Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. 'Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes', 2021.Where: British Library
This is the offical report Further Reading
Monto
Curtis, Maurice. 'To Hell or Monto : The Story of Dublin’s Most Notorious Districts', The History Press Ireland, 2015.
Where: British Library
This book covers Hell (the predecessor to Monto) and Monto. Goes into detail about the streets and the local activity - a good resource for the remnants of Monto in local and traditional culture. Also highlights the women's efforts in Irish History, for example: the Easter Rising (1916).Finegan, John. 'The Story of Monto : An Account of Dublin’s Notorious Red Light District', Mercier Press, 1978.
Where: British Library
Finegan explores the architecture and lifestyle in Monto. The reader learns a lot about the women through the houses, madames and those who entered the brothels. A short book that covers a lot of detail about the end of Monto - featuring newspaper clipping from the time. It also provides information on stories, plays and songs that feature Monto and the madames.Fagan, Terry, and Dublin . City Council. Monto : Madams, Murder and Black Coddle. Second edition., Terry Fagan, 2022.
Where: British Library
If you are looking for oral histories, this is the book to go to. The stories are from locals growing up in the area, often kids during the Monto period. It exhibits the feelings and perspectives of the local community towards the women, the madames and the bully boys. Fagan also provides context for events happening at the time too.Skinner, David. 'Wallpaper in Ireland 1700-1900', Churchill House Press, 2014.Where: British Library
Skinner's book details the different styles, prices, and histories of wallpapers found in Irish homes from 1600-1900. This source was a great inspiration to find designs for the Monto room. It also gave a glimpse into what might have been on the walls of Monto, as it provided pictures of tenements in Dublin from around the period.West, Caroline. 'Wrong Women : Selling Sex in Monto, Dublin’s Forgotten Red Light District', Eriu, 2025.Where: National Library of Ireland
This was the inspiration for the project. Here is where I made some of the connections, like the bobbing of hair, women controlling other women, and the idea of these two institutions being hidden from society, yet everyone knows. This book delves into life in Monto for the women, while later focusing on the Lock Hospital and venereal diseases - which were not covered in the doll house but would be interesting to expand the project with more research in this area.File of documents concerning an attempt by the inhabitants of Barrack Street [Benburb Street, Dublin] to rid their neighbourhood of prostitution
(CSO/RP/1826/447)Where: National Archives of Ireland
A copy of resolutions from the local community of Barack Street to the problem of ‘Idle and Disorderly Persons’ and prostitutes. It includes a notice to inform the residents of prostitution and not to lend out rooms or tenements to these women. Also featured is a letter from Robert Booker to William Gregory informing him about the 374 prostitutes in the area beside the Phoenix Park of prostitution and is looking for government funding to cease their activities.Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1935: contains two files, report of the committee on the Criminal Law Amendment Acts, 1880-1885 and juvenile prostitution, Carrigan Committee; committee of Dáil deputies on the Criminal Law Amendment Acts (90/8/50)Where: National Archives of Ireland
This file covers information for both the Magdalene Laundries and Monto. It discusses venereal disease and the army, prostitution, brothels, fines of the prostitutes being paid by the employers, the bully boys and the illegal selling of drink at the brothels. The second section of the file focuses on the suppression of brothels, 'determination of tenancy of premises on conviction for permitting use as brothel, &c.', and the Department of Education tackling the problem of 'fallen women' as prostitutes and those in the Magdalene Laundries.Magdalene Laundries
Hogan, Caelainn. 'Republic of Shame', Penguin Books, 2019.Where: British Library
Another big inspiration for the project was this book. Hogan travels across Ireland to speak with women, nuns, and those who grew up in Mother and Baby Homes. She provides background information and social contexts to accompany the personal testimonies. It is very powerful and conflicting to hear mothers who want to keep their privacy and the children who have grown up wanting to find their roots. Singleton, Brian. 'ANU Productions : The Monto Cycle', Palgrave Macmillan, 2016.
Where: British Library
'ANU Productions : The Monto Cycle' is about a production company's range of plays that cover different events in the Monto area over a broad timeframe. The second section delves into the Magdalene Laundries. Louise Lowe, the producer of ANU, staged this theatrical event at the Gloucester Street Magdalene Laundry. Not only did the audience interact with actors dressed as the nuns and women who were present in the Laundries in the past, they actually walked through the halls of a former laundry. The theory of prosthetic memory in Public History is involved to immerse the viewer and project this difficult memory that they shape as their own.Secondary SourceWhere: British Library
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. 'Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes', 2021.Where: gov.ie
Women's Voices and Life Writings, 1600-1968. Diary Entries of Rosamond Jacobs.Justice for Magdalene Reseach. 'Interviews with former Magdalene women and girls'Letter from Peter Holmes, County Tipperary, seeking legislation over costs arising from children born out of wedlock
(CSO/RP/1824/1418)Where: National Archives of Ireland
Adoption of children: Adoption Bill, 1952.
(TSCH/3/S10815 A)Where: National Archives of Ireland
Singleton, Brian. 'ANU Productions : The Monto Cycle', Palgrave Macmillan, 2016.Where: British Library
'ANU Productions : The Monto Cycle' is about a production company's range of plays that cover different events in the Monto area over a broad timeframe. As Singleton adventured into Monto's past, he was encouraged to interact with the actors and scenes, which reflected the blend of Monto's past and modern day. Through the production, the audience is immersed in this history via props, clothing and dialogue. It almost makes them believe that they were there at the time. This plays into the prosthetic memory side of Public History. Singleton also highlights how emotionally impactful this was.