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The general strike as a political weapon was used very effectively in Ireland on several occasions between 1918 to 1922. It was part of the successful resistance to the imposition of conscription in April 1918. One hundred years ago, on 12 April 1920, worked ceased all over the country, but especially in Dublin, as another general strike was called.Several thousand republicans had been imprisoned in previous months, as part of the British government’s response to events in the War of Independence. Over one hundred political prisoners were in Mountjoy Gaol in April 1920, when many of them decided to go on hunger strike in protest against the absence of formal charges against them. They were also angry that the authorities were breaching an agreement to treat them as prisoners-of-war rather than criminals.At Mountjoy Gaol tens of thousands of people demonstrated outside for the release of the republican prisoners. Women were especially prominent in the demonstrations, many of them on their knees and praying for the hunger strikers. British army soldiers were posted behind the walls of the gaol, which were covered with barbed wire to prevent any attempt to break in and release the prisoners.  Soldiers were standing with bayonets fixed while Royal Air Force planes flew towards the crowd at rooftop height, to intimidate them.The Irish trade unions - led by the Irish Transport and General Workers Union - organised a general strike in support of the hunger strikers and all the political prisoners. In many areas the strike committees took over the organisation of civic duties like food distribution and policing. After two days of general strike, on 12 and 13 April, the British authorities caved in and released all the republican prisoners. It was an effective demonstration of the general strike’s use as a political weapon.Sometimes economic and political demands could be mixed. On 17 April the dockers at the North Wall refused to load food for England. This action relieved the scarcity in Dublin, which was particularly bad in these years when large quantities were being shipped to Britain under the food control orders. In May 1920, railway workers began refusing to move British troops or military supplies in Ireland, restricting the military to the use of roads, which were constantly being trenched and blocked by IRA guerrillas. The boycott lasted until the end of the year, when the men were instructed to finish it to stave off the danger of retaliation by the state.Want to spend this ‘Stay At Home’ time reading, or even studying more history? Why not try out some of Dublin City Libraries history resources, you can use them with your library card and everything is free:BorrowBox has lots of history books including historical novels, non-fiction tomes and history audio books.RBDigital app has history magazines like BBC History, Military History and the genealogy magazine Who Do You Think You Are. Browse and download over 43,000 old photographs, maps and documents and thousands of old photographs, maps and historical documents available free-of-charge on our digital repository and image galleries.Find out the history and provenance of Dublin place names and monuments with the Historians in Residence live Facebook talks (https://www.facebook.com/DubHistorians) and online video lectures. On the library blog you can read the historians’ quick reads on topical subjects like the flu pandemic of 100 years ago, Molly Malone (did she really die of a fever?), when Dublin Telephonists challenged the government, and lots more.Read the book of local history essays written by Dublin City Council’s Historians in Residence History on Your Doorstep Volume 1.  Dublin City Council’s history on your doorstep programme brings this history & heritage to life.There are 30 online history courses on Universal Class complete with assignments and a tutor, including the American Civil War, World Wars I and II, Ancient Civilisations, and economic history.Keep in touch by following us on twitter at @histfest @dubhistoriansMary Muldowney, Historian in Residence Dublin City Council, Central Area 

Dublin City Council has a team of part-time Historians in Residence working with communities across the city. This public history project began in Spring 2017 under the auspices of the Decade of Commemorations designation within the Council, and the historians work in the five administrative areas of Dublin City  to make history and historical sources accessible and enjoyable for all.Pictured l-r: Donal Fallon, Maeve Casserly, Cathy Scuffil, Bernard Kelly, Cormac Mooore (view larger photo)Dublin City Council Historians in Residence are working on all sorts of history events throughout the city including talks, walks, tours, discussions, history book clubs,  blogs, exhibitions and more. They are:Donal Fallon -  North West AreaCormac Moore  -  North Central AreaMaeve Casserly  -  South East AreaCathy Scuffil  -  South Central AreaBernard Kelly  -  Dublin City Library and ArchiveThey can talk to groups and students about history, organise walking tours and can come to your area to meet you. Get in touch on Facebook or Twitter (@DubHistorians) or email [email protected] And it's all FREE!Part of Dublin City Council's Decade of Commemorations programme.Video: www.paddycahill.com

