History of a building

[dmc1234]

Hi there
I am looking for a trace of my mgf who lived at an address in Dublin South which is no longer there. 5a New Row South, Dublin 8. Would anyone know how to find the history of the building why it was demolished etc. It seemed to exist until at least 1960 but can't find any reference to whether it was a house or a commercial building. In the 1911 census there doesn't seem to be a listed occupant etc. Any advice would be great many thanks

[Andy J2022]

You could try contacting the Dublin City Library. They hold copies of the censuses up to 1911 and electoral registers from 1935: https://www.dublincity.ie/residential/libraries/using-your-library/family-history
It looks like Thom's directories of Dublin are the equivalent of Kelly's in the UK: https://www.swilson.info/wp/?p=2010
and: https://digital.ucd.ie/view/ucdlib:33000

[dmc1234]

Hi Andy

Thank you for the reply, yes I should have said I got Thoms checked for 1955 that was when my presumed mgf lived at that address or was registered there. When I contacted the library I think they said electoral roll wasn't available after 1930s due to data protection or something similar which i thought was strange as its available in the UK. It is odd as on that road it's the only property that has been knocked down the rest of the houses are in tact etc. I would like to know whether it was a business address as perhaps I can trace him from this etc

[Andy J2022]

Something strange is going on with the current day street numbering. The new build properties on the west side of the street are numbered 1 to 7 and the older houses on the opposite side (probably the same age, c. late nineteenth century, as the one where you gf lived) are numbered 1a to 4a, after which the houses on the east side are called Lauderdale Terrace and the numbering starts back at 1. The houses in Lauderdale Terrace are identical to the ones marked 1a to 4a, so I don't think the original 5a was on the east side of the street. As you say, your gf's house must have been demolished and replaced by the new build properties now numbered 1 - 7.
Google street view here: https://www.google.com/maps/@53.3388013,-6.2733991,3a,76.4y,111.23h,81.7t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sfg2gElGZtWwTj2DEuDkB6w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

[dmc1234]

Thanks Andy, yes it is weird. We were determined to find out some info so went to Dublin from UK recently and found exactly this , it goes up to 4a and then changes and as you say on the other side no 'a' properties. There is a large gap by 4a . So we asked a local guide if that was where 5a was and he said yes it had been knocked down.  the odd the thing is in the 1911 census 5a doesn't come up either . But in 1952 my gf was there according to Thoms. It is always the way that the place you look for is the one house on the road that isn't there any more !

[Andy J2022]

Photograph looking North up New Row. Hard to date but probaly around 1900.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/52/d2/1e/52d21e82a3f9d2b7cf08cd0eb447b04e.jpg

[Andy J2022]

I think the above photo was taken from the junction with Mill street. Here's what it looks like today:
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.33732,-6.2752348,3a,75y,32.66h,90.61t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sp2WX-qaTJ23NMF3nfYSnug!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

[dmc1234]

Thank you Andy so helpful, I think from my visit that is the top end of the road and the 'a' properties start on the Dean Street end . I ve even trailed the newspaper archive to see if it had trade adds at the time but nothing so far

[hepburn]

No 5a in 1908.

https://www.rootschat.com/links/01sei/