In Dublin's Fair City ? (1986)

Problems for buskers and street traders in 1980's Dublin

[@Vent330]

A totally different place today, and not a better one sadly 😥

[@waynefarrellvoiceovers]

As an 80s teenager who grew up in Dublin, I find this to be a rather bittersweet video. Grateful to see it again, and yet so sad that such a wonderful era is now gone. And lovely to see the inimitable Thom McGinty who was such a kind and caring man. Used to bump into him on Botanic Road a lot when he was on his way into town.

[@bannor216]

you should see it now. boyo. oh boy. no no no no no.

[@gungagalunga9040]

Notice how impeccably dressed the Gardai are. Compared to the loafs of 2020s

[@seamusburke9101]

Yeah, well dressed scrum

[@JohnJKelly-of4dc]

Yes...I get mistaken for a garda these days, in my parkside work pants and high vis fleece

[@gungagalunga9040]

@@JohnJKelly-of4dc true

[@GhastlyCretin]

It irritates me how nearly every Garda now sports a trendy little beard too. I wonder who allowed that? Sounds like something Varadkar is in to.

[@presleyslave]

This is so nostalgic for me as I was 20 in 1986 and this is the Dublin I loved. Seeing Thom mcGinty the ‘Diceman’ again was sweet.

[@garrycarroll2599]

Brilliant 🎉🎉🎉

[@OShea6000]

I was 20 as well in 1986, lovely to watch this. I had forgotten about the 'Drinklink' 😀 Would love a time machine

[@connoroleary591]

Be kind to buskers. Not everyone is cut out to work the 9-5 treadmill of pain.

[@BrayTube]

Be kind to everyone - a treadmill of pain doesn't sound like much fun! ;¬)

[@markc3258]

We can all pay our fair share of taxes no matter what hours you work or how you work .. Pay your share !!

[@cftyftyufyfuyfty]

@@markc3258 taxation is theft

[@littlered7820]

@@markc3258 Taxes ?.....oh you mean that legalized theft by government ?

[@wexfordranger]

God I miss Dublin as it used to be. I remember popping in to The Alchemists Head every Saturday to check out the comics. Remember the smell of Hops? Better days.

[@grlfcgombeenhunter2897]

Ohh take me back plz fooking state of the city now traitors to Eire.

[@cftyftyufyfuyfty]

I can't even go to the city it angers me to shit and I'm not even Irish, only lived here my entire adult life

[@liam.4454]

People seem happier, even if they are moaning about trading

[@roderickmcdonnell3725]

The covid free days

[@treborsirrah7916]

@@roderickmcdonnell3725 I emigrated in 1982 country was broke ,abortion referendum main item in politics while the place was falling apart, up to 80,000 emigrated in a few years ,it took 8 weeks to get a phone line to your house,FF ,Chatholic Church and the GAA ran the place

[@rosswynne2379]

Bless

[@ossian11]

Yes. I lived in Ireland in the 1980s. Massive unemployment and poverty, huge emigration and still lots of physical and sexual abuse of children by clerics and others. If people were happy they were probably on Valium (which was a common prescription drug back then).

[@liam.4454]

@@ossian11 you put a downer on me

[@dhss333]

Politicians on the make, with multiple homes, inflated salaries, expenses state-paid 'perks'- but buskers cannot earn?!

[@dub_dub1504]

Used to love seeing the Diceman on Grafton Street as a kid. He's wink at you and you'd be laughing.

[@bernadettequinlivan3385]

Loved the Diceman and the wink was so funny

[@Patrick-iq8du]

no google map no internet, people looks much happier and lives in the present.

[@1markivor]

Great times..... I remember all the buskers and street acts in the video. Use to be in Grafton St most Saturdays going to freebird records and sound celler just to flik through the records. Thanks for putting this video up really enjoyed a trip down memory lane.

[@adrianoclincho1852]

Good old Dublin a once great city I don't go to Dublin no more too many memories for me

[@tomasotreasaigh111]

Same here, too many memories. If I went to Dublin now I would just be depressed at how many of the heads I used to call into are just not there anymore.

