Pictures of the legendary 'Flash Cash' donated to Tipperary Museum

A new exhibition in Clonmel captures a snapshot in time of the town and its people from fifty years ago.
Renowned photographer Paddy Cashin left behind an archive of thousands of prints following his death last year, and they will be on display at the Tipperary Museum of Hidden History over the coming eight months.

The first instalment, images from 1977 to 1983, was launched at a nostalgic ceremony in the museum on Friday night, giving a glimpse of what the town was like half a century ago.

The prints were donated to the museum by the Cashin family, with Paddy’s daughter, Helen Bennett, saying it was an emotional and moving occasion for her and her siblings, Marc and Anne.
“It is an honour and a pure joy to be here in the museum at an exhibition honouring, and celebrating, Dad’s photography, looking through the eye of his lens and capturing Clonmel throughout the years,” she told those in attendance.
Anne detailed how her Dad had led such a full, active and varied life over his nine decades. “He certainly had a book in him on longevity and how to make memories. That book never materialised but the stories are here now in pictures,” she said in a moving tribute.

Museum curator, Marie McMahon, described the exhibition of photographs by ‘Flash Cash’, as Paddy was affectionately known, as one with a significant community involvement.
“When Helen brought in the negatives, thousands of them in small cartridges in biscuit tins, there were no names with them, just locations and dates. So, we are asking people to come into the exhibition and help us to put names to the people. They might have some stories to tell as well, and then we will upload them to our website. And as we identify all the people, we will change the photographs on display and feature ones from a later date. The ones on display now are just the tip of the iceberg,” she explained.

That process began on opening night last Friday, as people browsed through the photographs and identified family members, friends and neighbours. It was a glimpse of what Clonmel was like in the mid 1970s. Featured were dances in the Collins Hall, dinner dances, senior citizens parties, sporting events at Hillview Sports Club and elsewhere, New Year babies, parades, Halloween celebrations and school groups.
Marie McMahon mentioned how many of the photographs would have appeared in The Nationalist – her own Dad, John Casey, who was present on the night, would have processed them in the Queen Street office pre-printing – and how Paddy Cashin, John Kelly and John Crowley had followed on from Justin Nelson and Donal Wylde as photographers closely associated with the newspaper.

Paddy Cashin used to go into his wardrobe to take the film out of the camera, so that they wouldn’t be exposed to light, and then develop the negatives in the bathroom of his College Avenue home. And to add further authenticity to the exhibition, a replica bathroom has been assembled with prints hanging by clothes pegs from a string.
Marie McMahon thanked the Cashin family for providing the prints for such an exciting exhibition, Clonmel Camera Club for helping in framing the photographs, and St. Vincent de Paul who donated all the frames.

Opening the exhibition, Mayor Richie Molloy, said it was a wonderful way to show the town and all its characters and personalities from fifty years ago. He congratulated Marie McMahon and her team for pulling it all together, remarking how she was always so full of enthusiasm for new ideas.

And he thanked the Cashin family for providing the photographs for the exhibition. He recalled how immensely proud Paddy had been of the achievements of grandson, international cyclist Sam Bennett.
Sam was unable to be present on the night but the former Green Jersey winner in the Tour de France is expected to be present at the opening of one of the later instalments of photographs.