Dublin Tenement Life

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 MurrayAge 80 Timmy "Duckegg" KirwanAge 72 Alice CaulfieldAge 66 Chrissie HawkinsAge 83 Johnny CampbellAge 68 Mary WaldronAge 80 Billy DunleavyAge 86 Nellie CassidyAge 78 Elizabeth "Bluebell" MurphyAge 75 - Oral Testimony: The Liberties Nancy CullenAge 71 Paddy MooneyAge 72 Harry MushattAge 83 Margaret ByrneAge 72 John-Joe KennedyAge 75 Frank LawlorAge 66 Mary O'NeillAge 84 John O'DwyerAge 70 Tommy MaherAge 81 Lily FoyAge 60 Senan FinucaneAge 73 Christy MurrayAge 86 Bridie ChambersAge 66 John GallagherAge 60 Mickey GuyAge 72 Margaret CoyneAge 72 Patrick O'LearyAge 70 Jimmy OwensAge 68 Elizabeth "Lil" CollinsAge 91 Stephen MooneyAge 65 - Oral Testimony: The Northside Paddy CaseyAge 65 Chrissie O'HareAge 76 John V. MorganAge 70 Peggy PigottAge 65 Mary ChaneyAge 84 Father Michael ReidyAge 76 Ellen PrestonAge 65 Thomas LyngAge 70 Una ShawAge 61 Con FoleyAge 75 Margaret ByrneAge 81 Jimmy McLoughlinAge 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

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