Blogs

In April and May of 2017 Dolphin's Barn Library hosted a series of workshops where young historians learned how to combine research, storytelling, drawing and digital animation to tell a tale from Irish history.Expert facilitators included historian Conor Kostick and author and illustrator Alan Nolan. The result is this exciting video set in Dublin 1920.

What a memorable year it has been! It being the centenary of the 1916 Rising, Dublin City Council has been proud to support and enable the Ireland 2016 state programme of formal commemorative events that took place in Dublin during this past year. The "Dublin Remembers 1916-2016: Is Cuimhin Linn programme" programme presented a series of lectures, talks by expert historians, exhibitions and conferences in Dublin libraries, City Hall, Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane and other venues in the city throughout the year.Within Dublin City Council the Commemorations Committee, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Dublin City Public Libraries & Archive, the Dublin UNESCO City of Literature Office, Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane, the Arts Office, Richmond Barracks, Events, Planning, the Heritage Office, City Hall, Community and Social Development, Environment and Transport, Parks, Dublin Fire Brigade, all contributed to this extraordinary project. The programme received the highest accolade on the 24th November at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards when the City Council won the “Commemorations and Centenaries 2016” award (image on left).View the video shorts below of some of the highlight events of the year. From Dublin City Public Libraries on Vimeo.Below are just a few images of events throughout the year, click each to view larger versions. Be sure to visit the Decade of Commemorations page during 2017 to be kept informed of events to come.

"Dublin Remembers 1916" has been an extensive series of lectures, talks by expert historians, exhibitions and conferences in Dublin libraries, City Hall, Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane and other venues in the city throughout 2016.

Thousands took to the streets on a glorious Easter Monday in March to remember the 1916 Rising. Dublin City Council was in Smithfield Square with library staff and the Dublin Fire Brigade. We unveiled the Learning Bus with its retro-fit Edwardian parlour, author Lia Mills was on hand to promote “Fallen” the One City One Book choice for 2016 and we were serenaded by the Drum and Pipe band from the Dublin Fire Brigade. Re-enactors from both sides, 1916 Rising rebels and First World War troops, joined us to talk to people about their uniforms and kit.Watch the wonderful video below. And look out for one of the library staff acting the part of a newsboy!Reflecting the Rising, Smithfield, Easter Monday 2016 from Dublin City Public Libraries on Vimeo.This look back over some of the events commemorating the 1916 Rising is also a reminder that there are events still to come, most notably the Dublin Festival of History (23 September to the 8 October 2016) and the many 1916-related events included in its extensive programme. 

On Easter Monday, 28 March 2016 people from all over the country flocked to the streets of Dublin to commemorate the 1916 Rising. The atmosphere around the city was fantastic - and so was the weather! RTÉ's Reflecting the Rising filled the city's streets, squares, parks and buildings with history, drama, literature, music, talks, reenactments, arts, dance, play and crafts.Dublin City Public Libraries, Dublin Fire Brigade and Dublin UNESCO City of Literature staff were out in force at Smithfield Square, decked out in the costume of 1916. Did you spot our Cumann na mBan volunteer and nurse Elizabeth O'Farrell, who alongside Pearse delivered the surrender to General Lowe on Saturday 29 April 1916? Re-enactors from the Irish Great War Society and Irish Volunteers Society patrolled the area in costume and historians Dr Brian Hanley and Dr Anne-Marie McInerney were there to answer any questions about the 1916 Rising and Dublin 100 years ago. Sinead Murphy and Darina Gallagher kept the crowds entertained with a performance of witty and irreverent parlour songs, music hall, folk songs, street ballads and sea shanties. Lia Mills, author of Fallen, the "Dublin: One City One Book" choice for this year, was there to talk about writing the book which is set in Dublin in 1915-16.  Visitors could examine a replica vintage ambulance, and were welcomed abroad the popular ‘Dublin Remembers’ Learning Bus which was decked out as an Edwardian parlour complete with portraits of the Pearse family, Winifred Carney (Connolly’s secretary who fought in GPO) and Christine Caffrey. Readers of all ages could also browse and borrow books from our large mobile library.There are still some Dublin Remembers 1916 events left and if you are curious to learn more about this interesting time you can follow our Citizens in Conflict blog series or check out new publications on the subject.Take a look at some photos from Reflecting the Rising:View the photos on flickr.Here's a short video showing buildings around the city dressed for the commemorations:

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Críona Ní Dhálaigh, launched the book 'Richmond Barracks 1916: We were there, 77 women of the Easter Rising' to a packed audience at the Chapel, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin 8, on International Women's Day, Tuesday, 8 March 2016.   This new publication gives voice to the 77 women who were arrested and held at Richmond Barracks following the Easter Rising. A leather bound edition of the book was presented to President Higgins and Lord Mayor Críona Ní Dhálaigh. The audience was entertained by an instrumental performance by Cora Venus Lunny and and Kate Ellis, poetry recitals by Jo Kennedy and Jane Clarke and Damien Dempsey singing Aunt Jennie.The 77 Women Commemoration Quilt was also unveiled at the event. This unique quilt commemorates the 77 women arrested after the Easter Rising and forms a link to the present through the 77 contemporary women who crafted each special panel.View the photo slideshow of the event below. View the photos on flickr.Lord Mayor Críona Ní Dhálaigh said:This excellent book, We were There, 77 Women  of the Easter Rising, shines a light on the women of the rising and in many ways unfreezes them, it shows their legacy of activism, in labour, nationalist and feminist politics. The legacy that many of us, women from all our different backgrounds have taken up.

To mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising, Dublin City Council has announced an exciting programme of commemorative events. You are encouraged to remember and reflect on the events of Easter Week 1916, which shook the capital’s streets 100 years ago.  An tArdmhéara Críona Ní Dhálaigh launched the Dublin Remembers 1916  programme on Wednesday, 13 January at Dublin City Library and Archive, Pearse Street, at a preview of the specially commissioned exhibition Citizens in Conflict, Dublin 1916.The programme is packed full of lectures, talks by expert historians, exhibitions and conferences in Dublin libraries, City Hall, Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane and other venues in the city. This rich programme of events provides something for everyone. View the Dublin Remembers 1916 Programme of Events.You can view below the photo slideshow from the launch in Dublin City Library and Archive.View the photos on flickr.