This snapshot is crammed full of amazing details like the sign for ‘private wine rooms upstairs’; the young fella peaking over the odd little car; the banner advertising Player’s cigarettes and the shadowy sign in the window. Despite my loathing of Arthur’s Day I am still fond of the ‘Guinness is good for you’ sign.
This photograph has me totally puzzled though as I cannot locate a Dublin pub whose street number is 32 and which is also next door to a stationer’s/tobacconist’s. The name of the shop looks like Hegarty and in the original print I can faintly make out a surname ending in ‘lly’ on the etched pub sign. I have checked one or two Thom’s Street directories for the 1920s, 30s and 40s but to no avail.
Perhaps the photograph wasn’t taken in Dublin which would disappoint me though it really shouldn’t matter as the image is a great snippet of street life wherever it originates. Any suggestions welcome?
This is a maddening photograph. It tells us so much, and yet so little.
I’m currently working on a website based on my father’s career as an actor (TP McKenna). He came to Dublin at the start of the 50s and I’m trying to source images of the city as it was in those days. Unfortunately, there’s really not to too much.
Maybe more will come on line in time. Thank you for posting this, though!
I think elsewhere you’ve mentioned John Ryan’s Remembering How We Stood. A marvellous word picture in itself of literary Dublin.
The stories about Patrick Kavanagh are truly hysterical. My father begin his career doing imitations of Kavanagh at the Pike, with the poet in the office. Amazingly they became friends and Kavanagh even stayed in our house in Sandymount a short time when he was recuperating after a spell in hospital.
This is the problem. I know so many of the stories and the names, but the pictures are what give a true sense of the times.
Best wishes,
Stephen McKenna
Hello Stephen,
Thanks very much for your mail. I had a look at your website and think it is a great piece of work. I especially love the Cavan connection as my father is also from that part of the world!
You might be interested in a collection of photographs that I worked on a few years back which were taken by Elinor Wiltshire and are in the National Photographic Archive. They cover the period when you father was in Dublin in the 50s. A good portion of the collection was scanned and is on the National Library of Ireland’s website.
I found the photo above with a lot of others in a skip on Oxmantown Road! If I come any 50s street scenes etc. I’ll let you know.
Bye for now, Regards, Orla.
Hi Jacolette,
Thank you so much for your response which I’ve only just caught up with.
I have indeed checked out the National Photograhic Archive and have found some useable images there.
All these images fill my head and one can almost envisage oneself as a time traveller stepping back into the Dawson Street of a century ago.
My late friend Kieran Hickey, with his brother Des, produced an excellent film (narrated by Jack MacGowran) & book called ‘Faithful Departed’ which brought many of the National Library images back to life.
Thank goodness for the new age of digital dissemination.
Best wishes,
Stephen McKenna
Frustrating. Defintietly from the 20′s, to judge by the auto. From the cobbles it looks like it has to be down the quays or Temple Bar. But the Guinnness ad is genial!!!
Plus ça change, je dis
this looks like it could be 32 temple bar
The Clarendon is 32 Clarendon St. (Based on a quick Google Search.).
Hi Orla,
Looks like Dublin alright but you could check for sure using the business names and searching old copies of Thom’s Directory (http://www.thoms.ie/content/index.asp) in the national library Kildare St. Also as it is a licensed premises you could look into the licensing records if they have survived. Licences are sold between premises and are renewed/ approved in the District Court so there should be a record of some description.
Good Luck,
John
Thanks John. We have some Thom’s diretories in work – I just need to set aside some time to take a proper look.
Checked 32 parliment street in dublin on google maps and the windows on the first level of each photo corrispond to each other as in distance from and where there situated…….worth a try!!
The etching in the pub window looks like “Healy” to me!
There is was Public House J.J. Healy on 32 Mary Street in the 1940 Thom’s Directory. I had a look and it is just up from Marks and Spencer, opposite the old Roches Stores, and they are new builds from the 1970s. Thanks for the suggestions.
My Grandmother was born in 32 Mary Street in 1919.Her Father owned the pub.Ill try find out some more info if I can and see if its the same pub in the photo.
Stephen
I think I have a colour slide taken in Leicester Square, London, in the 1950s/60s which mentions your father in the titles to one of the theatres there. Might this be of interest to you. If so I will try and ferret it out in my slide boxes.
Regards, he was a fine actor,
Pól
Hi Pol,
Thanks so much for your kind remarks. The slide you mention is very intriguing and of that era and location it might possibly be Stephen D at the St.Martin’s Theatre or Too True To Be Good at the Garrick.
If you have the means to scan a thumbnail I would love to see it.
My email should appear with my communication.
Here’s hoping,
Best wishes,
Stephen McKenna
Hi Stephen
I’m sure I remember such a photo but my stuff is all over the place and when I went looking I couldn’t find it.
Nevertheless, I’m fairly sure it exists and must be somewhere. Perhaps even in my B&W negatives which I haven’t gone through yet.
Sorry to disappoint for now. I’ll keep searching.
The only one I found, which will be of little consolation to you is one of “Four in the Morning” at the Cameo Royale (?):
http://www.photopol.com/pics/fourinthemorning.png
with Judi Dench and Norman Rodway.
I think I recollect your father in the Abbey Theatre Geamaireachtaí at Christmas times. These pantomimes through the medium were a real hoot where the actors really just let go and enjoyed themselves onstage. They improvised a lot and tuned the performance to the audience, very often children from particular schools. If the Irish language was half as vigorous in daily life as in these stage performances it would have little to worry about.
Regards,
Pól
Did a bit of poking around on this one as like everyone else it had me baffled.
I had a look at the 1894 Thoms Directory.
There is a Laurence Hogerty confectioner listed at 31 S- Brunswick St great (from College Green to Grand Canal Quay)
At number 32 is listed James Tyrell , Victualler.
Thing is looking at todays maps, I cant find a Brunswick Street on the Southside.
However Pearse Street was formerly Brunswick Street .
So the picture could well have been taken on Pearse Street.
The Hegarty entered as Hogerty in the Thoms.
I scanned the evidence (the 3 pages related to Brunswick Street in the Thoms) and posted them at
http://wp.me/PDoVn-2Y0
I’m not sure what stands on 31/32 Pearse Street now.
Incidentally, given the spirit of your blog, the Thoms I have was rescued by my mother when she saw someone was dumping it.
Thanks very much – am off now to look at maps. I’ve sent an e-mail to your address too.
Is there a way to add a photo to the comments?I have one that might help in the search!
From a comment over on CHTM:
“My husband thinks this is from Temple Bar, beside the Quays pub.”
Now that I look at it…..
I looks like Caple Street tome.