Hume Street, Dublin
Encyclopedia
Hume Street is a street in central Dublin located between Ely Place
and St. Stephen's Green
. It is named after the family of surgeon Sir Gustavus Hume.
Most of the south side of the street is taken up by the former City of Dublin Skin and Cancer Hospital, which was located in this street for over 100 years, until 2006. It was moved to St. Vincent's Hospital in 2006.
The geologist Richard Griffith was born in no. 8.
.
In the 1950s an apartment in the street served as the workplace of backstreet abortionist Mamie Cadden
(1891-1951). The death of one of her patients from an air embolism
in the heart in 1951, whose body Cadden left outside on the street, did not put an end to her activities as there was not sufficient evidence to connect her to the death. Five years later one of her patients, Helen O'Reilly, died of an air embolism during a procedure to abort a fetus in the fifth month. When her body was found on the pavement in Hume Street, Cadden was arrested and tried for murder. She was sentenced to death
by hanging
in 1956, but this was commuted to life imprisonment after public appeals for clemency and due to the unintentional nature of Helen O'Reilly's death.
In June 1969 was seen one of the earliest battles to preserve Georgian Dublin
, in what became known as the Battle of Hume Street, at the corner that opened onto St. Stephen's Green. There an attempt by a property developer (Green Property) to demolish a number of Georgian houses hit the national headlines, and became a cause célèbre. The Minister for Local Government, Kevin Boland
, had overridden the decision of Dublin Corporation, and given permission for the demolition. The buildings were then occupied by students, in an effort to prevent their destruction. However, a crew of demolition men entered the buildings during the night and destroyed the roofs and interiors. That afternoon 1,000 protesters were joined by Dr Garret FitzGerald
TD, Senator Mary Bourke (later Mary Robinson
), Dr Noel Browne
TD and Justin Keating
and others to prevent the destruction. Though the original buildings were lost, the developer ended up building Georgian pastiche buildings on the site, but further destruction of the street was prevented.
lived at 1, Hume St. until his death in 1890.
Ely Place, Dublin
Ely Place is a street in central Dublin with Georgian architecture. It is a continuation of Upper Merrion Street and the place where Lower Baggot Street and Merrion Row meet. Both the latter and Hume Street link it to St...
and St. Stephen's Green
St. Stephen's Green
St Stephen's Green is a city centre public park in Dublin, Ireland. The park is adjacent to one of Dublin's main shopping streets, Grafton Street, and to a shopping centre named for it, while on its surrounding streets are the offices of a number of public bodies and the city terminus of one of...
. It is named after the family of surgeon Sir Gustavus Hume.
Most of the south side of the street is taken up by the former City of Dublin Skin and Cancer Hospital, which was located in this street for over 100 years, until 2006. It was moved to St. Vincent's Hospital in 2006.
The geologist Richard Griffith was born in no. 8.
History
The street was laid out in 1768. Gustavus Hume built one of the corner houses demolished in 1969. Other developers included Timothy Turner, John Ensor, Nicholas Tench and John MearesJohn Meares
John Meares was a navigator, explorer, and maritime fur trader, best known for his role in the Nootka Crisis, which brought Britain and Spain to the brink of war.- Career :...
.
In the 1950s an apartment in the street served as the workplace of backstreet abortionist Mamie Cadden
Mamie Cadden
Mary Anne "Mamie" Cadden was an Irish midwife, backstreet abortionist and convicted murderer.-Background:...
(1891-1951). The death of one of her patients from an air embolism
Air embolism
An air embolism, or more generally gas embolism, is a pathological condition caused by gas bubbles in a vascular system. The most common context is a human body, in which case it refers to gas bubbles in the bloodstream...
in the heart in 1951, whose body Cadden left outside on the street, did not put an end to her activities as there was not sufficient evidence to connect her to the death. Five years later one of her patients, Helen O'Reilly, died of an air embolism during a procedure to abort a fetus in the fifth month. When her body was found on the pavement in Hume Street, Cadden was arrested and tried for murder. She was sentenced to death
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
by hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
in 1956, but this was commuted to life imprisonment after public appeals for clemency and due to the unintentional nature of Helen O'Reilly's death.
In June 1969 was seen one of the earliest battles to preserve Georgian Dublin
Georgian Dublin
Georgian Dublin is a phrase used in the History of Dublin that has two interwoven meanings,# to describe a historic period in the development of the city of Dublin, Ireland, from 1714 to the death in 1830 of King George IV...
, in what became known as the Battle of Hume Street, at the corner that opened onto St. Stephen's Green. There an attempt by a property developer (Green Property) to demolish a number of Georgian houses hit the national headlines, and became a cause célèbre. The Minister for Local Government, Kevin Boland
Kevin Boland
Kevin Boland , was a senior Irish politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1957 as a Fianna Fáil TD. He served as Minister for Defence , Minister for Social Welfare and Minister for Local Government...
, had overridden the decision of Dublin Corporation, and given permission for the demolition. The buildings were then occupied by students, in an effort to prevent their destruction. However, a crew of demolition men entered the buildings during the night and destroyed the roofs and interiors. That afternoon 1,000 protesters were joined by Dr Garret FitzGerald
Garret FitzGerald
Garret FitzGerald was an Irish politician who was twice Taoiseach of Ireland, serving in office from July 1981 to February 1982 and again from December 1982 to March 1987. FitzGerald was elected to Seanad Éireann in 1965 and was subsequently elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD in 1969. He...
TD, Senator Mary Bourke (later Mary Robinson
Mary Robinson
Mary Therese Winifred Robinson served as the seventh, and first female, President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002. She first rose to prominence as an academic, barrister, campaigner and member of the Irish Senate...
), Dr Noel Browne
Noel Browne
Noël Christopher Browne was an Irish politician and doctor. He holds the distinction of being one of only five Teachtaí Dála to be appointed Minister on their first day in the Dáil. His controversial Mother and Child Scheme in effect brought down the First Inter-Party Government of John A...
TD and Justin Keating
Justin Keating
Justin Keating was an Irish Labour Party politician, broadcaster, journalist, lecturer and veterinary surgeon. In later life he was President of the Humanist Association of Ireland....
and others to prevent the destruction. Though the original buildings were lost, the developer ended up building Georgian pastiche buildings on the site, but further destruction of the street was prevented.
Notable residents
Stephen Myles MacSwiney, M.D., Fellow of the College of Physicians and member of the Royal Irish AcademyRoyal Irish Academy
The Royal Irish Academy , based in Dublin, is an all-Ireland, independent, academic body that promotes study and excellence in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is one of Ireland's premier learned societies and cultural institutions and currently has around 420 Members, elected in...
lived at 1, Hume St. until his death in 1890.