Blogs

You can now borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks from Dublin City Public Libraries. Reserve or borrow up to 5 eAudiobooks and 5 eBooks at a time. Visit library.bolindadigital.com/dublin and sign in using your library membership card number and PIN.

John MacDonagh, was a junior officer with the Volunteers during the 1916 Rising. He fought alongside his brother, Thomas MacDonagh, at the Jacob’s Biscuit Factory. The John MacDonagh collection contains a small amount of material related to MacDonagh’s republican credentials, most notably an eight page, hand-written letter dated 30 August 1916, to the London Aid Committee, describing conditions for Irish prisoners-of war in the Frongoch internment camp and signed simply “Henry”. While his role in the Rising might have been overshadowed by that of his brother, John MacDonagh’s role in shaping the artistic and cultural life of post-independence Ireland makes his story as worthy to tell as any other, and his name as important to remember.

The full set of Wide Street Commission architectural drawings have been conserved and digitised and are now available to view online. The Wide Streets Commission had the authority to determine and regulate the facades of buildings erected along the line of new streets developed by it. The Commission decided on the heights of buildings, the number of houses in a terrace, the materials to be employed and the type and spacing of windows. Builders had to conform to specifications and the Commission could, and did, order re-building where its instructions had been flouted.As a by-product of its interest in and impact on the architecture of Dublin in the period 1757-1849, the Wide Streets Commission amassed a total of 60 elevations of buildings and terraces. The WSC Architectural Drawing Catalogue was prepared by Dr Mary Clark, City Archivist and published by Dublin City Council in 1988. It provides detailed description of the full set of architectural drawings in the archives of the Wide Street Commission. The catalogue is now being published online, along with an image gallery of the architectural drawings.View Wide Street Commission Architectural Drawings Image Gallery.Search and browse the Wide Street Commission Architectural Drawings online.Wide Street Commission Architectural Drawings (PDF, 243KB) Cannot access PDF?About the Wide Street CommissionThe Commissioners for making Wide and Convenient Ways, Streets and Passages in the City of Dublin was established by an Act of Parliament in 1757. The Commission had extensive powers with the authority to acquire property by compulsory purchase, demolish it, lay down new streets and set lots along the new streets to builders for development. The Commission created Parliament Street, Westmoreland Street and D'Olier Street, widened Dame Street, built Carlisle Bridge (now O'Connell bridge), and extended lower Sackville Street (O'Connell) down to the river Liffey. The Commission was abolished under the Dublin Improvement Act of 1849 with the final completion of its work in 1851. The Wide Street Commission Collection includes minute books, architectural drawings, jury books, and over 800 manuscript maps.The archives of the Wide Street Commission are held by Dublin City Library and Archive.For further information contact:Dublin City Archives138-144 Pearse StreetDublin 201 647 [email protected] NoticeIn order to reduce handling damage and to ensure the long term preservation of these fragile drawings, all researchers are requested to view the digitised images in the first instance. High-Res versions can be provided on request. Viewing of original drawings is strictly by appointment only: please apply to [email protected]. Please note: A minimum of 3 days notice is required to process your request and a maximum of 10 maps may be ordered per visit.Copyright StatementAll content (text, image, sound and film) on the Wide Street Commission Architectural Drawings Image Gallery on the Dublin City Public Libraries and Archive website is copyright of © Dublin City Council. All rights are reserved unless where otherwise stipulated.Individual UseThe content of the image gallery may be printed and downloaded on a temporary, non-commercial basis for personal use. Copyright must be acknowledged and content may not be altered.Commercial ReproductionThose wishing to use the content of this image gallery for commercial purposes should contact [email protected] per Image: Scanned image on disk EUR 10.00Permission to reproduce images should be sought in writing from the City Archivist, Dublin City Library and Archive, 138-144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. For commercial reproductions, a fee will be applicable.When applying please state which photographs are being used and give the precise details of the type of reproduction involved – exhibition, book, magazine, newspaper, or other.All reproduced images must carry the acknowledgement: 'Courtesy of Dublin City Library and Archive’.

