The End of an Era

Upload to this page

Add your photos, text, videos, etc. to this page.


  • Aspects: South Dublin



Christopher Kelly at Corkagh Dairy

Photograph of Christopher Kelly, standing in front of his van at Corkagh Dairy. He was one of the delivery men for the milk produced at Corkagh Farm.

© South Dublin Libraries.
Christopher Kelly at Corkagh Dairy
© South Dublin Libraries.

Christopher Kelly at Corkagh Dairy

Photograph of Christopher Kelly, standing in front of his van at Corkagh Dairy. He was one of the delivery men for the milk produced at Corkagh Farm.

© South Dublin Libraries.
Enlarge image

Sadly, the farm at Corkagh went into decline in the 1940s.

Maintenance of farm machinery, lack of skilled van drivers and extra taxes sent the cost of running the farm skywards. In general, life was economically difficult in Ireland in the 1940s, and in Europe generally, due to the Second World War.

There was also an outbreak of floot and mouth disease in that decade. This is a highly contagious disease that affects cattle and other cloven hoofed animals. It is usually controlled through the mass culling of infected, and possibly infected, livestock. This made things more difficult at Corkagh Farm, and at many farms in Ireland, and quickly cleared the fields of livestock.

Members of the Karstel Family, 1953

Photo of Mr Karstel with his wife and mother on 31 August 1953 with a display of fruit and vegetables destined for the Dublin market. Produce includes peaches, kidney beans, cauliflower, tomatoes, cucumbers and apples.

© South Dublin Libraries.
Members of the Karstel Family, 1953
© South Dublin Libraries.

Members of the Karstel Family, 1953

Photo of Mr Karstel with his wife and mother on 31 August 1953 with a display of fruit and vegetables destined for the Dublin market. Produce includes peaches, kidney beans, cauliflower, tomatoes, cucumbers and apples.

© South Dublin Libraries.
Enlarge image

The Karstel family from the Netherlands rented the walled garden at Corkagh from Dudley Colley in 1950. This photo shows Mr Karstel with his wife and mother on 31 August 1953, with a display of fruit and vegetables destined for the Dublin market. The produce grown in their five acre garden included peaches, kidney beans, cauliflower, tomatoes, cucumbers, apples and flowers.

Nowadays, Corkagh Demesne is owned by South Dublin County Council and is used as a public park. It is also home to the Irish National Baseball Facility.