Elgy Gillespie

The Liberties of Dublin is a fluid concept, an aread roughly described by the Southside part of Dublin 8 (south of the River Liffey) this is an area that has been mostly working-class for most of it's history. They describe it as the older parts of Dublin 8 roughly bounded by the castle, the Quays, St James's Gate and Blackpitts. The book could be helped by a modern map.

The first article is Old Dublin within the walls by Breandán Ó Ríordáin which is about some of the archaeology found in the city and evidence of how life was lived in the city in the past.

The Town Walls of Dublin by Patrick Healy lists all the parts of the walls and what remains of them (aka not much)

Down the Old Poddle by Ann Dominica Fitzgerald OP discusses the history and relationship to the city of the now mostly underground Poddle River.

Maps and the Liberties explains the confusion of the name the Liberties, several areas were know as liberties of such and such or so and so making it a difficult area to define, but interesting.

Dean Swift the Liberties King by Bishop Wyse Jackson talks about Jonathan Swift and his relationship with his parishioners and those around him.

Walking around the Liberties by Mary Murtagh needs a map to accompany it. It would be interesting to see how much of what she describes still remains.

Emmet's Dublin and the Irish Insurrections by G A Hayes-McCoy talks about the 1798 and 1803 rebellions and what happened in Dublin with them.

Dutch Billys in the Liberties discusses the Queen Anne style of house and it's relationship with the liberties. Later georgian facades hide some of these houses under modernisation but it's interesting to realise that more than just the few left today would have been around.

A Bad year for the Liberties - 1826, the year of union was a disaster for Dublin and for it's economy. When wealtier members of society went with the politician to London and typhus and unemployment swept the city.

Ladies and Gents of Dub by Eamonn MacThomais is about his experience of some of the colourful characters of Dublin. He mentioned mister Mushat and I looked it up, Mushatt's Psoriasis treatment is still available http://www.mushatts.com/mushatts-history the Meath Street Pharmacy apparently does the cream. I may have to investigate.

Brewing Malting and Distilling by Dr H. S. Corran concentrates on Guinness but also many other brewerys in the area; listing some of the remaining echoes of these businesses.

Growing up in the Liberties by Lorcan Ó Diliún is exactly what it says.

The Last Weaver in the Liberties by Pádraig Breathnach is an account by Pádraig at 86 of what it was like to work as a weaver. Interstingly states that Irish Poplin has to be made from pure silk and pure wool and has to be hand-woven, it cannot be machine woven.

The Latter days of Market Trading - an account by Mrs C.... about what life was like for traders in the Iveagh Market.

The Liberties of to-morrow by Larry P.Dillon sets out a vision for the future of the area that was never really realised, intersting stuff.

To wrap the book up there are some Liberties Songs gathered by Fergus Linehan.

Overall interesting, a little dated (it was written in 1973) in some parts and it would be interesting to see what some of the contributors (if they're still around) would say today.… (mais)