Blogs

The images show familiar Dublin scenes from within our collective living memory with a present day update. It is hoped that these images will resonate with people and trigger memories and conversations among the Diaspora prompting them to return to experience the new re-vitalised Dublin of the twenty-first century.

This image gallery is composed of images taken from Dublin After The Six Days’ Insurrection (Dublin: Mecredy, Percy & Co., Ltd, 1916). The photos were taken by T.W. Murphy (also known as “The O’Tatur”), the sub-editor of The Motor News. The images are reproduced by kind permission of the estate of T.W. Murphy.

We are so lucky in Dublin to have access to the world’s best music. Music in the churches can be sublime, and visiting companies perform French and Italian music in the city during the season. I notice that many of the wealthy, or aspiring families now engage music masters to teach their children to play the harpsichord or violin, to sing, and to appreciate the finer points of musical composition. I’m sure this can only have a civilizing effect, especially on the young men. The new Music Hall in Fishamble Street has witnessed stunning events. Since its official opening last year this fine building hosts fashionable balls and assemblies. It has a wonderful vaulted roof which gives a great sound quality for musical evenings. It is decorated in the most elegant manner with fluted columns and pilasters and large mirrors to give extra light and to reflect the dancers. For concerts it holds about 600 people.Mr Handel has staged some of his first nights here. They say he’s not as popular in London as he used to be, but he’s still a major star in Dublin. He is staying in Abbey Street near Liffey Street, and you can subscribe to his concerts there. The Lord Lieutenant, the Duke of Devonshire, and his family come to the performances, so this attracts the fashionable audience too. At Easter this year his new oratorio, called The Messiah (catalogue record of the Messiah libretto), had its opening in the Music Hall. What a night that was! All the great and the good were there, they say that 700 people were squeezed in, and it was so crowded that you could not spot half the celebrities. I spotted George Faulkner the bookseller there, and I was hoping to get a glimpse of the Dean (Jonathan Swift), but he was obviously too ill to attend. The proceeds of the evening went to the Charitable Infirmary and Mercer’s Hospital, I believe they collected nearly £400. I bought each of the librettos of these works at the time, they only cost a British sixpence each, so they won't break the bank. It’s good to be able to follow the action on the night, and to have the text as a souvenir afterwards, to be re-read quietly at home. As well as The Messiah, I have copies of (The Masque of Acis and Galatea libretto), (Esther libretto), and (L'Allegro libretto).

Since opening its doors in 1871, the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin has been a cultural landmark. The oldest continuously operating theatre in Dublin, the Gaiety Theatre has provided entertainment to audiences for generations. As the name ‘gaiety’ suggests, the theatre originally specialized in comedy and opera; today the theatre offers entertainment of all forms. This gallery offers a peek into the Gaiety’s rich history, from the 1880s to the 1930s.

The grandest public space in Dublin is College Green. Roughly triangular in shape, it has three of Dublin’s finest public buildings fronting onto it: Trinity College West Front, the Houses of Parliament, and the General Post Office. In the centre is the equestrian statue of William III. Leading off it from the three corners are the great shopping streets, Dame Street and Grafton Street, and leading towards the river, College Street. It’s a lovely drive by carriage, sweeping down Cork Hill to Dame Street and entering the Green from the west. It is very fashionable to take an evening promenade by the Parliament House, strolling in the arcade formed by the columns. Posters for new plays, and other public notices, are displayed on the pillars and you can catch up with all the latest news as well as getting information about upcoming events here. Back in the early '80s we saw the huge gathering of Volunteers before the Parliament House, what a spectacle that was! Rousing speeches were given that day and we all cheered. We have settled down with our own parliament now, but it does not have full legislative rights, some matters have to be referred to London. However, there is a great sense of occasion surrounding the workings of the Houses, lords come and go, proud orators preen themselves on the steps before entering. When petitions are being presented great ceremony can accompany the petitioners as they enter the building. The Lords’ Chamber is sumptuous, one of the most beautifully decorated spaces in the city, and it is a rare treat to be able to visit. The Parliament Coffee House is the place to be seen if you have ambitions in the political sphere. The Green is like the throbbing heart of the city when parliament is in session. A new club, called Daly’s Club, is the talk of the town since it opened at the beginning of the year with a grand dinner. It’s a fine new building on the western edge of the Green at Dame Street. Designed by Francis Johnston, its interior is reputed to be lavish with grand chandelier lustres, inlaid tables and marble chimney pieces, and the chairs and sofas are white and gold upholstered in silk. Here the sons of the aristocracy and members of parliament can squander their wealth in gambling with cards and dice. I see in the papers that Antoine Gerna is about to open a very fancy new reading room at his shop across from Trinity, next to the General Post Office on the south side of the Green. He’s calling it the Cabinet Littéraire, this would seem more pretentious, I suppose, if he wasn’t French himself, and fluent in French and Italian. Members can make themselves comfortable at his blazing fireplace reading all the recent newspapers in French and Italian, and browsing all the new pamphlets. I hope it’s a success, it will probably attract the Trinity crowd, the students are always glad of a warm place to sit! I’m sure the politicians from across the way in the Houses of Parliament will be happy to be seen there, and at least pretend to be interested in current affairs in the European and American lands. 

