Is this a Ghurkha or a Chinese Vicar? - early 1900s -Ireland

[vmhp]

I believe this was taken in the early 1900s at my family hotel in a Protestant settlement in Mayo.
It is the Vicar/Ghurkha that has our interest. To this day he would be a rare visitor so no wonder this photograph is in this state - earlier ones have survived well.
The lady is far posher than most visitors and I can only make as guess at her name in the Visitor's Book.
Is it possible to improve it - my equipment makes little difference. Very many thanks, Valerie

[tomkin]

  Best I can do

[John915]

Good morning,

I would guess that he is just a chinese servant, traveling with the family. He appears to be wearing the traditional dress of that era.

John915

[vmhp]

Very many thanks for both the much improved photograph and the suggestion that this was the uniform of a member of staff. On the far right is a lady I have nicknamed 'The Secretary' by her looks and the other lady 'Miss Fancy' I believe came from the family at Bunratty Castle. No doubt they were grand and I have another photo of 'Miss Fancy' with known hotel staff. Very many thanks again, Valerie

[Trishanne]

The man on the left in the shirt sleeves and flat cap also looks like a servant, may be a game keeper who looks after the dogs.  As Tomkin has pointed out this is not an easy photo to do anything with.
Pat

[John915]

Good morning,

Looking now at Pat's version of the photo it puts a completely different perspective on the scene. With the buckle, which the Chinese didn't wear usually, I think that may be a female. But she would have to have her hair pulled back quite severely and a cap on top. What I originally saw as tunic and trousers may be a dress.

The seated woman also has a dog.

John915

[Trishanne]

As far as I can tell the Chinese person is wearing a buckle, of course it could just be another blemish on the photo!! It is impossible to tell whether they are wearing a skirt or pants, but I presumed a tunic and pants, their face and hat certainly looks like a male
Pat

[vmhp]

Many thanks again - your work and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
The tall chap on the left of the 'Vicar' is my grandfather! The Collie dog, Tom, belonged to his Uncle Pat.
I did wonder if there was a small person to the left of my grandfather and if so it would have been my Ggrandmother. It was a hotel and farm and my grandfather is holding what could be lamb or more likely one of my Ggrandmother's dogs - she had a couple of 'specials'. I think it was taken in 1903. thanks, Valerie

[heywood]

Good morning,

Looking now at Pat's version of the photo it puts a completely different perspective on the scene. With the buckle, which the Chinese didn't wear usually, I think that may be a female. But she would have to have her hair pulled back quite severely and a cap on top. What I originally saw as tunic and trousers may be a dress.

The seated woman also has a dog.

John915

On the revised photo, I think that the person could be just a young female.
1901 census shows 100+ persons born in China but all with anglicised/Irish surnames.
Of course, the person may not be Chinese at all - perhaps just Eastern origins but I am not sure at all.

Is this the family of ‘Miss Fancy’  in 1901?

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Clare/Drumline/Bunratty_East/1071545/