Listen to Liz D’Arcy talk about conserving the Wide Street Commission Maps. Hear how she painstakingly removed sellotape, cleaned, repaired and strengthened these important maps.   Liz D'Arcy, Paperworks, Studio for Paper Conservation is qualified with an MA in Conservation of Fine Art on Paper. Liz is an accredited member of the 'Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic works in Ireland' (I.C.H.A.W.I) and a member of the 'Irish Professional Conservators and Restorers Association' (I.P.C.R.A).Between 1757- 1851, the Wide Street Commission had a major impact on the development of the city, transforming it from a medieval city to the Dublin we know today.  Its function was to provide “Wide and Convenient Streets” for Dublin and it had extensive powers to acquire property by compulsory purchase, develop new streets, demolish buildings and impose design standards on building lots which were sold to developers. Dublin City Archives hold the Wide Street Commission Archives, which comprises maps, minute books and drawings. www.dublincityarchives.ieRead more about the conservation project and view Wide Street Commission map collection image gallery.Search and browse the Archive of the Wide Street Commission Maps online.Conserving Wide Street Commission Maps - TranscriptAudio only:Recorded at Dublin City Hall on 24 August 2016 at Dublin City Archives' 'Living in Georgian Dublin' seminar. Part of Heritage Week 2016 programme.Dublin City Archives is grateful to the Heritage Council of Ireland for funding under the Heritage Management Project Scheme 2016 to conserve 23 Wide Street Commission Maps in 2016. Conservation NoticeIn order to reduce handling damage and to ensure the long term preservation of these fragile maps, all researchers are requested to view the digitised images in the first instance. High-Res versions can be provided on request. Viewing of original maps 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. 

Listen to Harold Clarke's charming account of restoring the beautiful Georgian building, no. 19 North Great George's Street.  When Harold first viewed the house it was suffering from 180 years of dereliction but he recognised its beauty and bought it just three days later.In this illustrated talk, Harold outlines the challenges he faced during his faithful restoration of the house, its long history,  and the delightful features he uncovered, most particularly its beautiful decorative plasterwork. The before and after photographs offer a fascinating insight into this most successful restoration process. I'm sure you will agree the results are splendid, from the beauty of the friezes and plasterwork in the drawing room and dining room, to the library room with its ceiling painted in the Dublin colours, the 100 stepped staircase, the entrance hall and the garden room.Recorded at Dublin City Hall on 24 August 2016 at Dublin City Archives' 'Living in Georgian Dublin' seminar. Part of Heritage Week 2016 programme.Restoration of no. 19 North Great George's Street by Harold Clarke - TranscriptAudio only:See Also: In his talk Harold mentions Conor Lucey's work on Michael Stapleton, which is available to borrow from our catalogue The Stapleton collection: designs for the Irish neoclassical interior (2007). 

Alleys, annals and anecdotes: a new look at Gilbert's History of Dublin given by Séamas Ó Maitiú, on Thursday 23rd January 2014 at 6.00pm, at Dublin City Library & Archive, Pearse Street, Dublin 2. Dr. Séamas Ó Maitiú holds an MA in local History and was awarded a PhD by the National University of Ireland for his thesis on the development of Dublin suburbs in the 19th century. He is the author of several books including Dublin's Suburban Towns, 1834-1930 and W. & R. Jacob: celebrating 150 years of Irish biscuit making.TranscriptListen to the talk while following the presentation: Audio only:About John T. Gilbert and the Gilbert LibraryJohn T. Gilbert's valuable library of mainly 17th and 18th century books and manuscripts relating to Dublin and Ireland was purchased by Dublin Corporation after his death in 1898. It forms the nucleus of the special collections of Dublin City Public Libraries.Born in 1829, Gilbert was author of the influential three volume 'History of the city of Dublin', published from 1857-59. He was a firm advocate of documenting the history of his native city using primary sources. His work on manuscripts relating to the city alerted him to the need for the preservation of Irish public records, many of which were in a neglected and vulnerable condition. He commenced a campaign, which eventually led to the setting up of the Public Records Office in the Four Courts. He calendared the records of Dublin Corporation, which date from the twelfth century, and began the series of printed volumes The calendar of ancient records of the city of Dublin.The printed catalogue of the books and manuscripts of the Gilbert collection compiled by Douglas Hyde, LL.D & D.J. O'Donoghue is available for consultation in the Reading Room. View John T. Gilbert in the library online catalogue.