I love the theatre, I’m fascinated by the spectacle, the costumes, the music, and of course people watching. The heavy smell and flickering images of the wax candles create an atmosphere like no other: combining the formality of church with the excitement and anticipation of the performance to come. All the gentry turn up in their carriages, especially on benefit nights. When it gets really busy the drivers are only allowed to drive the carriages in one direction along the street, they drop their passengers at the door and keep moving.  Smock Alley, or to give it its official name, The Theatre Royal, Smock Alley, is my favourite theatre in Dublin and it gets all the latest shows from Drury Lane in London. Smock Alley has had a play-house on this site for over a century now, and it is frequented by Dublin's high society. It can even boast a number of riots since the start of this century. Many of the great actors have trod its boards, such as Thomas Sheridan, Peg Woffington, Benjamin Victor, Elizabeth Vincent, and David Garrick visiting from London. Its location is very convenient also, right in the centre of town, not far from Dame Street where all the fashionable people shop, and it's near the Liffey where you can go for a stroll before the performance. Crow Street Theatre is a good space too, and I like having the choice of venue.    I especially enjoy the new comedies and I see that Oliver Goldsmith’s new play, She stoops to conquer, is advertised again. I love this play, it is so well observed, and it moves at a cracking pace. I read it as soon as it came out two years ago, it was published first in London, but I read the Dublin edition when it appeared shortly afterwards. The Dublin edition costs sixpence halfpenny. It was so popular that it reached its fifth edition in less than a year. While it was very entertaining to read, you really need to see it performed. I went first in January, and I enjoyed it so much, that now three months later I’ve got tickets to go again. It's good to know that in nearly 240 years time a theatre will still occupy this space in Smock alley and will still be showing She stoops to conquer to delighted audiences.I like to buy my own copies of the new plays, they’re not expensive, usually between sixpence and one shilling each, and I can relive the theatrical experience at home. It’s good to have the cast list at the front so that I know the actors who were in the original production. I like to see who acted in the Drury Lane production, I wonder if they were as good as the actors I saw in Dublin: Mr Parker as Hardcastle, Mrs E. Brown as Mrs Hardcastle, Mrs Brown as Miss Hardcastle, and Mr Waddy as Young Marlow. I keep the plays carefully and eventually I will bind them together in volumes arranged by theme, or perhaps by date.

