Brendan Behan describing the three classes of houses that existed on Russell Street where he grew up. He talks about his neighbours and the people who lived in the houses. Young girls ashamed of their homes would walk miles out of their way so as not to let others know where they lived.

An older woman living on the street was a "pickeroony" who went to the dump and rooted around for any old rubbish, jam jars, porter bottles or anything she could exchange for money.  The woman would then use the money to get drink "jungle juice."

Note: Low sound levels on this recording.

The photograph accompanying this clip shows a row of Georgian houses in Dublin and was taken for RTÉ Television's adaptation of Dominic Behan's book 'Teems of Times'.

'Teems of Times' was broadcast in 10 parts from 30 March 1978 with Louis Lentin producing and directing. Dominic was a brother of Brendan Behan. 'Teems of Times' was about the life and times of the Behans' native Russell Street in Dublin city in the 1930s.

The photographer was Phil Dowling. © RTÉ Stills Library 2106/029

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