The ‘Big House’, the country mansion of the Anglo-Irish landed class, was a target of republicans throughout the Irish revolution 1919-23, with a total of 275 burned down or destroyed. Historian John Dorney explains how the anti-Treaty IRA took the opportunity to sweep away these symbols of the old order. Booking: Call Fingal Local Studies...
Take a guided tour of 18 Ormond Quay Upper, an 1840s merchant house and shop recently saved and restored over a three-year period by Dublin Civic Trust. The project involved many traditional conservation techniques and materials, including Irish brick ‘wigging’, architectural joinery repair, lime plastering and decorative finishes. The second phase of the project is...
This photographic exhibition about the recent excavations in St Canice's abbey and churchyard will open on Tuesday 26 September and run for the remainder of the festival. It will be open to the public during library opening hours: Tuesday 26 September – Saturday 14 October A 15-min talk on the St. Canice’s Photographic Exhibition by...
Made by 12 people in Dublin with artists Claire Halpin and Colm Keegan. This exhibition of personal objects, stories and poems asks what do we choose to remember, and why? The Archive Within Us is an exhibition of personal histories, made by a group of people in Dublin in collaboration with visual artist Claire Halpin...
Take a tour of the largest terraced house on Merrion Square, learn about its history, see the latest exhibitions and discover the work of the Irish Architectural Archive. Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the festival. 26 and 28 September; 3, 5, 10 and 12 October, 10:00 each day. No booking required.
Join us for an insightful lecture by the Port Heritage Director on “The Military Defences of Dublin Port: 1790 to 1945.” Explore the fascinating history of Dublin Port’s military fortifications and their role in safeguarding the city throughout the centuries. From the strategic positioning of coastal batteries to the impact of world wars, delve into...
This exhibition aims to showcase the historical significance of Dublin Port and its impact on the city’s development over time. Through a carefully curated selection of maps from the Dublin Port Archive, visitors will embark on a visual journey through the centuries, exploring the growth, transformation, and importance of Dublin Port. The exhibition will be...
As well as safeguarding the city’s civic records, Dublin City Archive houses hundreds of private collections that provide colour and context to any study of Dublin’s development. Among these are archives of numerous Dublin businesses, including Jacob’s Biscuit Factory, Findlater & Co Merchants, and Edward Lee & Co drapers. Join Fionnuala Parfrey, archivist with Dublin...
Through Dublin Festival of History, join tour guides at the National Museum of Ireland, Decorative Arts & History at Collins Barracks on a variety of engaging family tours exploring the Museum and its collection. Discover the journey of Collins Barracks in ‘From Barracks to Museum’, learn about Ireland’s military and revolutionary history in ‘Recovered Voices’...
The 24th of May 2023 marked 100 years since the Irish Civil War came to an end, putting a stop to a brutal conflict that has left a lasting legacy on Irish society and politics. In this tour the Irish Civil War will be contextualised within its social, political and economic roots, its ties to...
Roger Doyle, together with Olwen Fouéré, was at the heart of Operating Theatre. More than an experimental theatre group, music was a key dimension of the project, now thankfully available to hear again from All City Records and their Allchival imprint. In The Irish Times, “his name is revered in the realm of theatre”. In...
This paper will examine the first attempts to promote women’s soccer in Dublin, beginning with failed efforts in the late nineteenth century and in the 1920s. It was not until the 1970s that the game took off in earnest with the organisation of league and cup competitions central to this. Despite this, gaining support remained...
Patrick Quigley, author of Borderland and the “Markievicz Trilogy” presents this talk on the radicalisation of Countess Markievicz as a result of her visits with relatives in Ukraine. Before her marriage to Casimir Markievicz she shared many beliefs of the Anglo-Irish but was made aware of Poland’s struggle for freedom on her visits, arousing a...
The Liberties of Dublin has historically been home to an industrial working class. Much of this history is related to brewing and distilling, and the associated businesses and trades that came with these industries. However, another industry which has all but disappeared has left a lasting legacy in terms of place names and also in...
**Booked out** How did the area which now forms the Navan Road parish evolve? In this talk, local resident and historian Enda Finnan examines the transformation of the rural community and landscapes of the townlands of Greater Cabragh, Ashtown and Pelletstown from the 1920s to the 1960s. As Dublin’s population migrated from the tenement-dominated city...
The Dublin Cattle Market in the twentieth century: from the 'busiest in Europe' - Dr Mary Muldowney, Dublin City Council Historian in Residence. The Market was a significant element of the area in the hinterland of Grangegorman from 1863 when it opened first to 1973 when it was closed down. This talk will include extracts...
The Library in the Community will host a talk by Dr Cormac Moore, Dublin City Council Historian in Residence, in the Ringsend & Irishtown Community Centre. Dr Moore’s talk will focus on a football match which took place in July 1973. Shamrock Rovers All-Ireland XI, a team consisting of players from both Northern Ireland and...
The Royal Irish Academy will host a one-day conference to examine approaches to the research and preservation of landscapes and places of faith across Ireland following the disestablishment of the Church of Ireland. Multidisciplinary panels will include Landscapes and Histories, Histories and Archives, and Archives and Dialogues. Note: This is an all day event. Click...