STUNNING monochrome newsreel footage of how Killarney looked and sounded almost a century ago is going viral on social media.
Historic images of the town and some of its characters have been digitised and uploaded to YouTube by the Associated Press and British Movietone from a priceless vintage collection.
Entitled A Glimpse Into the Heart of Ireland, 1929, the black and white footage is set to the tune of By Killarney’s Lakes and Fells and it captures incredible images, including one of an old lady, clad in a shawl, steering a pony and trap along cobblestoned streets, and chatting to a neighbour.
The newsreel also shows the hustle and bustle of a busy day on Fair Hill, with the landmark Franciscan Friary in the background, and there are also amazing clips of locals going about their business on College Street and Michael Collins Place, with the old Killarney Bar where Casey’s corner store now stands.
Incredibly, despite the passage of time, the built landscape in Killarney town centre has altered very little in 86 years.
The footage, which has been made available to KillarneyToday.com by Associated Press, also features images and characters from other parts of the country, including Galway.