[@rosswynne2379]

Bless

[@grlfcgombeenhunter2897]

Ur not missing anything it’s ruined

[@kevinruddy448]

It's not a crime to be a survivor 😁, its a crime to be a quitter and a leech 🐛, it costs the taxpayers much more to jail 🏣a tryer than wish them well 💐😁👍

[@robertcaffrey6097]

Great video of a Dublin in the rare auld times, "Appils n rdinges, Appils n rdinges" ironic that a country so clebrated for it's contribution to the Arts was still using old British bylaws to ban the public playing of music and performance on the street but it was ok to dispose of rubbish anywhere you liked on that very street. I notice how cocky the cops were back then and wore uniforms that actually fitted them unlike today where it appears that a one size fits all has been introduced.

[@Dreyno]

I was in Cork in the early/mid 90s and there was a fantastic 3 piece band of kids (siblings I think) all about 11-12 years old. They were playing Beatles songs (Hofner bass and all) and they were brilliant. They had a crowd watching them on a sunny day and the atmosphere on the street was great. The guards came and ran them at the direction of a shop owner who’d called them. I heard multiple people saying they were going to go into that shop and that they now wouldn’t. I overheard a few say they’d never spend a red cent in that shop again. The fact that they were both talented and just kids that had the guards called on them annoyed people especially. The atmosphere draws people to an area. It’s incredibly shortsighted to try and get rid of buskers.

[@seamusburke9101]

Now David if I was making that comment I'd have named that shop so it would never be forgotten.

[@RandomCommentHandle]

It wasn't shortsighted to get rid of buskers, it's a long game they were playing, all about removing joy until people forget.

[@Morningstar-xz5bl]

Dublin is gone, its now an anonymous place for the rest of the world, where the Irish walk around with mouth shut head down. Oconnwll st is not somewhere you wNt to walk, as its no longer sàfe or Irish

[@Meme-fj2ex]

Beautiful city ❤️

[@clownpippa]

what a gem.. I was busking in Ireland heard so much about the diceman.. now I was able to see his work... thank you and the young Little John... oh what a gem

[@thecrankedamps]

Makes me sad to see this version of Ireland i remember as a child. Dublin is full of different nationalities now, and we have lost our identity. 😢

[@Colm-c2y]

I can't even imagine Dublin without buskers, what a ridiculous idea to criminalise musicians and artists ffs.

[@اباحسان-ذ9ض]

A beautiful country and wonderful people, I lived in it for 6 years and I long to visit it again👍

[@seamusburke9101]

You wouldn't like it now I can tell ya.

[@anthonydowling3356]

@@seamusburke9101 Why ? >There is no Irish left says you

[@grlfcgombeenhunter2897]

@@anthonydowling3356 u pleb place is destroyed

[@markc3258]

@@anthonydowling3356 why don’t you live in their country and see how they welcome you .. With your free house and free money .. 😂😂

[@grimjim1599]

@@anthonydowling3356 European identity is being eroded/destroyed. All on behalf of an anti white/globalist agenda

[@sonnyirish3678]

Before the great replacement began.

[@Czechbound]

please explain your comment

[@sonnyirish3678]

Very simple.look at the "people" being allowed to pour into this country.@@Czechbound

[@Czechbound]

@@sonnyirish3678 I still don't follow you. And why the word people in quotation marks ? You haven't explained yourself. I still have no idea what you mean about "the great replacement". Can you be more clear for me please ?

[@JohnJKelly-of4dc]

Indeed..it was too irish back then....

[@user-mq3ey4he1e]

It would put a tear in your eye, and I’m 54

[@joannajess4891]

Great video of old Dublin

[@leatherman9924]

litter all over the street look

[@kaleahcollins4567]

They arent vagrant they are musicians they have a skill and talents

[@faithplus1588]

The bloody rubbish everywhere.

