Snowflake by Louise Nealon is the One Dublin One Book choice for 2024. One Dublin One Book aims to get everyone reading the same book in Dublin during the month of April!
Rathmines can boast a rich literary heritage having played host to many leading literary figures including James Joyce, William Carleton, George Russell and Paul Durcan. "A Sense of Place", a literary evening held at Rathmines Library, honoured the rich literary life of the area.
Monuments and statues are a significant feature of the cityscape of Dublin; some make an appearance for a short period of time, while others become more permanent fixtures. This collection of images represents some of those statues that have spent time in the capital city, as well as some that are soon to move. Certain monuments that no longer adorn the streets and parks of Dublin reflect the nation’s indefatigable struggle to regain independence, such as those that were notably connected to the British Monarchy, which unfortunately included the only three equestrian statues in Ireland.
In 1902, Rathmines and Rathgar Urban District Council applied for a grant to Andrew Carnegie who was at that time dispensing large sums of money for the building of libraries, the world over. The application was successful and in 1903 a sum of £7,500, later increased to £8,500 was granted.
Irish Carnegie Libraries, An Architectural History
Between 1897 and 1913, Andrew Carnegie donated over £170,000 to fund the building of eighty libraries in Ireland. Sixty-two of those libraries have survived to the present day including Rathmines Library, which opened on 24 October 1913.
The Picture of Dublin for 1811, being a description of the city, and a correct guide to all the public establishments, curiosities, amusements, exhibitions, and remarkable objects, in and near the city of Dublin. With a map of Dublin in the year 1610; a large map for 1811, and several views. On the same principle as The Picture of London.Dublin, printed for the proprietor, by J. and J. Carrick, Batchelor’s Walk; and sold at 41, Golden Lane; La Grange, Nassau Street; Gilbert and Hodges, and Dugdale, Dame Street; and all the booksellers. (Price six shillings British).This is the first edition of The Picture of Dublin, published in 1811. It does not name an editor or compiler, but the imprint states that it was printed for the proprietor, and sold at 41 Golden Lane. At this time 41 Golden Lane was the address of J. and W. Gregory, printers and booksellers. The dedication to the third edition, published in 1816, is signed by William Gregory, so he is likely to have been the compiler of the first edition.It was based on a similar guide to London, and it was aimed at visitors to the city. It went into several editions in the first half of the 19th century, with many different editors, see Dublin City’s online catalogue for other editions.Like a modern guide book this guide starts with a short history of Dublin, followed by a contemporary description of the city and its inhabitants. It describes the public buildings and other sites worth visiting and it is illustrated with engraved plates showing the Bank of Ireland, College Green, the newly built Custom House, Nelson’s Pillar, and the Grand Canal at Portobello Harbour. Nitty-gritty details for the visitor are also included: lists of hotels, stage coaches, public baths, banks, newspapers, etc. An index makes the guide user friendly for the tourist.One of the earliest maps of the city is that of John Speed, published in 1610, which is reproduced at the front of this volume. The map formed part of The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain, published in London in 1610. This gives an idea of the historical shape of the city. The modern map of 1811, folding into the back of the guide, shows the plan of the streets with the main sites marked.This guide allows the historical tourist to wander the streets of Dublin, admiring the many buildings, parks and statues, and experiencing the exhilaration of visiting a distant place: distant in time rather then space. Alternatively download The Picture of Dublin (PDF, 4.48MB) using Adobe Acrobat. Cannot access PDF?View images from The Picture of Dublin for 1811 on flickr
Remembering Irish Men and Women who served in the First World War
The Imperial War Museum has just launched a new project to create a permanent digital memorial to every man and woman who served in the First World War. This ambitious undertaking asks members of the public to share the life story of any relative they have uncovered who served in World War 1. One of the first life stories uploaded to the website relates to the life of Irish man Private Michael Lennon who served with the Royal Dublin FusiliersMany users of Dublin City Library and Archive are aware that we hold the records of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers Association Archive, and may be wondering what exactly these records are and if we can assist them in researching their own family members who served in World War 1. The Royal Dublin Fusiliers Association was established in 1996 to commemorate all Irish men and women who volunteered, served and died in the First World War 1914-1918. The RDFA fulfils its remit by organising public exhibitions, lectures, seminars, visits and the publication of a journal, Blue Cap. In 2005, the RDFA decided to place its archive with Dublin City Library & Archive, where it is managed by Dublin City Archives and made available for public consultation in the Reading Room.Firstly it is important to note that the