When I look at this photograph I always think that there is a huge age difference between the subjects. Is it an old father or a young grandfather with their son or grandson? Tis neither. The occasion of the photograph was the tenth birthday of the young schoolboy and his fellow subject is his elder brother (by sixteen years), William. I suspect that today's twenty six year olds would be slightly concerned if they looked as aged! It is almost one hundred and thirty years since this photograph was taken in the garden of, "Church View," Ballyshannon. The certainty of nineteenth century values has withered away. Brexit was not an issue for my ten year old grandfather.
