Newspaper Vendors of Limerick City, Ireland 1980

Frankie Renihan talks about selling newspapers on the streets of Limerick for a living.
There is only a handful of newsboys left in Limerick. Frankie Renihan has a pitch outside the Railway Hotel and is one of the remaining news vendors in the city..
For years, the newspaper industry depended on people like Frankie, news boys who’d sell papers in all weather.
After forty years of selling papers, Frankie Renihan has put his story to paper in the pages of The Old Limerick Journal. Having endured a tough life if he could do it all over again, he would not choose to be a newsboy.
Frankie Renihan was the eldest of a family of twelve and lost his mother at a young age. He became a newsboy to help support his family. When he started out, there were around fifty newsboys now there just ten. The growth in the number of newsagent shops in the city has meant a lower demand for street vendors. Keen to sell the most papers, Frankie Renihan set up shop where the people were in the city. The cinemas in the Limerick were a good spot for newspaper sales.
Commission is made by selling and bad weather can really impact on the volume of sales as the vendors are exposed to the elements. News vendors suffer illness as a result of being outside in the wet, damp, cold weather.
The remaining newspaper sellers in Limerick are ageing and young people are not taking jobs on the streets. Jack Nash is the most senior news vendor in the city who operates on O’Connell Street.
Frankie Renihan believes the decline in the number of newspaper vendors will be a big loss to the community of Limerick.
I think it will be a big loss to the community if the newspaper boys die out.
Over the years,he has got to know his customers and says that you become part of a family. He knows now as a customer approaches which newspaper they are going to buy. The purchase of a newspaper is a very personal thing. Newspapers allow the reader to digest the news better than if they are just listening to the radio or watching television. Frankie Renihan believes what sells newspapers is good stories. One of the best local stories of all time was the enquiry into the gas board.
While lamenting the passing of the job of the newspaper vendor he believes there is no future for it. There is no weekly wage, no trade union protection, no pension scheme and no sick pay.
sThe newspaper boys are the backbone of the newspaper industry.
This episode of ‘Ireland’s Eye’ was broadcast on 17 October 1980. The reporter is Colum Kenny.

[@seandelap8587]

Limerick is my home city but i don't recognise most of those shops the Lyric cinema is long gone as are the newspaper boys and are most likely dead by now its fascinating to learn about their life and they really understood tough times of hardships and RIP to them all

[@wilfredwilde9559]

I do .I was in third class when that was made .I remember Savins music shop well .

[@kencurran8853]

I worked for the Limerick Weekly Echo as a young journalist in 1979/1980. Great times and wonderful memories meeting so many down to earth characters.

[@bowstarchannel]

I remember Frankie, lovely man and would call into me In the Glentworth Hotel in the morning as I was night porter around late 1980s , fantastic see this

[@silversolver7809]

I remember Frankie, I used to eat a good cheap lunch at the Railway Hotel a lot. They had it tough for sure.

[@davidowen6977]

Great film, scenes, vehicles 👍 Two Renault 4 cars AND an AlfaSud 😊

[@Lar308]

I look at these video's to see the cars too🤣 - loved that Alfasud - my dream car at the time but the sporty Ti two door version. I have a nice 1983 Ti two door in my garage right now which I have owned for nearly 15 years.

[@Lar308]

Pity to see the Railway Hotel has closed. I used to like to go in there and have a light meal if I was waiting for a train or bus and I spent many hours standing at that corner when I was a Garda in Limerick from 1983 - 1990.

[@davidr5964]

I sold newspapers 20 years man and boy on the streets of Dublin. A tough life, you'll never meet a rich newspaper seller.

[@georgel74]

Nice man..tough life..

[@williammcdonald3293]

Born and raised in Limerick City. Broke my heart when I had to leave there, from not being able to find a job and being on the dole. I immigrated to the USA (Chicago) in 87, I didn't recognize the City I grew up in, when I came home for a visit, so much has changed. Look at all the High Nellie's. William (Blackie) McDonald.

[@conorbourke190]

My god look at all those fantastic cars we used to have!

[@patriciaoreilly8907]

I remember the paper stand 😊 sent down the road in the evening to get the evening paper 😊 Dad sitting in the kitchen in the evening reading the paper & doing the Pool's 😊😊

[@elizabethcurtin4468]

Glantin my fathers home town ,my god how much it’s changed.

[@fergusmccormack770]

Limerick is my home for ever ever love limerick fergus mccormack ❤

[@Green-g1p]

Not a mobile phone in sight or a cctv camera 😮

[@AMC19543]

It's easy to see how media companies become so influential on government policies

[@kevfit4333]

Gentleman.

[@rossbeighed]

Cortinas were so popular...to hell with the sierra and mondeo bring back the cortina now FORD!

[@eddieomahony507]

Weston native

[@SteabhanMacGR2]

😢 The governments have always treated that hard working man and woman.

[@23m232]

Fonsie is my wifes cousin, he was a gent

[@Spillers72]

Newsboys? Those are newsoldmen.

[@jimbobjimjim6500]

KZbin time machine strikes again...

[@Mftw767]

Limerick is my home

[@ruairimadden8688]

Commiserations

[@declannash3435]

Hon de Lims…

[@dibble2005]

The Limerick Leader got rich on the backs of the poor.

[@dibble2005]

and the beautiful Lyric Cinema behind Taits clock demolished by the notorious Limerick Council. They should have been jailed the city managers who knocked multiple Limerick landmarks and historic buildings. Talk about morons.

[@eringobreathtiocfaidharla1446]

100% fact ! There's no known to the heritage destroyed by them wankers below