Sir,—
I am currently researching a book on the Bayno, the famous playcentre established by the first Lord Iveagh in 1909 in the Myra Hall inFrancis Street, Dublin, and then transferred to Bull Alley in 1915.This magnificent building was created by Iveagh inspired by thepeople’s palaces movement in England, particularly that on the Mile EndRoad in East London. The Bayno was so known because it was a feast forthe kids. There is an eighteenth-century word—‘beanfeast’, shortened to‘beano’—used to describe any kind of party. In Dublinese this became a‘bayno’, and the kids of the Liberties regarded Bull Alley as a bayno.The Bayno survived until 1977 and was the greatest youth centre inIreland. If any of your readers have any information, photos orstories, we would be very grateful.
—Yours etc.,
MARTIN LACEY
St Nicholas of Myra Parish Centre
Francis Street
Dublin 8
+353 (0)87 9135479