Traders pay tribute May Gorman, Queen of Moore Street as her funeral cortege passes her empty stall.
Born in 1921, Moore Street fishmonger May Gorman died at the age of 92 in Dublin's Mater Hospital. Following the funeral mass at Saint Saviour's Church on Dominick Street, May Gorman’s funeral cortege drives down Moore Street. The stalls lie empty as street traders and staff from nearby business premises pay their respects to the woman known as the Queen of Moore Street.
When the funeral cortege arrived it paused at her stall for her last time on Moore Street.
Moore Street trader Martina Farrell has nothing but praise for May Gorman,
Everything about her was good.
When Imelda Farrell was a child she remembers May Gorman calling out,
There you are me lovely girl.
May Gorman was born and reared in a tenement in 27 Moore Street. She started working on Moore Street when she was just seven years of age. For over 70 years she sold fish, eventually retiring when she was 88 years old.
May Gorman worked in Moore Street through good times and bad. Ernie Beggs of the Moore Street Traders' Association is adamant that sales will continue.
These are the true Molly Malones down here.
The title Queen of Moore Street is given to the oldest trader on the street,
Another will take May Gorman’s place but for many today is the end of an era.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 3 July 2013. The reporter is John Kilraine.
