Dublin City Libraries will be closed from Saturday 3 to Monday 5 May 2025 (inclusive). Our online services will continue as usual. We will reopen on Tuesday, 6 May.
What happened in Ireland after the 1916 Rising? How did the political, economic and social landscape change and what brought about independence in 1922? Listen back to a three-part lecture series delivered by Brian Hanley Dublin City Council’s Historians-in-Residence for Dublin City Library & Archive.
Listen back to Dr Brian Hanley discussing the IRA and Nazi Germany during the 1930s and 1940s. Brian details the growth of the IRA during this era, looks at key IRA figures, and cites examples of conflict with 1932 Fianna Fáil government, the Blue Shirts and the Gardaí.
Listen back to a series of three talks on the topic of Dublin and the Great War hosted by Near FM in Coolock Library this April. The talks looked at a range of subjects including women in war time, anti-war agitation, the influence of the Russian Revolution and the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, and includes songs from the era performed by An Góilín Singers.In the first talk, Near FM's Ciarán Murrary talks to Pádraig Yeates about the influence of the Russian Revolution and to John Dorney about anti-war agitation in Dublin, socialists, pacifists and republicans. Fergus Russell from An Góilín sings songs from the era. Recorded at Coolock Library on 5 April 2017.In the second talk, Fionnuala Walsh, Niamh Murray and Ciarán discuss the Irish Suffragette movement and the Great War and women at work during the Great War. Máire Ni Chróinín from An Góilín sings songs from the era. Recorded at Coolock Library on 12 April 2017.In the final talk, Ciarán is joined by Jennifer Wellington and Tom Burke to discuss how the Great War is remembered and the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Luke Cheevers, Fergus Russell and Frank Nugent from An Góilín singers perform songs from the era. Recorded at Coolock Library on 19 April 2017.Thanks to Near FM for their kind permission to feature these talks on our website. You can find lots more interesting documentaries at nearfm.ie.Presented by Ciaran Murray. Produced by Donie Tarrant at Near FM. Edited by David Cullen at Near FM.This project is supported by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.
Listen to award-winning Irish author Sara Baume as she reads from her second novel a line made by walking, and discusses how she came to write this, and her debut novel, spill, simmer, falter, wither. Recorded at the Central Library on 9 March 2017, as part of the Contemporary Irish Literature Series.'A line made by walking' charts a young artist's search for meaning and healing in rural Ireland.
Booker-nominated novelist Donal Ryan and Patrick Kavanagh Award-winning poet Martin Dyar visited the Central Library on 2 March 2017 for a special evening of collaborative and interactive explorations of their work.
(Podcast) 'Gentlemen’s Daughters in Dublin Cloisters: The social world of nuns in early 18th century Dublin', the 20th Annual Sir John T. Gilbert Lecture, was given by Dr Bernadette Cunningham, Royal Irish Academy at the Dublin City Library and Archive on Wednesday, 25 January 2017.
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.
O'Connell Street...the story of the street and its buildings
In this podcast, architects Klaus Unger and Stephen Kane present a history of Dublin City's main thoroughfare, O'Connell Street, formerly named Sackville Street. Hear about the unique design features of some of its famous landmark buildings and the stories behind them. Klaus and Stephen outline the origins of O'Connell Street area as it evolved from the tangle of medieval Dublin, before discussing the influence of the Wide Street Commission, Lord Gardiner, and renowned architects Edward Lovett Pearce, Richard Cassels, Gandon and Francis Johnston (Nelson's Pillar).
In the early years of the 20th century, the Great Southern and Western Railway was the largest railway system in Ireland and it was a significant employer in Dublin. In this talk, Mary Muldowney looks at aspects of the lives of Dubliners who worked for the GS&WR, from the turn of the century to its reinvention by the Dáil in 1925. Mary looks at working conditions, pay, pension and industrial action, focusing especially on the lives of those who were engaged at the lower levels of the pay scales, men and women who were completely dependent on the railways. At a time of political, economic and social upheaval jobs on railway were highly prized, as they were relatively stable and often came with accommodation.
