The three main circus shows photographed by Herbert Cooper were Duffy’s Circus, Buff Bill’s American Circus and Hanneford’s Canadian Circus. A few circuses toured Ireland in the years before 1914 and it was the heyday for these travelling shows. Big Tops were then lit by flares and it wasn’t until well into the 1920s that electric lighting became common, so most of the pictures were taken outdoors and during the daylight hours.The photographs of Duffy’s Circus were, almost certainly, all taken during the visit to Strabane, County Tyrone in 1911. Duffy’s Circus was begun in the 1890s by John Duffy who died in 1909. When Duffy’s Circus came to Strabane in 1911, it was already being run by John’s widow, Annie. One of John Duffy’s sons, James, married Lena Kayes, daughter of William Kayes who ran the famous Buff Bill’s American Circus in Ireland before and after the First World War, Kayes himself being ‘Buff Bill’. Ned Hanneford’s Canadian Circus toured Ireland up to 1916. It was renowned for its menagerie, including lions and ‘bears that talk’. It also featured a splendid street parade headed by an ornate, gilded bandwagon drawn by 8 sleek horses. Cooper’s photos of Hanneford’s Circus must have been taken before 1914, a period which seems to have been the heyday of circus visits to Strabane.
Herbert Cooper was born in Hammersmith, London, in 1874 and arrived in Strabane, County Tyrone in Ireland just before the outbreak of the First World War. He took over the photographic studio in Railway Street which had been run by J. Burroughs from about 1901 until 1913.
A circus performer in front of a wagon Creator: H.F. Cooper Strabane c.1910
A crowd of people round a clown and a donkey Creator: H.F. Cooper Strabane.1910
Buff Bill’s Circus, a group of circus performers Creator: H.F. Cooper Strabane c.1910
Buff Bill’s Circus, group of circus performers standing on each other’s shoulders, photographer H.F. Cooper, Strabane c.1910.
Buff Bill’s Circus, The Dixie Girls Creator: H.F. Cooper Photographer, Strabane Date: c.1910
Buff Bill’s Circus, two children and a man sitting on the steps of a caravan Creator: H.F. Cooper Strabane c.1910
Clown on a horse, with a lady watching Creator: H.F. Cooper Strabane c.1910
Duffy’s Circus, a group of circus entertainers H.F. Cooper Strabane c.1911
Duffy’s Circus, four girls outside a tent Creator: H.F. Cooper Strabane c.1911
Duffy’s Circus, four male entertainers Creator: H.F. Cooper Strabane c.1911
Duffy’s Circus, ‘Funny George’, the Clown by H.F. Cooper Strabane c.1911
Duffy’s Circus, man standing in front of a wagon labelled, ‘Duffy’s Circus’ Creator: H.F. Cooper Strabane c.1911
Duffy’s Circus, the Wilson and Duffy combined circus. Picture of all the members Creator: H.F. Cooper Strabane c.1911
Duffy’s Circus, three men and two dogs H.F. Cooper Strabane.1911
Duffy’s Circus, two women and three children H.F. Cooper Strabane c.1911
Hanneford’s Canadian Circus, circus performers in a horse and cart photographer: H.F. Cooper, Strabane Date: c.1911
Hanneford’s Canadian Circus, four girl circus performers c1910
anneford’s Canadian Circus, two children called Lola and May Creator: H.F. Cooper Photographer, Strabane Date: c.1910
Lady on a horse, with a clown watching Creator: H.F. Cooper Strabane c.1910
Scott’s Circus – A Clown H.F. Cooper Strabane
Two circus performers in front of a wagon Creator: H.F. Cooper Strabane c.1910
Buff Bill’s Circus, a child with a baboon on a donkey Creator: H.F. Cooper Strabane c.1910
via Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
