New book charts history of Moore Street

A LOCAL author has captured the rich history of one of Dublin’s most famous streets in a newly published book.

‘Moore Street: The Story of Dublin’s Market District’, written by Barry Kennerk, recounts the history of the entire market area, charting its growth and development since the 18th century.

As well as detailed research on the area, Barry has also interviewed many people associated with the market about their experience including Bill Cullen, PJ Gallagher and Keith Duffy.

Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Clare Byrne, launched the book in the Mansion House, where a large number of people associated with Moore Street, including some of its traders past and present, were in attendance.

Barry, an employee of Temple Street Children’s University Hospital and a post-graduate student affiliated with St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, said he looked in vain for a book about the area but couldn’t find one.

“While Moore Street has often been the subject of newspaper articles or occasional chapters, I came to realise, with some surprise, that it didn’t have a book of its own,

? he says.

“I decided I would try not just to tell the story of the market in anecdotes but also to put it in a proper historical context.

“The book took about 18 months to write – mostly in my spare time – as I hold down a demanding day job.

?

The book is divided into three sections. The first takes a thematic look at some of the events that have helped to shape development in the market since the early 18th century.

The second introduces seven

‘voices of Moore Street’, each representing a different aspect of life there, and the last part is a street-by-street account of the wider market area, its people and its buildings.

One of those aforementioned voices is that of May Gorman, who looks much younger than her 91 years.

May, who was crowned Queen of Moore Street in 2005, tells her story, which will recall fond memories of years gone by for readers of the book.

“It’s a good day when I can put my feet to the ground,

? says May in her story, which will resonate with many Dubliners of that generation.

The inspiration for the book stemmed from Barry’s family background. His parents grew up across the road from each other in Little Denmark Street, where the Ilac Centre is now.

“The Kennerk shop at No. 23 remained in the family for many years and as a child, I used to listen to stories about how my Dad played around the area when he was a youngster,

? recalls Barry.

“In particular, he remembers the Lime Yard – a street of slaughter houses that ran parallel to Moore Street.

“There, he saw the cattle and sheep being brought in and sometimes he and his brothers helped to herd them down from the North Circular Road, keeping them out of the side streets and shops.

“The meat was brought in fresh to the butcher shops that fronted Moore Street.

?

The book’s publication is timely given the controversy surrounding proposals for a new development of the area.

“I have always appreciated what the Save Moore Street campaign is trying to achieve but what the public often miss is that the campaign was never just about bricks and mortar,

? explains Barry.

“The Venice Charter recognises the importance of an environment in which an historic monument is situated.

“In the case of Moore Street, that surrounding environment is the market. We all realise of course that it has fallen on hard times but it is still a living trading area and there are still some fantastic sellers at work there.

“They are assisted by committed people in the Ilac Centre who are working hard with the traders to turn the situation around.

“Hopefully this book will show that whatever people make of Moore Street today, there is still a market worth saving – it complements the excellent work being done by the campaign.

?

Barry has written two other books –

‘The Railway House’, a book about his maternal grandmother, and

”Shadow of the Brotherhood – The Temple Bar Shootings’, which is about the gunning down of two policemen in a fog-drenched Victorian Dublin.

?¢

‘Moore Street: The Story of Dublin’s Market District’, published by Mercier Press, is available in all good bookshops, including Easons, Hughes & Hughes, Chapters, Dubray and Hodges Figgis. It is also available to order online through Amazon. It costs

?¬19.95.