[@davidwalters4906]

Bee nice up the dubs

[@zeppelinboys]

no more dirty than any us city

[@jackominty3633]

I'm Irish and live in Geneva. Man, you could eat your dinner off the streets here. Unusual to see any litter, and if it does appear - it won't be there when you wake up tomorrow. As a result of living here for 30 years, I would rather sell my kids than drop trash on the street. It will stay in my hand, or pocket, until I find a bin.

[@Zionist-Occupied-Government]

Aye.. them were the days ! We could eat our fish n chips and crumple up the news paper and toss it gracefully into the side of the road.. Then we finished our last cigarette while stamping the box flat to the path with that satisfying crunch underfoot.. then flick the butt stylishly into the nearest alleyway.. Aye gone are the days when you could just drop your trousers and have a satisfying shite in the side streets after a good meal.. All this political correctness has ruined our happy and free lives, thats what I say !

[@kevindoyle249]

No one in the video had a mobile phone back then!

[@AkaidanTv]

Kevin Doyle the Good old days

[@oldtimer5283]

@@tearitloosetearitloose4670 only tosser here is you..forget to take your meds again did we luvey 😅😅😅

[@ianrad5555]

Its 1986 mate ya bearly had a house phone that time

[@rayosullivan4398]

Nothing good in 1986 all the smart people left

[@oldtimer5283]

@@dolier2802 move straight to the top of the class 👏👏👏👏

[@fogofogoify]

Holy shit! The dice man!

[@adamking9553]

1986 much better

[@darinareilly9868]

really enjoyed that . yes my memory is right. clothes were awful in the 80s. ha ha. great to see some of the characters.

[@jbrennan7349]

A when Irish people lived there,🍀☘️😷😷🐑

[@louistamone7528]

Yeah when the city was real , now there’s Brazilian men going around in dresses

[@dhss333]

Big monopolies resent street traders.

[@lukeallan8876]

Good times ,fond memories

[@mico6691]

Now the Guards stop everyone in Ireland from wondering more than 5 miles from their homes.

[@IvanEarache]

Yeah the thought police. 😂😂😂

[@mico6691]

@@IvanEarache.. you got it

[@alanbourke4069]

And why's that, give us the benefit of your Facebook Medical Degree there.

[@Del-yv1qy]

I assume you are under nine years old.

[@grlfcgombeenhunter2897]

Poor two lads in the comments haven’t a clue. Great comment

[@Radaep1]

Hats off to yezz for fighting for buskers, because of you their is a fabulous busking scene on Grafton & thereabouts in Dublin which is regularly filmed by Sean at "Dublin City Today" & Seamus Traynor at "Buskbeats"

[@bohsgerry]

notuce how littered Grafton St was then-unreal

[@rayosullivan4398]

What a hole glad i left in 1985

[@avigyavegashunyata1108]

reminds me of streets of delhi. india, besides there is 1.3 billion people there

[@motokrack]

I'm glad to see this , theres not an awful lot of social capture from this time , a video camera was not in everyone's pocket. It took effort . And now people think what they had for lunch is valuable blog material, I'm glad someone was active , the problem is to everyone then , it seems pointless, I'd argue it's very much not now , I deffo appreciate it's there to access, so a long time coming but thanks 🙂

[@dOlier]

Thanks

[@paddypravda839]

I remember that aul one with the cross.. Used to frighten the life of me. Anyone know her name?

[@dub_dub1504]

There were 2 of them up by the floozy in the jacuzzi in the late 80s. A really old woman with a cross and another slightly younger woman that used to pace back and forwards preaching.

[@anthonydowling3356]

Holy Mary .

[@TattiePeeler]

Great video! The dreaded Grafton Street kerbs.. the amount of time I punted my toes into them..

[@bohsgerry]

i wonder if that lady is still around-great explanation byb her-gardai getting it wrong AGAIN.

[@Ligerpride]

Correct

[@rossfinnegan8409]

Aul dublin

[@kenmurphy4557]

I think that's me finishing off(excuse the expression)Marilyn Monroe on the street

[@paulgalligan1916]

It either is or it isn't?

