During the first World War the British government established National Shell Factories in Britain and Ireland to manufacture munitions for the Western Front. A shortage of male labour meant thousands of women were recruited, including more than 600 for a factory in Dublin's Parkgate Street. Similar factories were established in Cork, Galway and Waterford. A rare photograph of some the women in the Dublin factory – including Mary 'May' Noonan (pictured standing, back row, second from left) – has turned up among memorabilia in Whyte's History & Literature auction in the Freemasons' Hall, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2, next Saturday, November 8th. The estimate is €150 to €200.

Michael Parsons