Scanning classic advertisements is one of my favourite aspects of the blog without a doubt, and sometimes a gem like this falls my way. These advertisements are taken from ‘The Illustrated Book of the Military Tattoo and Exhibition, Dublin 1945’.
The huge event ran from August 28th to September 8th 1945 at the RDS Ballsbridge. It’s cover alone is striking and scanned below, but some of the advertisements inside are excellent. There’s more than this to come. Below are advertisements for Brown Thomas, the Eden Quay amusements, Aero and Rolo chocolates and the Irish Independent.
The cover was designed by Jack Mac Manus.
“In this design the artist expresses the spiritual link binding the Defence Forces of today- the Air Corps, Army, Marine Corps and Local Defence Forces, represented in the bold figures in the foreground- and the Irish armies of the past, symbolised by the ghostly figure of Eoin Ruadh O’Neill, dominating the entire background.”
Eden Quay Amusements.
What a wonderful ad, signed by ‘MB’. Anyone know more on the artist?
Brown Thomas
“Famous for 100 years for fashion and household needs of good quality and moderate prices”. How times change.
The Indo
Chocolates.
Click on the book for more.
Click on the book for more.
Donal
Ciarán
Sam
Come Here To Me! 
I have the official programme for The Military Tattoo and Exhibition. Cost was 3d.
I have a long photo of Irish tatoo 1945 it was my grandads who was in the photo somewhere he looked after the horses
I would like a photo of the 1945 Irish tattoo