[@larryoconnor7094]

Ya bollix.

[@Forde-Photos]

Yep that was you ken :)

[@darinareilly9868]

Diceman was fab

[@anthonyreilly6294]

Was that Michael Martin in the back, shouting out keep your 2 meters distance,

[@MikeCCO]

I remember Busking in Cork, had no probs. I was only there a few days thou' so maybe over time the dark blues maybe have shrouded me. Pity, of all places - Ireland to ban Buskers!! Crazy.

[@greenbeans6253]

the buskers guild got what they asked for. Busking should always be illegal.

[@shanef8728]

the grim old days of the 1980s

[@jackwild8019]

And poor Pat Tierney selling his poems on Grafton Street and the Diceman all drinking coffee ☕️ in Bewleys famous cafe and Hector Grey selling magical goods at the Halfpenny bridge. Then in January 1996 Pat Tierney succumbed in the grounds of a Drumcondra church on his 39th birthday and he bid farewell to this beautiful but cruel world. Time doth makes ghosts of us all 🌻🎩🌻

[@fortroadmassive4095]

Ah, I remember "The Dice man"

[@seannolan8615]

Ya, one time someone set him on fire.

[@dhss333]

An old English statute?! Now that IS oppression.

[@placepages8071]

A great thing back then you could do... instead of paying 22 cent for a plastic bag, just stand in the wind and hold out your hand....

[@Lee-nh5bb]

😂

[@finglasunited9989]

Oh my God would ya just look at all those IRISH PEOPLE 🇮🇪☘️☘️☘️

[@cftyftyufyfuyfty]

You can tell they're Irish because of they way they are 💚

[@ronanc5914]

No mobile 📱 or Internet cafes . 😁

[@jaymcd8577]

I hate what the political parties have done to our country, multiculturalism has destroyed it, there's nothing wrong having the Chinese or Indian take away around but they've literally saturated us beyond recognition, every where I go in Dublin and elsewhere all I hear are foreign accents from God knows where

[@alibobo9821]

Even this is so far from me at that time we lived in Great USSR but as human as my Uzbek Muslim heart feels nostalgic time ....My best wishes for all human being...🙏🇺🇿🇰🇿🇰🇬

[@eannnna81]

Just Irish, look at the state of us now

[@grlfcgombeenhunter2897]

Sad isn’t

[@paulbrowne3033]

Population of the Republic of Ireland went down from approximately 4.2 million 1921 to 2.6 in 1961 the 80's and 70's generations never realised their full potential even with the small renaissance in music particularly who is writing the history of these lost generations or is it quick fast to the Digital Revolution?

[@patdeVerse]

not exactly. There was no census in 1921 (for obvious reasons). First ever census of Irish Free State was in 1926 (pop.2.97 million). This fell to 2,8 million by 1955. It actually rose from 1965 onwards, reaching 3.2 million by 1975.

[@youyatubetak7624]

your woman on the squeeze box at the start is still about , plays in the cobblestone.. am i right ?

[@anthonydowling3356]

She now plays regular in an expat bar in Pattaya .

[@TheScientist43]

Shocked to discover Rose West busked on Grafton Street in the 80s.

[@dOlier]

Who is Rose West ? and why are you shocked ?

[@TheScientist43]

@@dOlier Er..a prolific serial killer from UK. Just a joke mate. She was put away around 1995 I think. Google her

[@larryoconnor7094]

@@dOlier West is a notorious individual due to her being a British serial killer.

[@dechannigan2980]

That was her on the 'Squeeze box' near the end of the film..

[@anthonydowling3356]

@@dOlier You never heard of Rose West ? God you have lead a sheltered life .

[@stephenhall3515]

The only criterion should be quality. None appears here and none appears now. Of all capital cities in Europe Dublin is the most squalid and it steals far too much from the rest of Ireland.

[@vintagebuddha]

L0Ve

[@S7tronic]

RIP the diceman.

