Item 18 - John Atkinson’s Shop on Church Street

Print: 19.8 cm x 15.3 cm; Print and mount: 29.8 cm x 24.6 cm

Photographic print of John Atkinson’s shop at 45 Church Street, Dublin. A manuscript annotation on the print reads ‘Church Street’. The print is also annotated indicating the numbers of houses on the street. Of particular interest are the advertisements for various newspapers on the hoardings outside the shop. They include (most prominently) the ‘Irish Worker’ founded by Jim Larkin in 1911 as a pro-labour alternative to the capitalist-owned press. It was eventually suppressed for its vigorous anti-war policy in 1915. Other prints advertised include ‘Irish Freedom’, which first appeared in 1910 and continued as a monthly publication until December 1914 when it too was suppressed by the British authorities. The ‘Catholic Bulletin’ was launched in January 1911 by Patrick Keohane. It originally acted as a review journal for Catholic literature but became increasingly strident in its advocacy of advanced nationalist politics.

The print is in fair condition. There is some minor staining and blotching evident on the print.