Series of events in Ballybough and North Strand

The Ballybough and North Strand area of Dublin is a vibrant community rich in history. We are showcasing a small series of free events for all in the community. Sean...

The Irish in Antarctica – A Tale of Discovery, Survival, and Triumph

Pearse Street Library 144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Dublin, Ireland

From Edward Bransfield of County Cork, credited with the discovery of the Antarctic continent in 1820, to Ernest Shackleton, born in 1874 in County Kildare, Irish seafarers hold a special place in the history of Antarctic exploration. Beverly Sperry will tell some of their amazing stories, with particular reference to the astounding endurance of Kerryman...

Remembering Tomás Mac Giolla (1924-2010)

City Hall Dame St, Dublin 2

**Apologies, registration full** Historian Fergus Whelan will reflect on the life and influence of Tomás Mac Giolla, former Lord Mayor of Dublin, marking the centenary year of his birth. A key figure in the story of the Official Republican Movement, Mac Giolla's life touches on everything from the IRA's 1950s Border Campaign to a long...

From Sackville to O’Connell

Central Library Ilac Centre Henry St, Dublin 1, Dublin

**Apologies, registration full** Dublin City Historian in Residence, Elizabeth Kehoe will be giving a talk about O’Connell Street based on people's memories and historical records so this will be an eclectic mix about the capital’s main street. This year marks the 100th year anniversary of the naming of this iconic street. Note: Limited spaces, booking...

Wild-Looking But Fine: Abbey Theatre Actresses of the 1930s

14 Henrietta Street Dublin 1, Dublin

**Apologies, registration full** Aideen O’Connor and Ria Mooney had different backgrounds, ambitions and creative visions. They came of age in an Ireland desperate to control and restrict women: their sexuality; their careers; their independent lives. They were united by one thing: a devotion to theatre and to Ireland’s National Theatre in particular. Aideen O’Connor joined...

Hotel Lux: Tracing a Wexford woman’s life in 1920s Moscow

Richmond Barracks Dublin 8, Dublin

In the late twenties, as Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky held their final debates before Trotsky’s exile, one of the Kremlin Palace translation teams was led by a middle-aged woman raised in the Wexford coastal village of Ballinesker. In this talk, historian Maurice J. Casey explores the forgotten life of Irish translator and journalist May...

All Work, No Pay: Wages for Housework and Sex Work

Pearse Street Library 144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Dublin, Ireland

Red Umbrella Film Festival will screen two short documentaries: All Work and No Pay, featuring the work of the Wages for Housework campaign, and Dancing Not Washing Dishes which follows Toni, a mother in Ballyfermot, as she works as an exotic dancer in her local pub in 1986. A panel discussion will follow, focusing on...

Down by the Poddle

Kevin Street Library 18 Lower Kevin Street, Dublin 8, Dublin

**Apologies, registration full** The river Poddle is key to understanding the foundations of Dublin. This river flowing mostly underground has borne witness to all the key events of our shared history. It creates boundaries, illustrates how skilled our ancestors were at hydro-engineering, it protected our city from invasion and most importantly provided water for thirsty...

Disappearing Workplaces: Employment in Ballymun in the 1970s and 80s

Ballymun Library Ballymun Road, Dublin 11, Dublin

Workplaces are crucial elements of human communities. The presence of paid employment can determine the future of a region, influencing not only economic prosperity but also physical development, environmental impact, and the identity of both communities and their residents. Conversely, the loss of paid employment sources can have adverse effects on the individuals involved and...

Sam O’Brien: Death in the Fifteen Acres

Drumcondra Library Millmount Avenue Drumcondra, Dublin, Dublin

**Apologies, registration full** How did a rough tackle on a 15 acres football pitch result in the death of 23 year old Sam O'Brien and three young men being charged with murder? But who was Sam O'Brien, who were his family, what happened to them? And what happened to those held responsible for his death?...

The Street Names of Balbriggan 1760 – 1960

Balbriggan Library St. George's Square, Balbriggan, Dublin

This talk will be presented by Dr David Sorensen who is a Balbriggan local historian. His presentation will look at the history, development and changes to the street names of Balbriggan town over 200 years. Previous presentations given by him include topics as diverse as the history of national schools in the town, Balbriggan’s famed...

Glass Reflections of 19th Century Dún Laoghaire – Exhibition Launch

L5, dlr LexIcon Library and Cultural Centre Queen's Rd Dún Laoghaire, Dublin

Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Libraries presents an exhibition of the Charles Hamilton Oswald Collection of glass plate slides from the dlr Local Studies collection, digitised especially by staff. Oswald, from Dún Laoghaire, had a special interest in yachting, and either acquired or inherited the collection which mainly depict life in and around Dún Laoghaire Harbour. The...

‘Cow without Horns’: Urban Development and Decline of Sacred Spaces

Saint Patrick's Cathedral Saint Patrick's Close, Dublin 8, Dublin

Urban development has led to the decline of historic sacred spaces in Dublin's Liberties since the eighteenth century. Archbishop William King once noted that a church without a tower is like a cow without horns, highlighting the importance of grandeur. However, many historic sites, like St James’ Church and the Cabbage Garden, have been repurposed,...

A Heroine of the Twentieth Century

MoLi - Museum of Literature Ireland 86 Saint Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Dublin

What does it mean to be a hero in the 20th century? Epic Annette: A Heroine’s Tale recounts the extraordinary true story of Annette Beaumanoir, whose involvement with the French Resistance and the Algerian FLN cemented her name in history. The Goethe-Institut and the Embassy of France in Ireland will present a conversation with German-French...

World War Ireland: Exploring the Irish Experience

National Library of Ireland Kildare Street, Dublin 2, Dublin

Drawing on the National Library of Ireland's collections, including recruiting posters, newspapers and photographs, and on the Library’s online exhibition, World War Ireland, this online talk will discuss the First World War, the events of 1914-1918, and their impact on Ireland. For more information, visit their website.

50th Anniversary of the National Museum’s excavations at Wood Quay

National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology Kildare Street Dublin 2, Dublin, Dublin

This October the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology is holding a series of events to mark to the 50th anniversary of the commencement of the last Museum excavations Wood Quay, Dublin. The excavations of the waterlogged site by the banks of the River Liffey, became one of the largest urban excavation sites in Europe,...

A City in Transition: Dublin in the 1600s

Pearse Street Library 144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Dublin, Ireland

In 1600, Dublin was a walled, medieval town. Housing was basic, of wattle and daub, with cage-work on the main streets. Anglo-Norman Catholics ran the city. By 1700, the gates were gone and the walls crumbling. Government posts were for Protestants only. Fine houses of brick and stone proliferated. In this illustrated talk, we will...

Built to Brew: the Architecture and Urban History of the Dublin Brewery

This talk by Dr Livia Hurley charts the rise of porter and how its production influenced the world of the brewery and its immediate context in the city, from the Liberties to the Royal Canal. It explores the collaborative roles of the brewer, the architect and engineer, and how their ambitions for innovation and modernity...