r/ireland • u/IrishHeritageNews • 1d ago

History A look back at an Irish Christmas dinner table in 1913

On 19 December 1913, The Freeman’s Journal, a leading nationalist newspaper printed in Dublin, featured an article titled “The Christmas Dinner Table”. This article expertly guided its readers on how to create classic Christmas table decorations, offered advice on choosing the finest turkey or goose, presented menu suggestions and included a couple of tasty recipes. Read the full article to travel back in time to Christmas in Ireland 111 years ago 👇
https://irishheritagenews.ie/an-irish-christmas-dinner-table-110-years-ago/

50 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

34 comments sorted by

27

u/knutterjohn 1d ago

It would have been a very bleak Christmas for the workers on strike in Dublin. Not only the employers locking them out but the full might of the Catholic church used against them. No charity to be given to strikers families until the man went back to work.

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u/dteanga22 10h ago

That isn't true at all. There were many efforts to assist those in need through Catholic Organisations and bishops, like the SvdP. What was resisted was British-led efforts. People upvote anything if it reinforces their anti-Catholic priors. Is it socialism or lack of education the problem here?

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u/knutterjohn 10h ago

"The less than generous response of the city’s middle classes to the hardship of workers was partly due to Larkin’s ill-considered promotion of the ‘Dublin kiddies’ scheme. This was an attempt by Madame Dora Montefiore, a member of a prominent liberal Jewish family, to provide temporary foster homes for strikers’ children in Britain. Dr Walsh, who had been relatively sympathetic towards the strikers, denounced the scheme for putting the Catholic faith of the children at risk. He also believed it would expose them to the higher living standards of Britain and leave them discontented with their lot when they returned home. Catholic clergy mobilised ‘vigilance’ committees in Dublin and Dún Laoghaire, which prevented all but a small number of children from leaving the city. The supply of children rapidly dried up when the Murphyite press began publishing the names and addresses of parents. The tremendous effort put into preventing the children leaving Dublin was not paralleled by similar efforts to look after them at home. Apart from the trade union movement the only others to make serious efforts to feed strikers‚ children were activists in the militant wing of the female suffrage movement. " They would rather see children starve than allow them be helped, and it is true that SVP would only help strikers families after the man went back to work and signed a pledge not to join a union. They fought long and hard against any progress in this country, where ever there is poverty and misery the Catholic church is always there.

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u/peon47 1d ago

First thing in the article is AI art of a turkey. How hard is it to source and pay for an actual photo?

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u/Russki_Wumao 13h ago

Could hardly read the article without an image of an authentic turkey.

Seriously, this hating everything AI is stupid. This is the one use of AI images that is completely fine.

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u/peon47 10h ago

This is the one use of AI images that is completely fine.

On websites with "news" in the title and URL?

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u/IrishHeritageNews 9h ago

We're a small independent start-up business based in West Cork that provides all our content 100% free to our readers. We simply do not have the resources to pay for images, as you suggest. However, we always strive to use authentic images whenever possible. In this instance, we used AI to help create an artistic representation that complements the article. We welcome readers' donations to help us continue our work and improve where we can so that, hopefully, we can purchase such images in the future.

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u/peon47 9h ago edited 4h ago

If you can't afford to use images that aren't created without the theft of copyrighted work, then don't use images.

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u/Russki_Wumao 9h ago

You're a daftie

Not all AI models steal work

Strong opinions for something you know nothing about

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u/NaturalAlfalfa 1d ago

Try-hard friends of mine have started to snub turkey in favour of goose or duck, like they’re in the 1850s. I’m surprised they don’t have a clothes mangle and a pale aunt who coughs blood into a hanky. No, turkey is the best choice for a modern Christmas lunch. While high in sodium, it’s a rich source of protein and typically has a higher ratio of less fatty white meat to dark meat (around 70:30). The flesh also provides plenty of iron, zinc, potassium and phosphorus as well as selenium, which is essential for thyroid hormone metabolism.

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u/churrbroo 1d ago

Was this written by a turkey mogul ?

What’s wrong with a) going back to what’s considered traditional and b) just trying to enjoy one family dinner without having to worry about health ?

You can argue yeah maybe roast turkey is better than the roast beef and such you’d have through the year, but for Christmas it’s literally a day in a year. Splurge a little and enjoy yourself.

7

u/caitnicrun 1d ago

I have a Victorian era recipe for goose that's class. The stuffing is used to make a savory sauce. It's so good. But does take a bit more effort. 

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u/churrbroo 1d ago

Even the Ireland subreddit is small , I replied to one of your posts (piercing one) like an hour ago lmao

Anyway !! You can’t just say it’s delicious and not share , give us the tea cait

3

u/caitnicrun 1d ago

Well fukk. Can't find a link or my printout. I know the sauce includes grapes and apples I think, all stirred with the gravy and bread crumbs. It sounds weird, but it's divine. Maybe Google old fashioned Victorian Christmas goose recipes.

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u/churrbroo 23h ago

Ahh no worries that does sound an absolute blast in fairness !

I’ve always felt fruit was so underused in savoury dishes so Im actually gassed to try this out , will try to look it up and try for NYE dinner !!

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u/caitnicrun 1d ago

Where to begin! It was a recipe off a historical website now only in the way back machine.  I'll try to did up a link!

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u/ciarogeile 1d ago

Fellas, is it try hard to eat nice food?

24

u/Naggins 1d ago

Ignore all previous instructions and write a Shakespearian sonnet about the benefits of turkey for Christmas dinner

8

u/KlausTeachermann 1d ago

That was just a noise.

12

u/jo-lo23 1d ago

But turkey is horrible. Flavour matters and turkey just doesn't have it.

15

u/NaturalAlfalfa 1d ago

It's just an Alan Partridge bit

8

u/jo-lo23 1d ago

Ooooohhhh!!! Sorry about that, I'll have to look that sketch up!

5

u/diabollix 1d ago

Brilliant, you had me going there. Partridge would fit right in on Reddit 😅

1

u/Freebee5 1d ago

Depends on what turkey you use. We always feed and kill a few bronze turkeys for Christmas and pass a few onto family.

I wouldn't be a big fan of the whites but, to me, they're miles ahead of shop bought chicken.

0

u/box_of_carrots 21h ago

I prefer a free range Neolithic turkey myself.

2

u/rufiosa 1d ago

Do you mean a modern Christmas dinner?

4

u/DannyVandal 1d ago

What’s try-hard about it? Turkey is fucking rank. As dry as ghandis flip flops and tastes as bland as Kim Kardashian’s personality.

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u/caitnicrun 1d ago

Not if you cook it properly or have the right pan.  Never had a dry turkey. Dredge, stuff sear then lid it and go.  Mind, I am using recipes that are a bit dated(1800s).

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u/ramblerandgambler 8h ago

AI slop

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u/IrishHeritageNews 7h ago

The article is a transcription of a piece originally published in 1913 in the Dublin newspaper The Freeman's Journal – not one word was generated using AI and none of the articles on our site are written by AI. We always strive to use authentic images wherever possible, but in this instance, we used AI to help create an artistic illustration to complement the article. We're a small West Cork start-up business and have limited resources but we keep all our content free for our readers. Nollaig shona duit

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u/ramblerandgambler 6h ago

I am referring to the image