The Great Famine Eras of change and conflict: The Great Famine 152

Life in a tenement flat

Number 14 Henrietta Street (now a museum) was split up to 17 flats. Most of these had only one room, which was home to a family of up to seven. They had to cook, eat and sleep in the same room. Repairs were rarely made to the roof or windows, so the flats were usually cold and damp. Families reported using old army jackets as blankets to keep warm at night. There were two outdoor toilets, which were shared between the 17 flats. There was only one source of running water in the entire house. Due to the lack of hygiene, the occupants were often sick, especially the children.

Reconstruction of a tenement flat at 14 Henrietta Street

Farmhouses

In the 1900s, farmhouses began to be built on large farms to accommodate large families. These twostorey houses were built using large stones and slate roof tiles. They were modest compared to the estate houses, but they marked a great improvement in the living conditions of Irish farmers. A typical farmhouse had two to four bedrooms, a kitchen/living room and a parlour for entertaining visitors.

Estates in the suburbs

In the 1930s, the Irish govenment began building housing estates in Dublin’s suburbs. Housing estates were built in Donnycarney and Crumlin for families who had been living in the city’s tenements. These estates were made up of small, terraced or semi-detached houses, containing two or three bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen and a living room. In spite of their new, comfortable homes, many of the families from the tenements struggled with the move. They missed living in the city centre and lost touch with many of their old neighbours.