Photo flip book of Thomas F Bacon

"This photo flip book gives a video-like image of my grandfather over 100 years ago. These Biofix photo flip books were a craze at that time. The light hearted images of him in dinner jacket and bowtie, blowing rings of smoke, contrast with the impression I have of a diligent, serious, dutiful young man. Thomas F Bacon was born in 1881 in Leighinbridge, Co Carlow, the youngest of 4 children of William Bacon and Anne Delany. His father owned a bakery but died in 1887. His mother then moved to Carlow town where she opened a pawn shop. Thomas F was sent to Clongowes Wood College where his uncle Fr William Delany was a priest. He studied hard to win an Exhibition (with cash prize) every year. Tom Kettle was another studious boy in his class. He did the same at University College, St Stephen's Green, and again in King's Inns where he won the Victoria Prize (£15). He was called to the Bar in 1908. However he needed a steady income to support his widowed mother who was now living with him in Dublin, so he took a Civil Service job in the Congested Districts Board. His beloved mother died in Easter week 1916. His Diary entry for 24th April merely notes "Rising in Dublin". He immediately resigned his steady job and joined the Bar where he worked on the Leinster Circuit and met the love of his life, my grandmother Josie Dowley, a warm, gregarious & capable woman from a large milling family in Tinvane, Carrick-on-Suir. The rest is our history!"