Chisellers – Childhood in Dublin through the Centuries

This image gallery incorporates a selection of material dealing with childhood in Dublin from the 18th century onwards.  Suggestions to improve the lot of the poor by sending ten year old boys out to work are shown side by side with informal photographs of children at play. Cosy family scenes stand in harsh contrast to the images of the regimentation in 19th century care institutions.  Health, well-being and education are the main themes of the gallery, which will be of especial interest to children themselves, underpinning the social history aspect of the Primary Level School Curriculum.

This material is taken from the Special Collections of Dublin City Libraries.

Also, access the image gallery of Dublin children going about their business in Dublin from the second half of the twentieth century up to the present day. These particular photographs are taken from the Dublin City Council photographic collection.

Terms and Conditions.

Further Resources

The following online resources can be accessed free of charge at your local library. Ask library staff for information and assistance. View a full list of online resources available with your library card.

• DRI - Digital Repository of Ireland is a national digital repository for Ireland’s humanities, social sciences, and cultural heritage data. Here you will find select digital collections of Dublin City Library and Archive.
• Irish Times Digital Archive: This online archive service gives access to contemporary editions of the Irish Times from the mid-nineteenth century until the present.
• Irish Newspaper Archive: This online archive service gives access to contemporary editions of the Irish Independent and a range of other newspapers.
• The Ireland-JSTOR Collection: This online archive of academic articles can also be accessed free of charge at your local library.

For further reading, consult the Library Catalogue.