The Mount Street Club: Dublin's Unique Response to Unemployment - Hardcover

Peter Somerville-Large; Mary E. Daly; Colin Murphy

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1781171726 ISBN 13: 9781781171721

Publisher: The Mercier Press Ltd, 2014

Synopsis

In 1934 a group of notable Dublin businessmen decided to combat the poverty all around them by setting up an unemployed men's 'club', wherein men could earn 'tallies' which they could exchange for food, clothing, fuel or furniture. They were very successful and, at its peak, during the Second World War, the club had 6,000 members working on its premises in Mount Street, on its farm in Clondalkin and in allotments in Merrion and Sydney Parade. The club was revolutionary in proving that men from the slums could make a constructive contribution to society and helped hundreds of unskilled workers gain employment. It was talked about in the Seanad and gained international attention from the likes of Sir William Beveridge (who developed Britain's welfare system). The work of the Mount Street Club evolved over the years, and in the 1970s and 1980s it supported start-up businesses and set up training schemes for the unemployed. It was incorporated as a Trust in 2006 and continues to work on projects which give support to those suffering from the effects of unemployment in the Greater Dublin area. With over 150 facsimiles, photographs and documents of interest, this is a beautiful and entertaining insight into rich history and the impact of true philanthropy.

About this title

About the Author:

Peter Somerville-Large is the author of many books of Irish historical significance. Colin Murphy is a journalist, film and documentary maker who writes for Politico.ie and various Irish and British papers. Professor Mary E. Daly is a member of the UCD School of History and Archives and author of a number of acclaimed books on Irish culture and social and economic history.

About this edition

• Publisher: The Mercier Press Ltd
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1781171726
• ISBN 13: 9781781171721
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 356