Would you care to solve a Dublin mystery???

[Bridget x]

I have  in my possession the only known photograph of our G.Grandparents. It is a wonderful, but very old picture showing them standing outside a very poor and run-down shoemakers shop.  The old shingle jutting out above the shop gives the information W. Lawlor shoemaker and shoe repairer. William is wearing a leather overall while Mary, his wife is dressed in long black skirts and White apron.  Judging from the state of the shop and above rooms I would say this property has long gone. My question is this, would a shop in such a sorry and poor state have been registered in any Dublin records?  I would love to find out where it once stood.  I suspect it was in north Dublin possibly in what was once Gt. Britain St, (now Parnell St) or Capel St. I would guess the picture was taken c1911-1920.  Any suggestions, or better still, and budding Sherlock Holmes out there?  Thank you.  Bridget x

[Marie M]

Can you post the picture or give any other details, and someone should give it a go.

[aghadowey]

If William Lawlor was a shoemaker he might appear in Dublin directories. It would certainly be worth checking, especially since you have a possible address.

[Bridget x]

Thank's for both replies.  As I am new to this site I have no idea how to post a picture.  Can I check out the Dublin directories on line as I do not live in Dublin?   Again thank's for your suggestions and help. I have just  noticed the sign in the window, shoes soled and heeled at a cost of 2/6 !!  What year would this have been? I am guessing at the year of the picture as I found them on the Dublin census for 1911.  Bridget x
Managed it with help from hubby!.   The child in the picture was their  grandchild my mother.

[LH]

Bridget

Did the 1911 Census give an Actual address or area for these folk?

[Taidquest]

hmmm,that poster in the middle of the window on the right hand side
says "rotunda" and further down the poster says "new living pictures".
I think it could have been around the parnell st area which runs across the
 top of o'connell street,the ambasador cinema stood at this spot facing down
 o'connell street,this block could have been known as rotunda as the rotunda
 maternity hospital is still at the back of where this cinema stood.could it have
been known as the "rotunda picture house"?the shop could have been near there.
where are all those 'vintage' dubliners who could tell us when that poster might have
 been seen?
                       regards.anne

[Bridget x]

L.H. and Anne, Thank you both for your replies. The 1901 and 1911 Dublin census show my G.Grandparents living at what was then Stafford St.(house  No. 12 in 1911.)  As my grandmother and my own mother also lived there I am familiar with the street and the only shop in that st. was a small dairy.called Sheridans. I have a strong feeling the  shoemakers shop in the picture would have been in  what was then GT. Britain St. and now Parnell St.  It would make sense it would be near the Capel St end of (now) Parnell St near their tenement home.  I feel it may have been too poor to have been registered. I have looked at a list for leather workers in Dublin for that time but no luck. Does anyone know when the name changed. ? The poster in the window is indeed for the Rotunda picturehouse where the Ambassador now stands Or did when I was last in Dublin. Known as the "flea pit" when I went there in my youth many, many years ago! Bridget x

[Taidquest]

hi,don't know if you have this link already which
has a list of sources available.it might help you to plan
what you want to research before your next visit home.
                                         happy hunting.anne

http://www.nli.ie/family_hr.htm#pr

[Bridget x]

Thank's for that Anne.  Regards,  Bridget x