Burkes of Arklow...photo help please

[ashlingb21]

Yes I did think it was a harp on the photos too

[ashlingb21]

This is the full photo. I only have a copy of it so not sure about a photographers mark

[dathai]

Yes that looks good for him, i misread your first post thought it said born 1889 which would make him 30ish          i should have gone to specsavers

[ashlingb21]

haha thats ok...it's thanks to you that I have this extra info!

[dathai]

This is a replica uniform should be darker green in colour note the stripe on the cuff James appears to have one visable on his right cuff
http://theirishwar.com/product/irish-national-army-free-state-uniform-and-cap-civil-war/

[dathai]

Still think its a British uniform
http://www.nickmetcalfe.co.uk/the-sergeant-brothers/thomas-sergeant-m/

if you look at Thomas Sergeant's uniform from his shoulder down to about an inch above his pocket there is a extra layer of fabric so has James the positioning of the buttons the belt buckle and the shape of the pockets all look identical.

[dathai]

Do you have his marriage cert
http://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details-civil/894ebf6261498

does it state he's a soldier as occupation.

[Sinann]

Could be a button from an Irish Guards uniform, I think I can see the figure on the front of the harp but it's impossible to tell if there is a crown.

[dathai]

Sinann  did you mean Garda
http://www.museum.ie/en/exhibition/info/early-garda-recruit.aspx

not too unlike at all