The 18th annual Sir John T. Gilbert Commemorative Lecture,  'Dublin as a global city: through time and space', is now available for purchase in book form. The lecture was given by Kevin Whelan (in photo), Director, Keough-Naughton Institute, Notre Dame Centre in Dublin at the Dublin City Library & Archive on Thursday 22 January 2015.The book was launched on Thursday, 21st January, on the occasion of the 19th such lecture at the Dublin City Library & Archive in Pearse Street. Price is €8 and details are available on how to purchase.

David Bowie was The Future. His first solo album 'Space Oddity' was released at the peak of The Space Race between the US and the USSR in 1969. It portrays the plight of an astronaut alienated from his planet and family. This could have been influenced by the Kubrick film '2001: A Space Odyssey'.

On Wednesday, 27th May 2015, Dublin City Council's Public Library Service took possession of a copy of a rare eye-witness account of the outbreak of the 1916 Easter Rising. The account was in the form of a letter written by Elsie McDermid (seen on the right), a popular opera singer of the era, to her mother in England on the occasion of Elsie's visit to Dublin. She was in Dublin to perform in Gilbert and Sullivan shows at Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. However, the performances were cancelled as a result of the dramatic outbreak of the Easter Rising on Monday 24th April 1916.

On this day (6th January) in 1931 the death took place of Dublin-born stained glass artist and illustrator Harry Clarke, aged 41.  While considered one of Ireland’s greatest stained glass artists, he also illustrated a number of books for both children and adults in his characteristic, highly stylized manner. Indeed a fine collection of books illustrated by him is held in the Dublin City Libraries' Special Collections. ! Above (left): Death Notice, Irish Independent, Friday, 9th January, 1931. (right): Extract, Irish Independent, 8th January 1931 (click to view larger version)In 1886 his father, Joshua Clarke,  founded the J. Clarke and Sons Glass Studios and a church furnishing business. The Glass Studios were based at 33 North Frederick Street. After his death in 1921, the businesses were taken over by Harry and his brother Walter. After Walter's death, the studio became the Harry Clarke Glass Studios, and continued to operate even after Harry's death, producing an estimated 1000 windows and finally closing in 1973. Right: J. Clarke and Sons, Glass Studios, Advertisement. Source: The Belvederian, 1922, Periodical Collection, Dublin City Library and Archive (click to view larger image)Harry Clarke was born on 17th March, 1889, and lived at 48 North Circular Road with his wife (Margaret Crilley) and three children. He went to school in Belvedere College, and studied stained-glass at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art. He is buried in Chur (or Coire) in Switzerland where he died.Left: Perrault, Charles. The Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault. Illustrated by Harry Clarke. London, G. Harrap and Company, 1922 (click to view larger image)The collection of Perrault’s Fairy Tales is of particular interest because of its fine illustrations by Harry Clarke. In the Introduction to this volume, Thomas Bodkin commends the illustrations for the way they complement the spirit of the text and their "grace, delicacy, urbanity, tenderness and humour."A book, 'Harry Clarke’s War: Illustrations for Ireland's Memorial Records, 1914-1918' by Marguerite Helmers (Rosebush Professor of English at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh) was published by the Irish Academic Press in September 2015.Did you know...?An original stained glass artwork by Harry Clarke, which outraged the Irish Government in 1930, went on public display on the 11th March 2015 at Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane. The work, seen on the left (click to view larger image), depicts a scene from Liam O’Flaherty's controversial novel 'Mr Gilhooley' and was created by Harry Clarke as a section of his Panel No. 6 for the Geneva Window. It was commissioned by the Irish Government for the League of Nations building in Geneva , the UN's forerunner, in the late 1920's. Clarke chose scenes of novels by contemporary Irish writers as his themes for the window.The Geneva Window was never displayed at its intended home in the Labour Court in Geneva as it was deemed to be unsuitable by the Government of the day.  Instead it was installed in Government Buildings, Merrion Square. Read more about the Geneva Window...The original 'Mr Gilhooley' section is on permanent display at the Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane. View the Harry Clarke online collection, also courtesy of the Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane.Did you also know...?Harry and his brother Walter were both born on St Patrick's Day (17th March) - Walter in 1887 and Harry in 1889. Walter died on the 20th July, 1930, of pneumonia, and is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.

