Dublin Tenement Life

An Oral History of the Dublin Slums

For nearly 150 years, the wretched, squalid tenements of Dublin were widely judged to be the worst slums in all of Europe. By the 1930s, 6,400 tenements were occupied by almost 112,000 tenants. Some districts had up to 800 people to the acre, up to 100 occupants in one building, and twenty family members crammed into a single tiny room. It was a hard world of hunger, disease, high mortality, unemployment, heavy drinking, prostitution and gang warfare. But despite their hardship, the tenement poor enjoyed an incredibly closely knit community life in which they found great security and indeed, happiness. As one policeman recalls from over half a century ago, they were ‘extraordinarily happy for people who were so savagely poor’.

Contents of Dublin Tenement Life

1. History and Evolution of the Tenement Slum Problem
   Physical Deterioration
   Profiteering Landlords and Powerless Tenants
   Overcrowding, Sanitation, and Illness
   Social Stigmas and Stereotypes
   The Press and Public Enlightenment
   Housing Reform and Slum Clearance
   Oral History and Tenement Folklore
3. Social Life in the Tenement Communities
   Community Spirit and Gregarious Nature
   The Home Setting
   Economic Struggle
   Securing Food and Clothing
   Health, Sickness, and Treatments
   Entertainment and Street Life
   Religion and Morals
   Courting, Marriage, and Childbirth
   The Role of Men, Mothers, and Grannies
   Drinking, Gambling, Prostitution, and Animal Gangs
   Death, Superstitions, and Wakes
5. Oral Testimony: The Monto and Dockland
   Maggie Murray—Age 80
   Timmy “Duckegg” Kirwan—Age 72
   Alice Caulfield—Age 66
   Chrissie Hawkins—Age 83
   Johnny Campbell—Age 68
   Mary Waldron—Age 80
   Billy Dunleavy—Age 86
   Nellie Cassidy—Age 78
   Elizabeth “Bluebell” Murphy—Age 75
7. Oral Testimony: The Liberties
   Nancy Cullen—Age 71
   Paddy Mooney—Age 72
   Harry Mushatt—Age 83
   Margaret Byrne—Age 72
   John-Joe Kennedy—Age 75
   Frank Lawlor—Age 66
   Mary O’Neill—Age 84
   John O’Dwyer—Age 70
   Tommy Maher—Age 81
   Lily Foy—Age 60
   Senan Finucane—Age 73
   Christy Murray—Age 86
   Bridie Chambers—Age 66
   John Gallagher—Age 60
   Mickey Guy—Age 72
   Margaret Coyne—Age 72
   Patrick O’Leary—Age 70
   Jimmy Owens—Age 68
   Elizabeth “Lil” Collins—Age 91
   Stephen Mooney—Age 65
9. Oral Testimony: The Northside
   Paddy Casey—Age 65
   Chrissie O’Hare—Age 76
   John V. Morgan—Age 70
   Peggy Pigott—Age 65
   Mary Chaney—Age 84
   Father Michael Reidy—Age 76
   Ellen Preston—Age 65
   Thomas Lyng—Age 70
   Una Shaw—Age 61
   Con Foley—Age 75
   Margaret Byrne—Age 81
   Jimmy McLoughlin—Age 50
11. Four Tenement Tales
    Mary Doolan of Francis Street
    Noel Hughes of North King Street
    Mary Corbally of Corporation Street
    May Hanaphy of Golden Lane