I’m very grateful there are people in this world with more ‘get up and go’ than I have at times! My thanks to Will Peat, a friend, for organising a visit to the Iveagh Trust Museum Flat recently through booking. The flat is tiny, but it offers huge insight on a former Dublin.
All images my own.
The Iveagh Trust buildings, built by Edward Cecil Guinness, the first Earl of Iveagh, were in some ways a monument in themselves to the philanthroy of the Guinness family. Built to house the working poor of Dublin, they were remarkably ahead of their time when contrasted for example with the Foley Street Corporation Buildings and other such Dublin Corporation dwellings also constructed in the early 1900’s.
As Andrew Kincaid noted in his study Postcolonial Dublin: imperial legacies and the built environment: “In 1890, on the back of the Dublin Improvement Act of 1889, a group of Protestant and Unionist businessmen and politicians formed the Guinness, later the Iveagh, Trust.” Edward Cecil Guinness outlined his belief that the Iveagh Trust would strive for “the amelioration of the condition of the poorer of the working classes.”
The area where the Iveagh Trust buildings stand now was once among the worst slums in the city. It’s a great irony in Dublin’s history that right next to the fortified home of political power in Ireland, Dublin Castle, one found many of the poorest Dubliners. The homes Guinness constructed, simple two or three bedroom tenements, were a million miles removed from what stood there before.
While the Iveagh Trust flats would be modernised in time, the Trust have maintained one small flat for museum purposes. Number 3B has changed little in the century since the opening of the buildings, and today it serves as a sort of Dublin time capsule. Stepping into it, you get a great social insight into a Dublin long gone.
This was home to Nellie Molloy, who passed in 2002 at the very impressive age of 95. She’d lived through major changes in Irish society, and the area around the building saw much change. In the short-time we spend in the apartment, our guide Liam tells us some great small details about Nellie, such as the fact she was a Trade Union shop steward in her time, and we learn something of the man who gazes over the small apartment, Sgt. Major Henry John Molloy, a veteran of the Boer War and the Great War. Below the picture of the Sgt. Major, a piano sits proudly, testament to the fact Nellie enjoyed hosting guests in her small flat. Liam tells us that he knew Nellie to talk to, and that she was a treasure trove of information on Dublin’s past.
The two small bedrooms contain much religious iconography, but it’s the small details that make this apartment. Opening one drawer, we see modest purses and scarves. It’s evidently clear Nellie took great pride in her home and what she had, and everything is neatly arranged. While the apartment is small, one can see how around a dozen could comfortably sit in its front room. Looking at the piano, you don’t doubt that on occasion, a dozen did!
It’s a great insight into a Dublin that has arguably long passed. With the Eucharistic Congress this year for example likely to be more of a whisper than a bang, the extent of the religious devotion in the house is a look at a different time. I was reminded of the photos of children constructing religious shrines in the Dublin tenements in 1932.
The Iveagh Trust buildings warrant exploration from any Dubliner. Walk around them, and enjoy the architecture and detail. The detail even in the letters above the entrances to each block is unique in every case, and we wandered throughout the streets and courtyards of the blocks exploring a part of Dublin that deserves your attention.
Click on the book for more.
Click on the book for more.
Donal
Ciarán
Sam
Come Here To Me! 
By way of contrast these are photos of the inside of one of the flats taken recently. Dublin City Council are doing a very bad job of maintaining the flats. According to the guy who lives there many of the flats are empty because they’ve been left run down. The building I was in needed a lot of work but most of it stuff like painting and small repairs.
http://photobucket.com/Iveagh
A Hidden gem, nice work 🙂
It looks wonderful. The piano, over-mantel and buttonback sofa suggest genteel aspirations. It looks like original electric light flex in the bedroom. What a treasure…a must see !
I saw a program before Christmas which said that to be eligable for a flat in Iveagh Trust Buildings that you had to be Protestant, working and a non drinker. Therefore I’m surprised to see so much Catholic references in the museum flat. I think the program was the one narrated by the little fella from “The Irish RM” I’ll have to search for it tommorrow.
yes years ago maybe that was true, but not the accept people on there need for housing etc… not there religion, that would be discrimination,,,
Any idea what the arch in the bedroom picture is for/about, or is it just decorative?
I recently moved into a house in Stoneybatter and have an arch just like it that is continued into the bedroom on the left.
Nice article btw 🙂
Well I live in the Iveagh Trust, And although you have to go for an interview and provide references to get on the waiting list for a flat, they don’t ask about religion or the fact you may drink!! Great to see this article I’ve never been into Nellies flat though I did hear about it.
My apartment is in great condition apart from the old sash windows but as it’s a listed building I don’t think much can be done about it!
Hello Martina,I have been called for an interview for housing with the iveagh trust. I am wondering if the the interview is successful roughly how long will I have to be wait to be housed? How long was it for you?
kind regards
Ali
Nellie Molloy has a brother, Henry, age 91 a musician, hale and hearty in the Meath
Hospital. His doting nephew, Kevin Molloy, singer, composer, guitarist (formerly of
the Dublin City Ramblers) arranged for a Yamaha Organ to be installed in Henry’s
Ward. He is of unbelievably handsome appearance and demeanour and will I am
convinced welcome a visit and treat you to his repertoire. I cannot believe RTE has
not paid hilm a visit and a musical interview. His Da, my paternal grandfather, was
wounded on the Somme (at Guinchy) and breathed his last in 3B Iveagh Bldge in
1955? His wife, Anne, nee Glennon, was 2nd Cousin of Cardinal John Glennon.
Both are buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery. My name is James Molloy, local
historian, Journalist and singer, with the Franco Irish Group “Tumbleweed” See
Utube. Thank you all, most kindly for paying your respects to one of our most
unsung darlin’s Nellie Molloy And greeting all from France Pardon me I erred in the
year of my Grandfathers death? He died Mar 12th 1951 in his 75th year………………..
Well written.. dear brother James and thank you for this email re our grandparents historic abode which for me, contains priceless memory,s.
i visited our uncle Henry last week and found him in his usual good form. .he is treasured by the staff in the old Meath hospitals special wing ,who enjoy daily
his music which greets visitors long before they reach his Camden Ward location
.Re Grandad whose name i bear as eldest grandson,,.i was 11years and 8days old when he died in march 1951 and treasure his personal effects left to me,, among which,, is his silver “Hunter” watch.and chain, which i wear on special occasions,,
fond regards dear Brother Jim
Henry “Harry” Molloy
a footnote re the above set of images …the ornate “E BLOCK ” Doorway image i does not apply and should have been that of the equally ornate B Block Doorway image….HJM ….
The current series of Foyle’s War is filmed in Dublin. The Iveagh Buildings feature heavily in the first episode.
Hi, I’m just wondering if it would be possible to visit flat 3 b in the iveagh trust building??? My dad and myself would be vary keen to see it, Dad is 82 and a true blue Dub… he’d love to take a trip down memory lane. Thank you very much for all your help, Christeen.
Ah this is lovely. ! My nan lived in Flat 22 ) Block D. She passed about 45 years ago. My mom (just passed this month) who was 90 took us three as kids to Dublin during the school hols until we all got to be about 16..all four of us stayed with nan in the one bed flat! My daughter , my mom and me last visited Dublin 20 years ago. Hubby has never been there. I couldn’t bring myself to visit whilst mom was still with us because she wasn’t well enough to travel and it felt disrespectful to go without her. We will visit as soon as we can.,great built buildings those Iveagh Buildings. Can’t wait to see them again and relive those lovely memories!! Mon Jukes