Working on the Railway in Dublin, 1900-1925
Published on 10th October 2016
In the early years of the 20th century, the Great Southern and Western Railway was the largest railway system in Ireland and it was a significant employer in Dublin. In this talk, Mary Muldowney looks at aspects of the lives of Dubliners who worked for the GS&WR, from the turn of the century to its reinvention by the Dáil in 1925. Mary looks at working conditions, pay, pension and industrial action, focusing especially on the lives of those who were engaged at the lower levels of the pay scales, men and women who were completely dependent on the railways. At a time of political, economic and social upheaval jobs on railway were highly prized, as they were relatively stable and often came with accommodation.
Recorded in Cabra Library on 25 August 2016 as part of our Heritage Week 2016 Programme.