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You are here: HomenextExplore our archivenextPlacesnextPride of Place-Growing up in Sheriff St

Pride of Place-Growing up in Sheriff St

My name is Maria McGrane, I’m a retired psychotherapist now photographer, who grew up in my family sweet shop known as Mattie's in Sheriff street.

Although the shop was in my family for three generations, the time frame of my photography exhibition is focussed on the years from 1958 to 1978. It was once said we were lucky to grow up in a sweet shop and perhaps there’s a truth to that but it was also full of hustle and bustle, open all hours, as busy inside as the street was outside with constant jobs to be done and where work and service to our community took top priority.

Over the years Sheriff street has earned a negative reputation and in some instances deservedly so. However, this singular perspective does not take full account of the community I know and love. Instead, I wanted to reflect the resilient and strong community that has survived economic collapse with the consequent social impact that still endures to this day.

I have used my camera to shine a light on and celebrate the community whose indomitable spirit captures the very best of what I believe it means to be a Dubliner and Irish.

The photography collection consists of portrait photographs of adults, who frequented the shop as children, as well as audio/visual recordings of their recollections of being customers of the shop. There’s also a series of photographs of surviving hand written notes the children were sent to the shop to get the “messages”. Also included are photographs of various shop memorabilia. This multimedia collection details a rich social history of a once highly industrial area that for many provided an exciting, if not at times, a dangerous playground.

I am incredibly proud to tell the story of my family shop and community I grew up in, because for me and others it encapsulates the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.

I believe our children and grandchildren will thank us for  recording and making visible our indelible heritage.

  • People of Sheriff Street

    People of Sheriff Street (1)

  • Anthony Sheridan

    Anthony Sheridan

  • Aoife Doyle

    Aoife Doyle

  • Bernie Kearns

    Bernie Kearns

  • Bernie Kearns and her niece the artist Tara Kearns

    Bernie Kearns and her niece the artist Tara Kearns

  • Bernie McDermott

    Bernie McDermott

  • Betty Byrne Kinsella

    Betty Byrne Kinsella

  • Brendan Bird

    Brendan Bird

  • Carmel Shelly (Nee Walsh)

    Carmel Shelly (Nee Walsh)

  • Declan Byrne -Promoting the Dublin Dockers

    Declan Byrne -Promoting the Dublin Dockers

  • Declan Byrne-Dock Office

    Declan Byrne-Dock Office

  • Dolores McDermott (Nee Walsh)

    Dolores McDermott (Nee Walsh)

  • Family Group: Jack O'Shea, Sister Marie Mahon (Nee O'Shea)Jack's daughter Bernie D'Arcy

    Family Group: Jack O'Shea, Sister Marie Mahon (Nee O'Shea)Jack's daughter Bernie D'Arcy

  • Family Group: Jannette, Brendan, Maura, with Maura's daughter Ger standing in Back

    Family Group: Jannette, Brendan, Maura, with Maura's daughter Ger standing in Back

  • Family Groups

    Family Groups

  • Family Shots: Jeannette McGarry (Nee Bird), her sister Maura O'Shea (Nee) Bird with Maura's daughter Geraldine behind them

    Family Shots: Jeannette McGarry (Nee Bird), her sister Maura O'Shea (Nee) Bird with Maura's daughter Geraldine behind them

  • Fr. Pearse Walsh

    Fr. Pearse Walsh

  • Friends: Jean O'Toole (Nee Rafferty) and Bernie McDermot (Nee Martin)

    Friends: Jean O'Toole (Nee Rafferty) and Bernie McDermot (Nee Martin)

  • Gemma Hogan

    Gemma Hogan

  • Georgie Dennis- Docker RIP

    Georgie Dennis- Docker RIP

  • Jack O'Shea

    Jack O'Shea

  • Jean O'Toole

    Jean O'Toole

  • John Behan RHA

    John Behan RHA

  • John Thompson

    John Thompson

  • Julie Farrell (Nee Walsh)

    Julie Farrell (Nee Walsh)

PAGE:123Next >
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