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There is a messer in every Dublin classroom. Jonathan Philbin Bowman was a freelance messer, at large in the city at a time – the late
1980s – when most of his peers were at school or college. The son of broadcaster John Bowman and his wife Dr Eimer Philbin Bowman, Jonathan had little time for conventional education, and was almost comically precocious. A fine mimic and boisterous conversationalist, he parlayed avocation as a journalist into an unlikely role at the centre of Dublin society. In the Coffee Inn, a famous dive-café on South Anne Street, the house speciality was the Bowman Burger (20p): one microwaved bowl of hot air. Their best customer was, of course, JPB. A great Dubliner, he died in 2000 at the age of 31.

A colour photograph of Senator David Norris addressing a group of people outside the gates to the Dáil with a big pink cake reading happy birthday and candles.

A seminal moment in the struggle for gay rights in Ireland, captured by the great Christopher Robson. In October 1988, David Norris won his case in the European Court of Human Rights that the criminal laws on homosexuality were unjust and must be changed. Four years later, the Government had done nothing to implement these changes, and indeed stated that such law reforms “were at the bottom of the list of priorities.” In response, the Gay & Lesbian Equality Network [GLEN] held a “Fourth Birthday Party for Norris.” A huge pink cake was carried through the city, and TDs and Senators were invited to the party outside the Dáil, which was addressed by Senator Norris.

A purple ticket with shiny writing for the Quatercentary Trinity Ball. Blacktie ad on back.

Letter from the Lord Mayor, Gay Mitchell’s office saying ‘Breakfast on the occasion of the conferring of the Honorary Freedom of the city of Dublin on Mother Teresa 2nd June, 1993’ and lists the menu which is made up of Irish produce.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta trained at Loreto Abbey in Rathfarnham. This letter from the office of the Lord Mayor confirms the breakfast menu for the occasion of her acceptance of the Freedom of Dublin. The food was provided by Superquinn, and a traditional full Irish breakfast included bacon, sausages, eggs, tomatoes and black and white pudding. Mother Teresa was not a vegetarian.

A colour photograph of a group of people at the Pride Parade with banners behind them.

The 1993 Pride Parade was held the day after the old criminal laws were abolished, and the celebrations on the steps of the Central Bank were, in the words of photographer Christopher Robson, “wild and memorable.”

A colour photograph of the National Gay and Lesbian Federation float in the St. Patrick's Day Parade.

The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community were not allowed to march as a group in the famous New York St. Patrick’s Day parade. To mark the difference in Ireland, the Dublin community applied to enter the Dublin parade. Their float won a prize.