What was it like to be a peasant, a potter or a poet in Medieval Dublin? Find out about these and others who made their living as miller, mason, man-of-law and more! What challenges and conflicts did they face? These interesting talks show how new research can help illuminate the lives of early Dubliners and allow us gain an insight into their lives. These talks are part of Tales of Medieval Dublin: A series of monthly lunchtime lectures which took place in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 at the Wood Quay Venue, Civic Offices, Wood Quay. The series was presented by the Friends of Medieval Dublin and Dublin City Council.You may also be interested in reading the Medieval Dublin Series, edited by Sean Duffy, produced by the Friends of Medieval Dublin and published by Four Courts Press. Full list of videos from this series:Milestones of Medieval Dublin 2013December 2013Silken Thomas and the Siege of Dublin by Steven EllisNovember 2013The Coronation of Lambert Simnel by Sparky BookerOctober 2013The Black Death by Gillian KennySeptember 2013The Bruce Invasion by Seymour PhillipsAugust 2013The Construction of Dublin Castle by Con ManningJuly 2013Dublin's First Coinage by Andy WoodsJune 2013Dublin's First Viking? by Linzi SimpsonTales of Medieval Dublin 2012December 2012The Poet's Tale by Katharine SimmsNovember 2012The Potter's Tale by Clare McCutcheonSeptember 2012The Crusader's Tale by Edward ColemanAugust 2012The Slave's Tale by Poul HolmJuly 2012The Duibh Linn(ers') Tale by Edmond O'DonovanJune 2012The Miller's Tale by Claire WalshTales of Medieval Dublin 2011December 2011The Notary's Tale by Caoimhe WhelanNovember 2011The Mason's Tale by Michael O'NeillNovember 2011The Archdeacon's Tale by Margaret MurphyAugust 2011The Peasant's Tale by Cherie PetersJuly 2011The Mother's Tale by Howard ClarkeJune 2011The Viking's Tale by Stephen HarrisonJanuary 2011The Knight's Tale: Sir Christopher St. Lawrence (died 1589 AD) by Sparky BookerTales of Medieval Dublin 2010November 2010The Heretic's Tale: Adam Duff O'Toole (died 1327 AD) by Bernadette WilliamsOctober 2010The Outlaw’s Tale: Henry Tyrel (fl. 1308 AD) by Áine FoleyAugust 2010The Merchant’s Tale: Roger Cordwainer (fl. 1200 AD) by Grace O'KeefeJuly 2010The Skeleton’s Tale: An Anonymous Viking Warrior (died c. 830 AD) by Linzi Simpson    

On 24 January 2011 the fourteenth annual Sir John T. Gilbert Commemorative Lecture was held at Dublin City Library and Archive, Pearse Street. The lecture was delivered by Christopher Fitz-Simon, author of 'The Boys', 'Eleven Houses' and 'Buffoonery and Easy Sentiment'. The lecture detailed Mr Kennedy Miller's successful Irish theatre company which toured Ireland and Britain during the period 1889 - 1906. Dr Fitz-Simon discussed plays Kennedy Miller directed, outlined the strengths and signature roles of some of the Company's accomplished actors, and considered what made Irish melodrama so distinct and so popular at that time.TranscriptWatch a short video of images from the collections of Dublin City Library & Archive featured in the lecture and in Dr Fitz-Simon's book 'Buffoonery and Easy Sentiment':This lecture was published by Dublin City Public Libraries in 2012. ‘More details on Mr J. Kennedy Miller's very capable company of Irish players publication.

'Rediscovering Emmet's Dublin through the Collections of Dublin City Libraries' by Dr Máire Kennedy, Divisional Librarian with Dublin City Public Libraries in charge of Special Collections. Introduction by Aidan O'Hara, Emmet and Devlin Committee. The 8th Annual Emmet Spring Lecture hosted by the Emmet and Devlin Committee and Dublin City Public Libraries, was recorded at Dublin City Library & Archive, Pearse Street on 15 March 2010.TranscriptListen to the talk while following the presentation:Audio only (with introduction by Aidan O'Hara, Emmet and Devlin Committee):Thank-you for listening! To hear more, please subscribe to the Dublin City Public Libraries and Archive podcast on iTunes or SoundCloud.

On 21 January 2010 the thirteenth annual Sir John T. Gilbert Commemorative Lecture, 'Commodious temples: Catholic church building in nineteenth-century Dublin' was held at Dublin City Library and Archive, Pearse Street. The lecture was given by Brendan Grimes, Dublin School of Architecture, D.I.T. Bolton Street. Brendan Grimes' lecture, Commodious temples: Catholic church building in nineteenth-century Dublin, brought the audience on a fascinating tour of Dublin churches such as Saint Nicholas of Myra's, Saint Audeon's and Saint Francis Xavier's.This lecture was published by Dublin City Public Libraries in 2011. More information on Commodious Temples publication.TranscriptListen to the talk while following the presentation:Audio only:Thank-you for listening! To hear more, please subscribe to the Dublin City Public Libraries and Archive podcast on iTunes or SoundCloud.

Dublin City has a remarkable collection of historical documents, many of which are under the care of Dublin City Public Libraries and Archive. Dr Maighread Ní Mhurchadha has drawn on the contents of these and other records to tell the stories of some of Dublin's residents during the Renaissance period in her book Early Modern Dubliners. Despite many difficulties, including plague, riots, the threat of war and serious religious differences, the citizens maintained a spirit of independence, a belief in the importance of their city and a strong sense of community, often using unorthodox means to achieve their ends and, occasionally, even managing to enjoy themselves!This talk marked the launch of the Early Modern Dubliners on the 28th August, 2008.Search the library catalogue for Early Modern Dubliners.TranscriptListen to the talk while following the presentation:Audio only:Thank-you for listening! To hear more, please subscribe to the Dublin City Public Libraries and Archive podcast on iTunes or SoundCloud.