Monto In The Rare Oul Times

I'm somewhat interested in history in general, so while I was trawling through the internet I found the following, which all youse Dubs might find interesting. Apparently, Monto used to be one of the biggest red light districts in Europe.

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Monto was the nickname for a one-time notorious red light district in Dublin. The name is derived from Montgomery Street (now called Foley Street), which runs parallel to the lower end of Talbot Street towards what is now Connolly Station. It was immortalised as "Nighttown" in the "Circe" chapter of James Joyce's famous work, Ulysses, where the central protagonists Leopold Bloom and Stephen Dedalus together visit a brothel.

In its heyday from the 1860s - 1900s, there were anything up to 1,600 prostitutes working there at any one time, with all classes of customers catered for. It was reputed to be the biggest red light district in Europe and the third biggest in the British Empire, its financial viability aided by the number of British Army barracks and hence soldiers in the city, notably the Royal Barracks (later Collins Barracks and now one of the locations of Ireland's National Museum).

Monto was also a hive of IRA activity, particularly around the time of the war of independence, with several safe houses for the flying columns which included Phil Shanahan's public house.

The then Prince of Wales, Prince Albert Edward (later King Edward VII), according to popular legend, lost his virginity there. In the 1880s the Prince, accompanied by his wife Alexandra and their son Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence strolled unrecognised through the area, having slipped away from their bodyguards and walked through Dublin.

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Do any Dubs know about this, or has anyone got any stories/anecdotes to colour it in better?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by anonymouse

I'm somewhat interested in history in general, so while I was trawling through the internet I found the following, which all youse Dubs might find interesting. Apparently, Monto used to be one of the biggest red light districts in Europe.

*******************************

Monto was the nickname for a one-time notorious red light district in Dublin. The name is derived from Montgomery Street (now called Foley Street), which runs parallel to the lower end of Talbot Street towards what is now Connolly Station. It was immortalised as "Nighttown" in the "Circe" chapter of James Joyce's famous work, Ulysses, where the central protagonists Leopold Bloom and Stephen Dedalus together visit a brothel.

In its heyday from the 1860s - 1900s, there were anything up to 1,600 prostitutes working there at any one time, with all classes of customers catered for. It was reputed to be the biggest red light district in Europe and the third biggest in the British Empire, its financial viability aided by the number of British Army barracks and hence soldiers in the city, notably the Royal Barracks (later Collins Barracks and now one of the locations of Ireland's National Museum).

Monto was also a hive of IRA activity, particularly around the time of the war of independence, with several safe houses for the flying columns which included Phil Shanahan's public house.

The then Prince of Wales, Prince Albert Edward (later King Edward VII), according to popular legend, lost his virginity there. In the 1880s the Prince, accompanied by his wife Alexandra and their son Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence strolled unrecognised through the area, having slipped away from their bodyguards and walked through Dublin.

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Do any Dubs know about this, or has anyone got any stories/anecdotes to colour it in better?

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All i know is the Dubliners sang about it
YouTube - The Dubliners - Monto

Ahem, anonymouse, I'm delighted that you have discovered Foley Street, previously Montgomery Street. Well done on your research work brother, but I already posted a similar thread on 30.05.2008. Seeing as you were'nt working off my material, I wont take issue with you over plagiarism. :D


Quote from 30.05.2008:

"Having just read randyrave's review of Virginia No. 4915, I thought I'd fill in the historically challenged with a little bit of information about Foley Street, where the said Escort seems to be located.

Prior to independence, Foley Street was called Montgomery Street and this street lent it's name to Dublin's famous red-light district, called Monto. Monto itself, must have covered a reasonably sized area which included what is now Sean MacDermott Street, because in it's heyday (1860s to 1900s) it was said that up to 1600 prostitutes where working there at any given time. It was reputed to be the biggest red-light district in Europe and the third biggest in the British Empire. According to a popular legend, the Prince of Wales, Prince Albert Edward (later King Edward VII) lost his virginity there.

Frank Duff of the Legion of Mary, was one of those people who was instrumental in getting Monto closed down. He was supported in this by General William Murphy, the Dublin Police Commissioner. Following a series of raids, in which 120 people were arrested, the last brothels in Monto were closed down on 12th March 1925. Or so they thought anyway.

It's great to see that an ancient Dublin tradition is alive and well and that the old red-light still shines brightly in what used to be Monto. Unfortunately, it's unlikely that it will ever reach it's pre-independence heyday, as the best customers for the girls were the soldiers of the British Army garrisoned here.

Who knows, maybe if the Lisbon treaty is passed, our home-grown post-independence troglodytes will receive a rap on the knuckles from their betters in Brussels and be told to stop persecuting the working ladies in this jurisdiction."

Quote:

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Originally Posted by anonymouse

I'm somewhat interested in history in general, so while I was trawling through the internet I found the following, which all youse Dubs might find interesting. Apparently, Monto used to be one of the biggest red light districts in Europe.

*******************************

Monto was the nickname for a one-time notorious red light district in Dublin. The name is derived from Montgomery Street (now called Foley Street), which runs parallel to the lower end of Talbot Street towards what is now Connolly Station. It was immortalised as "Nighttown" in the "Circe" chapter of James Joyce's famous work, Ulysses, where the central protagonists Leopold Bloom and Stephen Dedalus together visit a brothel.

In its heyday from the 1860s - 1900s, there were anything up to 1,600 prostitutes working there at any one time, with all classes of customers catered for. It was reputed to be the biggest red light district in Europe and the third biggest in the British Empire, its financial viability aided by the number of British Army barracks and hence soldiers in the city, notably the Royal Barracks (later Collins Barracks and now one of the locations of Ireland's National Museum).

Monto was also a hive of IRA activity, particularly around the time of the war of independence, with several safe houses for the flying columns which included Phil Shanahan's public house.

The then Prince of Wales, Prince Albert Edward (later King Edward VII), according to popular legend, lost his virginity there. In the 1880s the Prince, accompanied by his wife Alexandra and their son Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence strolled unrecognised through the area, having slipped away from their bodyguards and walked through Dublin.

****************************

Do any Dubs know about this, or has anyone got any stories/anecdotes to colour it in better?

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If you're in the Gaul, know a friend who is alreadfy in it or about to go, the Mondo is the reason why: NEVER FOLLOW YOUR COMPETITION-IT WILL LEAED TO A RED LIGHT DIRECTION-The Gards don't want it.

Bachleors Walk?:p:p:p

Thanks for the reprise from July, Brother Marvado. That was all before my time and I never go back more than one page when checking new posts! :D

It always amazes me that in the period of Monto when Ireland was ruled completely by the bishops (and the brits) we had 1600 street prostitutes.

Now in our "godless" society we have a fraction of this number.

Just a thought !!!

If you are interested in the history of prostitution in Ireland, watch out for Striapacha...

"Striapacha" (2008)

It was on TG4. They will show it again in the future I expect.

Speaking of more recent history of prostitution in Ireland, I read in the Indo today that June Levine passed away. She was the co-author of Amazon.co.uk: Lyn: A Story of Prostitution: Lyn Madden, June Levine: Books

At last an interesting yet still sexually linked post!
Thank you anonymouse, interesting stuff

Hey Mousey, if your looking for more recent history of Monto then read "Ladies of the Kasbah" by Dave Mullins.

I'm sure plenty of the more older gentlemen here would remember that place.:D

It operated during the 80's and early 90's before being busted.:(

Actually did anyone here visit the Kasbah back in the day?:)