[@franciskearney2215]

When Ireland was Irish

[@seamusburke9101]

The Guards and the Black and Tans are one and the same.

[@Dumblievable]

When Ireland was Ireland 🇮🇪 😢.

[@shanehughes3511]

So bleak and depressing to look at. People look happy, bu the city is very dead and empty

[@bobcooter]

So dead and empty...... nothing but happy people everywhere.... bless us and save us.

[@davidwalters4906]

Have a word with yourself x wee love dublin up the dubs them where great times god great time o and the girls where great the pubs the wexford in pub dublin

[@brianmilligan1787]

Note how slow the guard approaches this women fear crowd might turn on them like people should total shower picking on innocent tallent

[@kelloscully9632]

Loved Dublin back then.... When you weren't listening to 30 different languages as you walked along the pavements or when peopled walked along the pavements and nodded or said hello to each other instead of checking their phones every 2 or 3 minutes . Rare auld times these :)

[@drumclaypete]

God forbid you heard more than 2 languages. I’m sure it’s a very challenging thing to hear someone say “hola”. Really though, do you get up in the morning to be offended? Toughen up....

[@kelloscully9632]

@@drumclaypete Lol.... Looks who is being offended. .... Listen to what you're reading before you reply kid.

[@drumclaypete]

Kello Scully Getting annoyed about racism is very different than crying about a language you can’t understand.

[@kelloscully9632]

@@drumclaypete Who is being racist? Stop jumping to a conclusion based on you just wanting to bitch and disagree for the sake of it. Don't be a donut all your life. My statement was a fact on how it was then to how it is now. Nothing racist about that princess. Oh and for your blinded information I have a South American wife and I am well aware of what Hola means ... Y usted? Now I would stop there if I was you cos you have already made a twat out of your-self

[@ceannasai5731]

@@kelloscully9632 Nice one 👍

[@Jen-lg4hp]

Go to Dublin City Centre today, play a game called 'Spot the Irishman' and every time you see one or hear English spoken, take a shot. I guarantee you'll return home as sober as a judge!

[@grlfcgombeenhunter2897]

🎤 drop

[@cftyftyufyfuyfty]

It's not even funny anymore, noone i know feels safe going Henry st shopping

[@lobodesade6780]

I do be in town all the time, I see lots of Irish people on the daily, sure there are different cultures now, but that's no excuse for racism, because Irish people still dominate the city.

[@Jen-lg4hp]

Keep Ireland Irish ain't racist! Fools like you are why the Irish won't "dominate" the city for much longer. Keep allowing this deliberate invasion while bitching about the Brits down the pubs with you Shinner pals! None so blind as them who just won't see- we're being replaced!@@lobodesade6780

[@Radaep1]

Loved watching this.

[@walterwhite3018]

When Dublin was Irish

[@rathcooleposse]

Silence, tan

[@Mostrichkugel]

And you were a nothing, which you still are.

[@grlfcgombeenhunter2897]

Sad 😢 isn’t

[@joewall2545]

Excellent video, I guess the powers that be had no interest In the real lawbreakers, always hounding the suppressed making them fight against the system.

[@bid84]

Are you Joe Wall of The Walls? Stunning?

[@300faces]

Wow 😃 I was busker on Grafton and Henry Street... For some years, nothing change, I was arrested, have a lot of problems, junkies problems, shit gardai problems and everyday I only try do my best to everyone. And I recorded everything I will download here on my channel Thanks very much for this video give me a lot of answers...

[@Dessoxyn]

I can't be the only one mentally switching "busking" with "wanking" I'm 5 minutes and an interesting documentary is transformed into magnificent experience

[@Del-yv1qy]

The comments here are pathetic.

[@anthonydowling3356]

Like yours .

[@gerardoconnor8462]

Not a trigger insight

[@edmundpower1250]

I wish I was there at 11.20 to give those great musicians a clap

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

35 years on there’s nothing on the streets!

