Occupation - Wine Porter

[Harry1968]

Hello,

My great great grandfather states in the 1901 and 1911 Ireland Census that his occupation was "Wine Porter".  He lived in Mabbot Street (one of the entrance streets to Monto at the time), now James Joyce Steet.

Would anybody have any information for this job.  Would he have been involved in the transportation or delivery of wine to and from Merchants, or merely a servant who looked after the wine in the big gentry houses of Dublin at the time.

Harry1968

[stanmapstone]

A porter was a dock labourer engaged in carrying or otherwise transporting goods at the docks, sometimes specifically designated according to the goods carried, in this case wine.
A servant looking after the wine for a large house would likely be called a wine butler.
Stan

[Harry1968]

Super Stan,

Many thanks.  That makes perfect sense.  Whilst reading up on the history of Mabbot Street, Monto and the general Talbot Street, a lot was said about the residents in the tenemants working in the docks.

By the way, my other great great father states in the 1901 census he was a "smelting pipe polisher", and in the 1911 census, states "pipe polisher" for his occupation.

He lived in York Street for both Census'.  Any thoughts on exactly what a piple polisher entailed.

Harry 1968

[stanmapstone]

I can only assume that he worked in a brass or copper smelters that made pipes and he finished them off by polishing.

Stan