Dublin’s women street traders, 1882-1932. Book Talk

As part of the Dublin Book Festival, author Susan Marie Martin will be in conversation with Caroline West, Leanne Calvert and Mary McAuliffe discussing the treatment of women in Ireland across three centuries, uncovering stories of struggle and resilience from the 1700s to today.

During this conversation, Susan will be referring to her new book, Dublin’s women street traders, 1882-1932.

Join the conversation on Thursday 06 November 2025 at 6.45pm in the Royal Irish Academy.

 

A ballad about a woman street trader is widely regarded as Dublin’s anthem, yet the city’s relationship with those who traded on its streets was often acrimonious. From 1882 onwards efforts commenced to have street traders banned alongside gentrification projects. A watershed came with the passage of the Street Trading Act of 1926. This book examines the resistance of the traders when those with power refused to recognize them as stakeholders. What the establishment learned was that the women were prepared to engage in civil disobedience, endure violence from Gardaí and serve time in jail to both protect their livelihoods and protest what they characterized as ‘banishment to the slums’.

Susan Marie Martin is a historical sociologist. She is a guest lecturer and research project supervisor in University College Cork's Food Studies and Irish Foodways programme.