The Big Huge Gigantic Gallaher's Gallery - (very image heavy)

[warren]

The Luftwaffe pretty much destroyed the Belfast building (top photo) Feb. 14, 1941.

 

[bentbob]

Although Richard Todd played the archetypal Englishman he was in fact Irish. He served in 7 Para during WWII being in the first airborne assault on D-Day. He was also present during the Ardennes offensive, Market Garden etc and no doubt elsewhere.
Great thread misterlowercase.
One thing I'll always remember coming out of NI is the "Belfast Carry". This was a way of cradling a 7.62mm Self Loading Rifle in ones arms so that it looked less "intimidating". FFS.

 

[buroak]

I've heard many say we're living in the "golden age" of pipe tobacco, with never more variety and quality available to the average piper. That may be so, but after looking at this thread, I declare we've fallen into the dark ages of tin art. Beautiful, evocative stuff. Thanks for sharing!

I heartily agree on all counts!

The Luftwaffe pretty much destroyed the Belfast building (top photo) Feb. 14, 1941.

Warren, I absolutely do not doubt you, but for the sake of curiosity do you have any links to photos or printed history? The Nazi bombings of Belfast are not often remembered.

One thing I'll always remember coming out of NI is the "Belfast Carry". This was a way of cradling a 7.62mm Self Loading Rifle in ones arms so that it looked less "intimidating". FFS.

Bentbob, It sounds like you had some firsthand experience in the Troubles.

 

[samon]

Beautiful bit of history. ~
Thanks for sharing. I sure do love Condor long cut and would love it if it came in a nice keepable tin or something, like the old days.

 

[misterlowercase]

Good stuff gents.
I had no idea who Richard Todd was, but I was fascinated by the photo that I saw on the Belfast Forum, yet had failed to save the image and later it disappeared and I went hunting and finally found it --- he was most certainly a charismatic young man and the Gallaher Girl factory workers appear to be absolutely ecstatic, their expressions, along with the big pile of Condor Sliced packets, make it a wonderful snapshot.
...about the Belfast Blitz,

Wiki has a good write up:

The Belfast Blitz was four attacks of high-casualty German air raids on strategic targets in the city of Belfast in Northern Ireland. in April and May 1941 during World War II. The first was on the night of 7–8 April 1941, a small attack which probably took place only to test Belfast's defences. The next took place on Easter Tuesday, 15 April 1941. Two hundred bombers of the Luftwaffe attacked military and manufacturing targets in the city of Belfast. Some 900 people died as a result of the bombing and 1,500 were injured. High explosive bombs predominated in this raid. Apart from those on London, this was the greatest loss of life in any night raid during the Blitz.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belfast_Blitz

Here's a horrifying timeline of the Easter blitz:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/topics/war/belfastblitz/raid2.shtml
The York Street Mill was a direct target, and the Gallaher's factory was a very short distance away --- both factories suffered massive damages, but both were rebuilt.
Here's a photo circa 1965,

Gallaher's is the darker colored factory, York Street Mill the lighter...

A picture of the York Street Mill:

http://multitext.ucc.ie/viewgallery/1092?slideshow=49

... that site is an interesting documentation.
This short video also shows York Street:
:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmHmCC60y90
:
A more comprehensive overview can be seen/heard here,

a talk given by the author Brian Barton:

https://youtu.be/qf-24K5lrJg
Tragic.
Back to the magic...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw6drO87nHk
Relevant links to the video:
http://hobopipes.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-last-ever-irish-cake.html
http://hobopipes.blogspot.com/2013/02/uncut-plug-irish-cake.html
::

 

[misterlowercase]

 

[deathmetal]

Some great blends from the past there. Hope they come back. A good blend is eternal, like a good idea.

 

[kcghost]

Just an amazing collection of photos. Well Done MLC!

 

[warren]

http://www.glenravel.com/localstories/blitz-in-the-bone.html Best I could do.