[@paulchedzey7276]

KRAZEEIZATION it's madness ain't it, I'm 40 just and I'm thinking of the 'good old days' buts it all relative......maybe???

[@grlfcgombeenhunter2897]

Nothing but foreigners

[@speakertreatz]

What streets are you talking about because Grafton Street has more buskers than ever.

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

@@speakertreatz it seemed quite back then, and this is probably during the “lockdown” malarkey.

[@speakertreatz]

@@KRAZEEIZATION ah my apologies, I didn't make the connection with the date sorry.

[@paperchipmonk]

There's little john nee!

[@dhss333]

Pedantic commentary.

[@Lee-nh5bb]

I LOVE that Bob Dylan song! Wish they'd come and serenade me. 🤭

[@Czechbound]

I remember the smell of leather belts for sale in the Dandelion Market. The Diceman was a Saturday regular on Grafton Street ( usually up nearer the Green ). We were always kinda afraid of him. He was Other. Sad he died of AIDS. As in every high street in every country, Grafton street mainly has international chain stores. You see the same layouts and window displays in different countries. Who remembers traffic on Grafton Street ....

[@podsey24]

What about these Romania gangs????🤬🤬🤬🤬

[@anthonydowling3356]

What about them ? Fill us in .

[@grlfcgombeenhunter2897]

@@anthonydowling3356 anto the crusty.

[@cftyftyufyfuyfty]

The gangs are Albanian dude. Not the same. One works and is brown Balkan, another sells drugs to your children and is brown Balkan. Half the men building your wonky trash council housing are Romanian

[@fabiancartouche]

Looks pretty boring. Needs something. A few million Somalians would probably spruce the place up nicely.

[@frontleftfender]

You have to admit DCC street sweepers where far more entertaining than today 7.50

[@derekstynes9631]

Well I bet that Mad Aul Wan with the Cross with the Rosary and Tricolour wrapped around it never got Arrested for Disturbing the Peace .

[@TheBenzer9]

7.33 a young and vibrant George Galloway.. embracing socialism...

[@chrismcguinness7814]

3 .85 for a cavery in bewleys nice ill have 2 please

[@anthonydowling3356]

Average wage then 20 punts a week .

[@phili799]

Believe it or not but the man playing the banjo is the same man that use to play at the very end of dún laoighrie pier for many years. He played it beautifully and everyone enjoyed him, he gave alot of people nice memories for no charge. I heard him ring out amazing grace using tremelo pick probably with the same instrument one summers day about 22 yrs ago now on the pier, it was a moment i will never forget, thanks for the memories pal.

[@jb6368]

I remember commuting from drogheda to dublin city in 95 to work and being told daily i lived sticks lol they couldnt believe i travelled the now 30mins drive to work daily 😂

[@ckelly1692]

I busked on grafton street with friends for a while at weekends pints afterwards in Bruxelles ❤ or grogans ❤

[@raygreen5926]

I would love to go back to Bewleys Cafe, Grafton Street , and see the characters who have now disappeared into the ether 💀

[@Idontno307]

It’s made you walk true Dublin now and every one that’s not Irish is aloud to do it 😞 and nothing has changed the Garda are still s..m bags to the own

[@wellnecessityoflife3744]

It was a great place to go in the summer now its like a 👾 different city pure shame.

[@zakariazaki7513]

Thanks for video keep going 🤠 greeting from Morocco

[@johnjonjohn413]

Still no Irish flag on Trinity College .

[@anthonydowling3356]

Now full of Ukrainian ones .No room for Irish flags or people.

[@grlfcgombeenhunter2897]

Ukraine 🇺🇦 flag probably

[@cftyftyufyfuyfty]

It's a zionist institution why would they

[@zzombiedeath]

nice vid old times , fuking great the 80s dublin , ya couldnt beat it witt a sticckk

[@darrencleary8047]

I was 2 and happy

[@gerry4915]

You wouldn't walk down dublin City Centre now....very dangerous place

[@damianpower8105]

Nonsense