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
- 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
- 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 MoralsCourting, Marriage, and Childbirth The Role of Men, Mothers, and Grannies Drinking, Gambling, Prostitution, and Animal Gangs Death, Superstitions, and Wakes
- Oral Testimony: The Monto and Dockland Maggie MurrayâAge 80 Timmy "Duckegg" KirwanâAge 72 Alice CaulfieldâAge 66 Chrissie HawkinsâAge 83 Johnny CampbellâAge 68 Mary WaldronâAge 80 Billy DunleavyâAge 86 Nellie CassidyâAge 78 Elizabeth "Bluebell" MurphyâAge 75
- Oral Testimony: The Liberties Nancy CullenâAge 71 Paddy MooneyâAge 72 Harry MushattâAge 83 Margaret ByrneâAge 72 John-Joe KennedyâAge 75 Frank LawlorâAge 66 Mary O'NeillâAge 84 John O'DwyerâAge 70 Tommy MaherâAge 81 Lily FoyâAge 60 Senan FinucaneâAge 73 Christy MurrayâAge 86 Bridie ChambersâAge 66 John GallagherâAge 60 Mickey GuyâAge 72 Margaret CoyneâAge 72 Patrick O'LearyâAge 70 Jimmy OwensâAge 68 Elizabeth "Lil" CollinsâAge 91 Stephen MooneyâAge 65
- Oral Testimony: The Northside Paddy CaseyâAge 65 Chrissie O'HareâAge 76 John V. MorganâAge 70 Peggy PigottâAge 65 Mary ChaneyâAge 84 Father Michael ReidyâAge 76 Ellen PrestonâAge 65 Thomas LyngâAge 70 Una ShawâAge 61 Con FoleyâAge 75 Margaret ByrneâAge 81 Jimmy McLoughlinâAge 50
- Four Tenement Tales Mary Doolan of Francis Street Noel Hughes of North King Street Mary Corbally of Corporation Street May Hanaphy of Golden Lane