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William Butler Yeats, known to friends and family as Willie, was born in Sandymount Avenue, Dublin, on 13 June 1865. He was the eldest son of John Butler Yeats, portrait painter, and his wife Susan Pollexfen, whose family came from County Sligo. The family moved to London when Willie was a baby and remained there until 1880, but he spent his summers with his mother’s family in Sligo. When the family returned to Dublin he attended the High School in Harcourt Street. He originally studied art at the Metropolitan School of Art and the Royal Hibernian Academy School, but later decided to devote himself to literature, especially poetry and drama.Left below: William Butler Yeats (click all images to enlarge) . .  The Yeats family moved back to London in 1887, but by this time Willie had already decided that his writing should celebrate Ireland’s heroic past. In 1891 he founded the Irish Literary Society of London, and the following year in Dublin he was one of the founders of the National Literary Society. The Society’s aim was to encourage the study and appreciation of Ireland’s literature, folklore and legends. In 1899 he founded the Irish Literary Theatre, with Lady Augusta Gregory and Edward Martyn, this evolved into the Abbey Theatre in 1904.His first publication, Mosada: a dramatic poem, published in 1886, is held in the Colin Smythe Yeats Collection at Dublin City Library & Archive. This does not have an Irish theme, but a series of poems and plays over the next few years demonstrate his interest in the celebration of Ireland’s past. In 1889 he published The wanderings of Oisin, a long poem based on Irish mythology, in 1892 the poetic play The Countess Cathleen, and in 1893 his first volume of folk stories, The Celtic twilight. The range of his writings is wide, from poetry and plays to folk tales, prose works and three volumes of autobiography, but it is as a poet that his name is chiefly associated. . . Yeats was considered the greatest poet of his day and his worldwide reputation has endured. He was awarded honorary degrees from Trinity College Dublin and Queen’s University Belfast in 1922, and he was appointed a senator in the new Irish Free State senate from 1922 to 1928. In 1923 he won the Nobel Prize for literature. Read and enjoy his work at Dublin City Library & Archive.

On Wednesday, 27th May last, 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, a popular opera singer of the era, to her mother in England on the occasion of Elsie's visit to Dublin.

An American studying in Ireland has the opportunity for many adventures and cultural experiences. Although I never thought my experiences would enable me to search for a nameless face in an intriguing old photograph. But somehow it did and I’m certainly glad it did.As a student at Trinity College pursuing my Master’s in Public History and Cultural Heritage, I decided to take on my internship at the Dublin City Library and Archive (DCLA); I knew I wanted to work with people and photographs and I felt this was the place to do it.As I searched through the countless photographs at DCLA, I sought to discover a face with a story, even though that story was at the time unknown to me.Towards the end of my search of the photographic collection, I saw an attractive young face with a candid expression looking up at me. I was immediately drawn to the photo and knew it had the potential to serve me well with my endeavour.Without a name or much information to work with I, with the help of DCLA staff, researched the photo and mainly through social media, found the man I had been searching for - Mark Leddy, a Dubliner born and raised.As soon as I contacted Mark (who was very open towards my project), I learned that he was a man with a particular sarcastic Irish style who challenged me to develop complementary questions to suit his unique persona.Above: Mark Leddy by the 8th Lock next to Ballyfermot in the late 1980s. (click to view larger image)I had the privilege to interview Mark in order to gain insight during the time in which the photo was taken to today and how he and the city have changed.The photograph was taken when Mark was 13 or 14 years old, in the late 1980s by the 8th Lock on the Grand Canal next to Ballyfermot. Highly interested in the arts at a young age, he presumes he was writing a poem when the photo was taken.“At the time I wanted to be seen as an artist,” he explains. He also recalls he was listening to The Doors with the headphones around his neck as he “wanted to be Jim Morrison.”During this time Mark always had his head in the clouds. “When I grew up I wanted to live inside Back to the Future. That was my projected future; that’s what I wanted out of life, fantasy,” Mark recalls.As we chatted, it became clear that the arts played a major role in Mark’s upbringing and thus, in how he looks upon Ireland – both in the past and nowadays.During the interview, he even went on to recite verses from W.B. Yeats’ September 1913. Mark believes “The old romantic Ireland we thought existed is gone” and that “Ireland has become a souvenir to the rest of the world.”He recognises that the city has changed a great deal, like every place it has its challenges but reveals that “it’s a beautiful place with some beautiful people.”Growing up Mark believed the world loved the Irish and that “wherever we go we’re welcomed.”Today when he’s with people from abroad, they typically say they love the Irish. Speaking about Dublin in particular, he insists “people have some romantic view of the city.” And if they have an Irish heritage, they are going to see it a bit more romantically than it actually is.Above: Mark Leddy by the 8th Lock next to Ballyfermot in 2015. (click to view larger image)Mark is pensive as he reflects upon Dublin, “It’s as many splendored as the streets.”“People come to the city, they walk up ten streets, they visit nine pubs and they have great fun. And then they somehow have a highly detailed view of the city. I don’t even have it and I’ve been living here all my life.”Yet, Dublin is home for Mark, it’s familiar; “The more you walk the same path the more you know the path.”It’s his hometown and he will live and probably die here. Although, the ideal home for Mark would be in a remote cabin, “maybe a little babbling brook to get the water from in the morning. Just get away from everyone. I’d love to be a mountain man,” he says.To get away from the bustling city, Mark enjoys spending time along the canal; he walks the same paths as where the photo was taken over thirty years ago.“Nowadays the place that gets the most out of me is the canal.” He walks his dog in the area every day for three to four hours. He also keeps himself busy by doing a variety of activities such as reading, listening to music, and watching movies. “I keep myself interested in things; I’m rarely bored.”Mark is also an avid photographer. About a year ago, a friend introduced him to long exposure photographs at night. He took one photo and was “amazed and then just hooked.”Then in the following months he wandered the city every night at two in the morning to capture the perfect image.Soon after, he discovered photographing people. “That’s tough but when it works they’re great photos. And my trick is not to pose them; I don’t like posed images. And you can pose them without posing, you can do that if you’re clever enough. For me the photograph is a crayon that does what you want,” he quips.With Dublin’s rich diversity of people and culture, it’s an excellent place to have the hobby of photography. There are “characters that will keep you entertained all day. What else are you going to do all day? There are some very funny (humorous) people in Dublin.”Dublin will continue to stand witness to Mark Leddy’s life, just as Mark Leddy will continue his observations and impressions of the city. The two will interact and influence each other just as they always have and ultimately, Mark Leddy’s path will continue to be the evolving face of a Dubliner.About our Guest Blogger, Emily CooksonEmily is a student at Trinity College Dublin pursuing her Master’s degree in Public History and Cultural Heritage. Emily worked on a project designed to bring both the past and present into focus, revitalizing photographs of the past and placing them into terms of modernity. Emily put out a call in February for information about a number of individuals  featured in photographs from the past, in order to learn more about their lives, their personal history and memory, and the circumstances of when the photographs were taken. This is one such story to emerge from that call.