Of all the wonderful shops in the city I love the bookshops best. In the past they congregated in Skinner Row, but now, since the mid 1770s, they have more visible presences on Dame Street and in the little courts off it. I love the way they display their new publications outside the front door or pinned to the door post. You can smell the fresh ink and feel the lovely texture of the new paper. I love the leisurely atmosphere as readers slowly work their way around the shop examining all the exciting new books and pamphlets.  Crampton Court is the ideal place to browse, hidden away from the bustle of Dame Street, you have the peace and quiet to peruse all the latest books. Luke White’s bookshop at Number 6 is the best. He stocks all the fashionable books and magazines. He imports his books from France and Switzerland so you can be sure of having the most up-to-date reading matter; my favourites are Jean-Jacques Rousseau (link to the catalogue for Rousseau) and Madame de Genlis (link to the catalogue for Madame de Genlis). It’s great when his new catalogue of French and Italian literature comes out, you can browse it from the comfort of your home, and then go to the shop and touch and feel the exotic object that has made its way across the sea from Paris or Venice. In case you find these too expensive he prints a Dublin edition of the best sellers, which are much better value, even if they lack the cachet of the imported editions. (Check the catalogue for Luke White's publications) You can have a little flutter here as well because he sells lottery tickets. He has just moved out to Dame Street to a more high profile location and John Archer has moved into White’s old bookshop in the court at Number 18.  This is another of my favourites. Archer’s has a great range of stock too and it’s quite different from Luke White’s because he imports his books and pamphlets from different places. He has all the best sellers of course, but he’s good on London publications, as well as imports from Paris, Venice and the Netherlands. (Check the catalogue for John Archer's publications) In a room upstairs some of the intellectuals meet to read the newspapers and discuss literature, science and politics. Richard Kirwan, the chemist, is talking about forming a library society so that they can have a shared library for members. Archer issues catalogues also, they’re always crammed with the most exciting new publications, but using the catalogue does not compare with the joy of visiting the shop in person.   

I feel at home in the 18th century. I’ve no desire to live here permanently, without 21st-century comforts and modern medicine, but to come as a visitor to a beloved destination. I am acquainted with many of Dublin’s citizens through their writings and through newspaper reports of their actions and concerns. I feel I know them well, I know their wives or husbands, and their children, and I know what they enjoyed to read, which gives me an insight into their minds and hearts. The layout of the city is also familiar to me and I can make my way around without getting lost, or feeling like an alien.Crossing the Liffey from the north side you come over Essex Bridge. Rebuilt in 1755, it’s now a good wide roadway, which allows two coaches to pass safely and ample footpaths that allow street traders to sell their wares. They have got rid of the equestrian statue of George 1 in the centre of the bridge as it was causing an obstruction in the river. (View the Rocque Map in our online catalogue)Click thumbnails to view larger images.I love to stand on the bridge and watch the ships tied up at the Custom House unloading their cargoes. The crane is working steadily lifting the heavy loads. Tea, spices, wine, sugar, paper and books are all unloaded here and sent off around the city in trundling carts. The city’s merchants bustle around all day looking important with clipboards and anxious frowns. Their new Royal Exchange building, just opened last year, is looking very fine at the top of Parliament Street. I believe there is a new coffee room running the length of the north front of the building upstairs where they can carry on business in comfort. I still like the old exchange in Crampton Court and I know lots of the merchants say that the new building is an expense that they cannot afford, although we all know that most of the money was raised through lottery schemes. (See Views of Dublin from 1780).Parliament Street is our newest street, forged through the old tangle of lanes and streets on the recommendation of the Wide Streets Commissioners. The street is wide and airy, its proportions taken from width of Essex Bridge. Its purpose was to give a grand view of Dublin Castle from the river, but now the view focuses on the classical façade of the Exchange.Into Skinner Row you can stop for coffee and a look at the day’s newspapers in Dick’s Coffee House. Upstairs to the drawing room, or first floor, of Carbery House, with its lovely wainscoting and large windows letting in plenty of light, you can sit by the fire, sip your coffee, glance at the papers, and listen to the conversations all around you. I have heard that this fine old timber-framed building is due for demolition. What a loss that will be!

The Irish Texts Society was founded in London in 1898. The initiative to establish the Irish Texts Society came from another Irish organisation based in London, the Irish Literary Society (ILS), founded in 1892. According to the 1895-6 annual report of the ILS “preliminary steps have been taken to form an Irish Texts Society for the publication of modern Irish works”. As a result a provisional sub-committee was appointed to investigate the project.

Labre Park was the first site built specifically for Travellers by a Local Authority in Ireland. It was opened in September 1967 at a cost of £50,000 and consisted of 39 concrete 'tigíns' in a row off Kylemore Road. Each 'tigín' was composed of a living room with a stove, a lavatory, and a place to wash. Residents of Labre Park slept in their caravans which were parked beside or behind each 'tigín'. Rents at Labre Park ranged from ten to thirty shillings per week.