RDFA Archive does not contain the service records for the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. These are held in The National Archives, Kew London or they can be also accessed online via the pay per view site www.ancestory.co.uk.The RDFA Archive consists of the personal papers of individual Irish Men and Women who participated in World War 1. These collections have been generously donated by their relatives and include records such as diaries, service medals, maps, letters and postcards home, as well photographs and other mementos. The RDFA Archive documents personal stories of human endeavour and heroism, in the face of overwhelming odds and appalling suffering. Each collection received is carefully preserved, catalogued and stored in the special strong rooms in Dublin City Library and Archive which are air-conditioned and fire protected.One of the valuable collections held in the RDFA Archive is the Monica Roberts Collection which consists of letters to Monica Roberts, a young Irish woman who set up a voluntary organisation to provide gifts to Irish troops, from Irish men serving mainly in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and the Royal Flying Corps. The letters provide vivid pen-pictures of conditions at the Western Front.Another example is the The Gunning Brothers: Gallipoli and the Somme, which contains the records of two Enniskillen brothers, George Cecil and Frank Douglas Gunning, who fought at the battle of Gallipoli during the First World War. The Irish National War Memorial Committee Collection outlines the protracted scheme, initiated in 1919, to design a War Memorial Gardens at Longmeadows, Islandbridge, Dublin.Dublin City Library and Archive has a plethora of other sources helpful to anyone wishing to gain a wider understanding of the contribution and huge sacrifice made by Irish men and women to the Great War including recent publications as well as contemporary newspapers and periodicals from the 1914-1918 period.Two other websites which are freely available and can be very useful to anyone researching Irish men who served and were killed in World War 1 are: Irish Soldiers Wills which contains 9,000 wills of Irish men who fought in the British Army, recently digitised by the National Archives of Ireland, and the Irish War Memorial Records, originally compiled by the aforementioned Irish National War Memorial Committee.With an estimated 350, 000 Irishmen serving in the British forces during World War One, and over 49,000 killed in action, it is unsurprising that many of us researching our family history have unearthed long forgotten relatives who contributed to theatres of war such as Belgium, France or Gallipoli, as well as on the Home Front. It would be a fitting commemoration to their sacrifices if any information uncovered is shared on the Imperial War Museum Digital Memorial.
How do folktales and history intertwine? Pick up a school reader from the 1940s, 50s, or 60s in Ireland and you’ll see. Every book from Reading Time, Fact and Fancy, The Educational Readers, The Emerald Readers to Young Ireland Readers presented folktales, and hundreds of these school books were donated to the Dublin City Library and Archives on Pearse Street.
Japan donate translated Japanese books to Central Library
On 8 May 2014, 12 works of Japanese literature donated by the Japanese Literature Publishing Project (JLPP) to the Central Library of Dublin in March 2014, were made available for the public to borrow.This donation was initiated by the JLPP, which was founded to promote modern Japanese literature to the world. Under this programme, overseen by the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan, works of Japanese literature published over the past 150 years are selected by a committee of literary professionals, translated into various languages, and published overseas.Photo: Ms Margaret Hayes, Dublin City Librarian with Deputy Head of Mission Mr Kojiro Uchiyama. Photo: Embassy of Japan in IrelandThe titles include Hideyuki Kikuchi’s Samurai horror Tales of the Ghost Sword which depicts the sorrow of a lower rank Samurai who is obsessed by swords, and Kaori Ekuni’s story of a mother and a daughter God's Boat, which was successfully dramatised in Japan.Mr Chihiro Atsumi, Ambassador of Japan to Ireland said, “I am very happy that the JLPP has offered the translated books to the Central Library in Dublin. I hope that Irish people will enjoy reading Japanese modern literature in English, and gain further understanding of Japan through the works”.Ms Margaret Hayes Dublin City Librarian said, "On behalf of Dublin City Public Libraries, I would like thank the Embassy of Japan in Ireland and JLPP for this donation. This makes an important contribution our international literature collection understanding through these works”.This donation is the first of two batches of books over two consecutive Japanese fiscal years. The second batch is scheduled to reach Dublin by March 2015. Photo: twelve donated books. Photo Embassy of Japan in Ireland (click image to enlarge)2013 JLPP donation list of titlesA Thousand Strands of Black Hair by Seiko TanabeGod's Boat by Kaori EkuniDeath by Choice by Masahiko ShimadaWasabi for Breakfast by Fumiko KometaniA Day in the Life by Senji KuroiA Cappella by Mariko KoikeIn Pursuit of Lavender by Akiko ItoyamaTokyo Seven Roses Vol.1 by Hisashi InoueTokyo Seven Roses Vol.2 by Hisashi InoueTales of the Ghost Sword by Hideyuki KikuchiLost Souls, Sacred Creatures by Juko NishimuraThe Isle of South Kamui by Kyotaro Nishimura