Posters Artwork Documents

Shortages in a Free State.

Dublin Opinion/Charles E. Kelly (Frank Kelly)

The fact that the Irish Free State was not "in the war" did not mean that suffered none of the consequences. Imported commodities and manufactured goods was dependent on a very small merchant navy and very limited access to non-Irish (other neutral or "returning" British) shipping, and were generally in very, very short supply. This cartoon, from the September 1940 edition of the "Dublin Opinion" humorous/satirical magazine, pokes fun at the efforts of the Department (Ministry) of Supplies to find substitutes for commodities and manufactured goods that had become virtually unavailable. There is a serious aspect to this, insofar as the supply crisis propelled the Minister for Supplies, Seán Lemass (who was also Minister for Industry and Commerce for most of the "Emergency" period) to pre-eminence in Government, and in the governing Fianna Fáil Party. As successor to Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Éamonn de Valera, Lemass went on to play a key role in initiating the modernisation of Ireland in the mid-20th century, and to make the first tentative steps towards reconciliation with Northern Ireland Unionists. The author of this cartoon, Charles E. Kelly, was a civil servant, a self-trained cartoonist, long-time co-proprietor/editon of the "Dublin Opinion" - and father of actor Frank Kelly, who played "Father Jack Hackett" in the television series, "Father Ted". The toddler being used to test teh "soap substitute" in the cartoon bears more than a passing resemblance to a young "Fr. Jack" ... Best regards, JR.