John McCarthy’s Circus Bar Archive Showcases The Great John Duffy and Sons

John Duffy and Sons Circus was established in 1891 and except for a brief interval, continued until the early 1960s. It became a household name and was recognized as being one of the greatest circuses ever to tour Ireland. It was run by three successive John Duffys, the second of whom became known as the Irish Circus King and the Irish Barnum. 

The John McCarthy Circus Bar Archive was begun by John McCarthy (1885-1966), owner of the Circus Bar in the village of Cappamore, Co. Limerick, and dates from 1895 onwards. The McCarthy family had a major link with travelling circuses for over a century and accumulated one of the largest and most important private collections of circus memorabilia in Europe. 

It consists of over 300 historic, circus-related photographs, some 400 historic circus posters and a significant collection of press cuttings, newspaper advertisements and individual letters on circus topics written by John McCarthy. Three subsequent generations of the McCarthy family, of which Tony is now the very able and dedicated representative, have acted as custodians of this fascinating Archive. It is a rare and highly informative window into Ireland’s past and into the history of the circus generally in both Ireland and Britain. The Archive therefore deserves the widest possible audience.

Since 2018, Limerick Museum has collaborated with Tony McCarthy in showcasing his wonderful Archive, a fascinating insight into a rural Ireland and its popular culture, now largely lost to view. This exhibition is the latest example of this highly successful partnership. Using the riches of the John McCarthy Circus Bar Archive, it tells the story of the John Duffy and Sons Circus, using posters, newsprint, photographs and modular pop-up display panels, creating an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages.