Ireland in 1904

Banner image on page of The Industries of Dublin, 1887

Banner image on page of The Industries of Dublin, historical, statistical, biographical, an account of leading business men, commercial interests, wealth and growth, page 9, published by Spencer Blackett, 1887 (approx)with illustrations

© Dublin City Public Libraries

Banner image on page of The Industries of Dublin, 1887
© Dublin City Public Libraries

Banner image on page of The Industries of Dublin, 1887

© Dublin City Public Libraries

Enlarge image

Introduction

In 1904 on the evening of June 16th a young Galway woman and a young Dublin man, Nora Barnacle and James Joyce, walked out together for the first time; and as a tribute to his life-long companion, Joyce set his masterpiece Ulysses on that day. This site looks at the Ireland, and most specifically the Dublin, of 1904, in the context of the many changes that have taken place in Irish society over the past hundred years.

Group Taken in at Hoey's Court - Where Swift was Born

Black and white illustration of Dublin Slum dwellers in article entitled The Last of an Historic Dublin Slum written by Mary Costello, photograph by Mrs. Charles O'Connor in The Lady of the House magazine, Volume XII, Number 143, Christmas, 1901, page 10

© Dublin City Public Libraries

Group Taken in at Hoey's Court - Where Swift was Born
© Dublin City Public Libraries

Group Taken in at Hoey's Court - Where Swift was Born

© Dublin City Public Libraries

Enlarge image

The worlds of work, home and leisure have changed immeasurably since the original Bloomsday. Ireland operates under a different political system and there is greatly increased life expectancy (an average of 75 years in comparison to 48 years in 1904) and much higher education levels among the population. Many of the diseases which killed thousands of people at the beginning of the 20th century have been virtually eradicated; women play a much greater role in the economic and political life of society and the tide of emigration has been reversed, with people from other countries now seeing Ireland as a land of opportunity. In the 2002 Census, Non-Nationals accounted for 6% of the population of Ireland. A further 1% of the population was made up of the children or grandchildren of Irish people who had emigrated to such countries as England, the United States and Australia.

Although poverty and want still exist, no-one need go barefoot or starve to death in Dublin in 2004; in 1904 this could happen.

Other major changes, such as the new changes, such as the new methods of transport and communication (58 cars were registered for the whole of Ireland in April 1904 and City Hall noted proudly in the Corporation Diary that it now possessed two phone lines) have made Dublin a very different place. Yet the city is still recognisably the same place Joyce walked though with Nora Barnacle; many of the same institutions, monuments and shops still exist and couples still meet under Clery's Clock.

It is also true to say that its citizens share preoccupations, fears and hopes not so very much different from those of our forbears in 1904.

Black and white print depicting, Sackville Street, Dublin, late 19th century

Black and white print of Sackville Street, Dublin in The Industries of Dublin, historical, statistical, biographical, an account of leading business men, commercial interests, wealth and growth, page 20, published by Spencer Blackett, 1887 (approx)with illustrations

© Dublin City Public Libraries

Black and white print depicting, Sackville Street, Dublin, late 19th century - © Dublin City Public Libraries