Dublin City Council’s Public Library Service organised a preview of a rare eye-witness account of the outbreak of the 1916 Easter Rising at The Mansion House, Dawson Street today (Wednesday, 27th May 2015).The letter was written by Elsie McDermid, a popular opera singer of the era. 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.

We thought this scan from last Saturday when members of the public came along to the Mansion House to share their memories of said beautiful building particularly interesting. Might you agree?The photo (see below) shows the winner of the 1977 Men's World dancing championship, Jimmy Johnston from Dundalk, centre, together with the runner-up and third placed. . The event of course took place in the Round Room of the Mansion House.  Many thanks to Jimmy for permissions to use the photo.Note the runner-up, one Mike Flatley from Chicago. I wonder... ?Click the image below to view larger version.Share Your MemoriesCelebrating Bealtaine and 300 years as the official Mayoral residence, The Mansion House and Dublin City Public Libraries invite you to share your memory with us on Wednesday 27th May. You can share these memories and even to bring along old photographs you have of the Mansion House. You can also come along and soak up the atmosphere of this splendid residence of Dublin’s first citizen by going on a tour of the magnificent building.What is your favourite memory of the Mansion House? Have you been to a concert, a craft fair, a reception or a ball?You may have visited the live animal crib with your children, or witnessed a Freedom of the City conferral ceremony on the Forecourt.Whatever your memory, please join us to share your photos and stories as part of The Mansion House programme to celebrate 300 years as the official Mayoral residence and a cornerstone in Dublin city. The Library Learning Bus will be at the Mansion House Forecourt, Dawson Street, Dublin 2 from 10.30am to 4.30pm on Wednesday 27th May. A guided tour will take place at 11am (places are limited - advance booking essential).  The house will be open from 12pm to 4pm for walk-through viewings.For further information and to book a place on the tour, please contact the Mansion House. T.  222 6200. E. [email protected]

Transcript of Mary Louise O’Donnell's talk and recital titled "Ireland's Harp: shaping a nation's identity", recorded at the Central Library, Ilac Centre, Dublin 1, on Thursday 12 March at 1.00pm

Dublin, Monday, 10 May 1915. Following the tragic loss of RMS Lusitania, on Friday afternoon 7 May, off the south coast of Ireland near the Old Head of Kinsale, in which 1,198 passengers and crew were drowned, it is reported that Sir Hugh Lane, benefactor to this city, is among the casualties.

"Dublin as a global city: through time and space", the 18th Annual Sir John T. Gilbert Lecture, was given by Kevin Whelan at the Dublin City Library and Archive on 22 January 2015.

The following is a transcript of the eighteenth Sir John T. Gilbert Commemorative Lecture "Dublin as a global city: through time and space," given by Kevin Whelan, Director Keough-Naughton Institute, Notre Dame Centre in Dublin at Dublin City Library & Archive on 22 January 2015.

Mass unemployment and continuous emigration. On-going tragedy in Northern Ireland. Planning scandals. Hurricane Charlie, dreadful summers, pea-souper smogs. Urban decay and phone queues. Pirate radio stations, disco balls and leg-warmers. Eurovision highs and lows. Zig and Zag. The 1980s have a lot to answer for. Yet, for many people, these years were, to slightly misquote one of the hits of the decade, "the time of their lives." So this image gallery is also a celebration of the '80s, its highs as well as its lows.