General Interest
Interested in finding out about the history and archaeology of Dublin?
Below you will find information about the rich archaeological and industrial heritage of Dublin city, including conservation plans, walking tours, books, podcasts, drawings and links to other websites.
Find out about St Thomas's Medieval Abbey
The royal abbey of St Thomas the Martyr was established outside the walls of Dublin at the end of the twelfth century. Though no physical remains of the abbey survive above ground, it is remembered in the name of the street close to where it once stood: Thomas Street. Below is a reconstruction drawing of the abbey by Stephen Conlin.
This book by Dr Áine Foley examines the history and topography of the abbey precinct, as well as the adjacent Liberties of St Thomas and Donore and the parishes of St Catherine and St James, which were in the abbey's possession.
Available through the Archaeology Office on request €12.99
See the virtual model of St Thomas's Abbey on the Dublinia website here.
Listen to podcasts of the St Thomas Abbey Symposium held in 2017 here.
Find out more about Ireland of that era by visiting the Monastic Ireland website.
Find out about Dublin's Historic Graveyards
To access digital records and stories of some of Dublin's most historic graveyards, follow the links below.
Dublin City Heritage Plan
The Dublin City Heritage Plan 2016-2022 sets out actions to manage the archaeology of Dublin city.
Find out about the medieval city walls
Did you know that Dublin was a walled city during the Middle Ages? To learn more about the city walls both above and below ground, read Dublin Through the Ages: The City Walls and Dublin City Walls Conservation Plan below.
Find archaeology reports from Dublin city and county
Archaeological reports from site investigations undertaken in Dublin city and county prior to 2012 are available through Heritage Maps.
Kilmainham Mill Dublin 8
This Conservation Plan was prepared to assess the significance the mill and guide the future use of the industrial complex.
St Luke’s Church Dublin 8
This Conservation Plan informed the reuse and conservation of St. Luke’s Church in the Coombe.
Find out about Dublin City's industrial heritage
The remains of our industrial past can still be seen throughout the city, in particular our transport and communication system of canals, railways and bridges. The Dublin City Council Industrial Heritage Record (DCIHR) is a non-statutory survey of the industrial heritage of Dublin.
Email the Archaeology Office for further information; you can also phone them on 01 222 2094.
Find out about the archaeology of 1916
The Easter Rebellion was played out in less than a week at several locations throughout the centre of Dublin. The archaeological investigation of these sites has the potential to add to the received narrative of the rising and to provide a more considered account of the conflict and its aftermath in the contemporary urban environment.
Walks through medieval Dublin
Use these maps to explore medieval Dublin. Download the brochure.
Viking Age Dublin
Viking Age Dublin is a popular book on the archaeology of Ireland’s first town by City Archaeologist Dr Ruth Johnson, 'Viking Age Dublin' is available tb through the Archaeology Office on request for €8.99.
Dublinia: The Story of Medieval Dublin
A popular book on the history of Dublin in the Middle Ages is available in your local library.
Dublin in the Viking World
A popular book on the history of Dublin in the Middle Ages, Dublin in the Viking World is available in your local library or from O'Brien Press.