A year–long series of events to mark the tercentenary of Dublin’s Mansion House culminated on 14 December 2015 with the launch of a beautiful book The Mansion House, Dublin 300 years of History and Hospitality edited by City archivist Dr Mary Clark.

The 'Dublin: A Great Place to Start' digital storytelling project celebrates some of the new beginnings that happen every day in Dublin 1 where plans are being developed for the City Library at Parnell Square Cultural Quarter.Dublin City Public Libraries are delighted to have the opportunity to develop a new and innovative City Library at this historic Georgian Square. The new City Library and the existing spectacular Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane will be connected by a civic plaza, creating a new intercultural district for Dublin. The new City Library will bring 21st century services to children and families, learners and researchers, readers and writers, workers and businesses with a space to learn, create and participate. It will celebrate the stories of Dublin through a new Storyhouse, showcasing Dublin's place as a UNESCO City of Literature, a place for writers and readers.View the introductory video below:Browse all the  ‘Dublin: A Great Place to Start’ video stories.This storytelling project was conceived to contribute to the plans for a new City Library. 'Dublin: A Great Place to Start' brings together stories of new starts in the city, celebrating the diversity and excitement of Dublin.Participants from Ireland, Brazil, Somalia, Italy, Moldova and South Africa, working with our storytelling team, have created a unique collection of 11 short films.The stories capture a fascinating range of first-time experiences in the City – stories of new life, new neighbours and new opportunities. Stories move from Nelson's Pillar, to Moore Street, the Ha'penny Bridge in the rain, the dancehalls of Parnell Square, to Summerhill and North Great George's Street, with tales from the past and the present.Gheorghe tells of bringing water colours to Ireland from his native Moldova and capturing the beauty of the city in paint, even on a rainy day! Kay tells of her mother’s experiences moving to Dublin in the 1940s, bringing to life for us a city of dancehalls and theatre. Abdi Shakuur reminds us of the importance of sport in creating community spirit and lasting friendships and Jane gives us an insight into inner city life on North Great George’s Street.Visit Parnell Square Cultural Quarter to browse ‘Dublin: A Great Place to Start’ stories, to see the vision for the City Library and the Cultural Quarter and to read updates on the project as it progresses.

This image gallery shows a selection from the photographs and slides of the amateur photographer, William Stafford.  He took most of these pictures during the 1950s, 60s and 70s. The collection contains a great variety of images, from the imposing form of Queen Victoria in the days after she was moved from her plinth outside Leinster House, to the derelict courts and alleys of the mid-20th century city. There are images here of Nelson’s Pillar just after the explosion of March 1966, the old Queen's Theatre, of flower sellers and fishmongers and street urchins. Many of the places he photographed,  such as Hospital Lane in Islandbridge, have now disappeared or  have changed beyond recognition. There are also images of the family business; the Stafford brothers started out importing  coal and salt to their works on Ormond Quay, eventually concentrating on salt importation and packaging.The Stafford Collection material  was retrieved by Jeremy Wales of the City Architects Division, and Charles Duggan, Heritage Officer, Dublin City Council, during clearance works to facilitate the development of the ‘Dublin House’ project at 29-30 Fishamble Street, the former home of  William Stafford.  Now held in Dublin City Library and Archive, it includes postcards, business and family papers and a large collection of religious ephemera.  The siblings Angela and William appear to have been very religious, and one of their sisters, Cissie, became a Carmelite nun. One of the most interesting parts of the collection is the photographic element.  On retrieval, the slides and prints had been left for years in unsuitable conditions, and were in very poor condition.  Apart from a little work on the colour slides, we have not done any restoration work on the images as yet, so the viewer will get a real sense of the years that this material lay neglected in the dark and damp house in Fishamble Street.The main reason for publishing this gallery is to bring the images captured by William Stafford back into the light. We also hope that it will be seen by members of the extended Stafford family and that they will get back to us with more information on the fortunes of the family and especially on William, our photographer. Finally we are anxious to establish whether anyone has a claim to the material, and whether it can be made freely available to the people of Dublin, as we feel William Stafford would have liked.View the Stafford Image Gallery.