Dublin in the Early Photography: Vintage Photos Capture Street Scenes of Dublin in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries

 

These photos? They capture those moments, showing us what life was like at that time.

The first railway in Ireland was built in 1834, when a 7-mile (11.3-km) link connected Dublin with the port of Kingstown (now Dún Laoghaire).

As a result, suburbs began to develop along the coast in the south. Suburban growth around the city continued and intensified over the next 70 years.

Although on the surface Dublin remained moderately prosperous, beneath it was deteriorating. The city had some of the worst slums in Europe.

Infant and child mortality was unusually high, with tuberculosis a particular scourge; Cleanliness and sanitation were practically non-existent.

An investigation in 1910 revealed that 20,000 families were living in just one room.

A two-week survey of 22 public houses or taverns revealed that among the customers were more than 46,000 women and 28,000 children.

Although on the surface Dublin remained moderately prosperous, beneath it was deteriorating. The city had some of the worst slums in Europe.

Infant and child mortality was unusually high, with tuberculosis a particular scourge; Cleanliness and sanitation were practically non-existent.

An investigation in 1910 revealed that 20,000 families were living in just one room.

A two-week survey of 22 public houses or taverns revealed that among the customers were more than 46,000 women and 28,000 children.

In 1914, after almost three decades of agitation, Ireland seemed on the verge of Home Rule (or self-rule).

However, instead of a peaceful transition from direct British rule to limited Irish autonomy, Ireland and Dublin saw almost ten years of political violence and instability.

This ultimately resulted in a more complete separation from Britain than under Home Rule.

Between 1922 and 1932 the first administration of the new Irish Free State was busy setting up new government institutions and repairing the damage done to the economy by the Troubles of 1916–23.

Housing was given low priority, and a concerted program of house building did not begin until the arrival of Éamon de Valera's Fianna Fáil government in 1932.

Some of the worst slums within the city were cleared, and residents were moved to new housing projects on the outskirts of the city.

With the introduction of better health care, old-age pensions and children's allowances, the situation of Dublin's poor began to improve.