What's the origin of the barber poles in Dublin?

Question

What do those red and white striped poles stucking at many haidressers in Dublin represent? Is there any story behind them?

Answer 1

I believe Barbers (Hairdressers) used to also perform surgery and blood letting. Hence the red for blood.

http://www.btinternet.com/~mshearer/no10...

Answer 2

http://www.barberpole.com/history.htm

cut-n-pasted:

"The modern barber pole originated in the days when bloodletting was one of the principal duties of the barber.  The two spiral ribbons painted around the pole represent the two long bandages, one twisted around the arm before bleeding, and the other used to bind is afterward.  Originally, when not in use, the pole with a bandage wound around it, so that both might be together when needed, was hung at the door as a sign.  But later, for convenience, instead of hanging out the original pole, another one was painted in imitation of it and given a permanent place on the outside of the shop.  This was the beginning of the modern barber pole."

Answer 3

number 1 answer is right , but why dublin , we have them in belfast and i'm sure they are all over britain

Answer 4

They are not unique to Dublin.

Answer 5

the previous answers were quite correct. Barbers also doubled as surgeons hence the red and white pole.

this is also the reason for medical practitioners being referred to as Doctor (Bloggs) whereas Surgeons are still referred to as Mister (Bloggs). Although Surgeons have to qualify as Doctors before becoming Surgeons the title Mister is still used as a traditonal differentiation.