Dublin Street Life and Lore – An Oral History of Dublin’s Streets and their Inhabitants: The Recollections of Dublin’s Tram Drivers, Lamplighters and Street Dealers

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


1. Dublin Street Life and Oral Urbanlore


2. Historical Perspectives on Dublin Street Types


3. Street Figures of Yesteryear
   Lamplighters
   Dockers
   Postmen
   Chimney Sweep
   Signwriter
   Pawnbroker
   Fortune Teller


4. Dealers, Spielers, Vendors and Collectors
   Market and Street Dealers
   Spieler
   Newspaper Vendors
   Scrap Collectors


5. Transport and Vehicles Men
   Jarveys
   Tram Drivers
   Pioneer Cabbie
   Bicycle and Car Parkers
   Busman


6. Animal Dealers, Drovers and Fanciers
   Drovers
   Horse Dealers
   Pig Raiser
   Bird Market Men
   Pigeon Fanciers


7. Entertainers and Performers
   Buskers
   Pavement Artists
   Mimes and Clowns
   Bardic Street Poets