Andrew Carnegie, The Library Man
Published on 29th May 2014
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. The Library and Technical Institute were opened on October 24th, 1913.
To celebrate the centenary of Rathmines Library, Brendan Langley gave a talk on the fascinating life of Andrew Carnegie, the industrialist and philanthropist. Brendan Langley is a local historian with a long association with the Rathmines, Ranelagh and Rathgar Historical Society.
Andrew Carnegie, The Library Man
The lecture took place on Tuesday, 15 October 2013, at Rathmines Library and was part of the programme celebrating Rathmines Library 1913 - 2013 100 Years at the Heart of the Community.
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, Scotland on 25 November 1835 but when he was twelve poverty drove his family to emigrate to Pennsylvania. The poverty he experienced as a child influenced his great acts of philanthropy later in life. In his memoirs he wrote:
'This is where the children of honest poverty have the most precious of all advantages over those of wealth - the mother: nurse, cook, governess, teacher, saint, all in one. The father: exemplar, guide, counsellor and friend. Thus were my brother and I brought up. What has the child of millionaire or nobleman that counts, compared to such a heritage?’
If you would like to discover more about Andrew Carnegie, his autobiography is available to borrow from our library catalogue.
Pictured below: Brendan Langley having signed the Rathmines Library 100th Anniversary Commemorative Quilt