case people think that it was a man only club “back in the day,” women were just as involved in the development of TMC from the beginning, as this early photo of a climb on Brandon shows:
The Mountaineering Collective 