The Tailteann Games, a sporting and cultural festival, were re-imagined and modernised from the ancient games of the same name and held for the first time in 1924 as Ireland's version of the Olympic Games. The games helped to showcase the Irish Free State's newly gained independence and were a celebration of Irish identity shortly...
Emerging from centuries of oppression and a bitter civil war, the government of the Irish Free State faced huge challenges to ensure democracy would succeed and Ireland would take her place on the world stage. Historian Liz Gillis will discuss those difficult first years of the Irish Free State, in this fascinating look at Ireland's...
In 1937 the Dublin United Tramways Company (1896) embarked on a programme of replacing its trams with buses but the onset of the 'Emergency' paused this. By 1948 CIÉ had only five trams services still in operation and on October 31st 1948 terminated the Dartry and Terenure services to the city centre. The speaker James...
Dublin City Historian in Residence Elizabeth Kehoe will give 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. Booking required, email phibsborolibrary@dublincity.ie
In August 1951, the Gold Coast National football team came to Ireland, playing matches in Belfast and Dublin. The match in Dublin took place in Dalymount Park on Wednesday, 22nd against an FAI Amateur XI. This presentation / talk will recall events of that match from news reports. Reference will also be made to some...
Our history often hides in plain sight. We travel roads, pass laneways and street-signs without appreciating the events that may have happened here in the past. A photograph found in an archive illustrated just this, as Dublin City Historian in Residence Cathy Scuffil, investigated the background to the image, taken in the Crumlin area of...
This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the passing of one of Dublin’s most beloved artists. Harry Kernoff was a devoted lover of Dublin City and expressed his passion in his paintings, sketches and drawings. Vitor Vicente will be projecting some of them on the screen and discussing their relationship to Dublin history and the...
Join historian, Sean J Murphy, for this talk about Charles Lucas. Dr Charles Lucas (1713-1771) was a Protestant or Anglo-Irish Nationalist whose statue stands in Dublin’s City Hall. He was a predecessor of Grattan and Flood and indeed in some respects a precursor of the republican United Irishmen. Following his election to Dublin Corporation as...
*Apologies, registration is full* Join Vawn Corrigan for a slide show presentation exploring the fascinating history of the Aran Sweater. From its rocky island roots it eventually spanned the globe to become a symbol of Irishness. Feted on the catwalk, worn by celebrities yet always homely, the classic Aran design has held its own through...
Dublin City Historian in Residence, Katie Blackwood, will give an illustrated talk on the history of tourism in Dublin. Tourism is an industry that packages and sells culture and national identity and this talk will explore these issues while tracing Dublin's own meandering journey as a place to visit. Booking essential, email rahenylibrary@dublincity.ie
In this illustrated talk, Ruth McManus discusses the development of housing policy in Ireland from 1922 to 1932. This first decade after independence saw the new government tackling a major housing problem. How did it go about tackling the problem? What was built? Have these houses stood the test of time? Explore these questions and...
Oral history helps bring the past to life by recording the voices, experiences, stories and memories of people. In this introductory session members of the Oral History Network of Ireland will use audio clips and transcripts to showcase the diverse range of oral history projects across Ireland. Key issues will be discussed, and practical advice...
This lecture by Dr Joan Kavanagh, will highlight the transportation narrative of the Grangegorman Female Penitentiary from 1840 to 1852. Its development, the policies that were put in place for the management of the Female Depot and the movement of the female convicts from their respective county gaols will be explored. It will also focus...
This talk is aimed at those who are considering or have researched some topic of local history and would now like to make their findings available to the public. It will provide pointers on how to research, where best to look for information and how to produce an end product suitable for your intended audience....
**Apologies, registration full** Nicola Pierce, author of The Spirit of the Titanic and Chasing Ghosts, an Arctic Adventure, discusses her latest novel of historical fiction, In Between Worlds, the Journey of the Famine Girls. The book was inspired by the Earl Grey Scheme: between 1848 and 1850, over four thousand orphaned Irish girls, aged 14...
Díreoidh an chaint seo ar oidhreacht ailtireachta agus luathstair na Leabharlainne Náisiúnta. Bainfidh sé leas as meascán de ghrianghraif stairiúla ón gCartlann Náisiúnta Ghrianghrafadóireachta, léaráidí ailtireachta agus íomhánna níos nua-aimseartha...
In the context of the current wider debate over public monuments, this lunchtime talk will take a fresh look at the monuments of Christ Church Cathedral, informed by Dr Greg Sullivan’s work on the ‘Pantheons’ project in St Paul’s Cathedral, London. No booking required.
Pembroke Library will host a lecture by Dublin City Historian in Residence Cormac Moore, on the life of Pembroke Library's first Librarian, Frank O'Connor (born Michael Francis O' Donovan) who, among other achievements, went on to become an internationally renowned short story writer. Note: Limited spaces. To book, email pembrokelibrary@dublincity.ie
