Dublin Street Life and Lore – An Oral History of Dublin's Streets and their Inhabitants

The first half of this century was the heyday of Dublin's vibrant and bustling traditional street life. Now in Dublin's Street Life and Lore, through the vivid oral histories of the participants themselves, Professor Kevin Kearns chronicles this rich street life and lore for future generations.

The fascinating and often poignant verbal testimonies of Dublin's last surviving tram drivers, lamplighters, market traders, street dealers, spielers, buskers, local characters and others of their vanishing breed, comprise a wholly original and captivating personal historical record of Dublin's long renowned street life, told in Professor Kearns's uniquely engaging and informative style.

Dublin Street Life and Lore: Table of Contents

Introduction

– Dublin Street Life and Oral Urbanlore

– Historical Perspectives on Dublin Street Types

– Street Figures of Yesteryear

Lamplighters

Dockers

Postmen

Chimney Sweep

Signwriter

Pawnbroker

Fortune Teller

– Dealers, Spielers, Vendors and Collectors

Market and Street Dealers

Spieler

Newspaper Vendors

Scrap Collectors

– Transport and Vehicles Men

Jarveys

Tram Drivers

Pioneer Cabbie

Bicycle and Car Parkers

Busman

– Animal Dealers, Drovers and Fanciers

Drovers

Horse Dealers

Pig Raiser

Bird Market Men

Pigeon Fanciers

– Entertainers and Performers

Buskers

Pavement Artists

Mimes and Clowns

Bardic Street Poets