Dublin Diary #OnThisDay

1 August 1722 – A statue of King George I by John Nost was unveiled on the pier at the west side of Essex Bridge. The riding of the franchises was performed on the same day.

1 August 1792 – First cricket match played at Phoenix Park, Dublin.

1 August 1851 – The Great Western Railway linking Dublin and Galway was opened.

1 August 1871 – The annual meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society of Ireland opened in Dublin by the Prince of Wales.

1 August 1876 – Death of Alderman Lewis Wormser Harris, president of the Dublin Hebrew Congregation, at Royal Marine Terrace, Bray, Co. Wicklow, aged 64. He donated £500 in 1871 for the construction of Adelaide Road synagogue. Elected a Dublin alderman in 1874 for the South Dock Ward. He was a founder of the Stafford Street synagogue in 1853. He was a bill-broker and financier of 19 Suffolk Street, Dublin. His three sons also served as officers of the Dublin Hebrew Congregation. His son Herbert Wormser Harris, science scholar, died on 1 May 1880 and is buried close by to his father who was interred at Ballybough cemetery, Fairview Strand, Dublin. He died the day before he was due to become Lord Mayor of Dublin.

1 August 1968 – A bronze bust of W.B. Yeats by Arthur Power is unveiled at Sandymount Green, near the poet’s birthplace.

2 August 1649 – Battle of Rathmines.

2 August 1769 – Foundation stone laid for Royal Exchange, Dublin, architect Thomas Cooley.

2 to 17 August 1924 – Tailteann Games held at Croke Park, Dublin.

4 August 1799 – Death of James Caulfield, first Earl of Charlemont and leader of the Irish Volunteers. He was born on 18 August 1728. He was invested as a Knight of the Order of St Patrick on 11 March 1783.

4 August 1834 – The Netterville Hospital and Dispensary, Blackhall Street, was opened for the sick poor of St Paul’s parish. Its patron was the late Lord Netterville.

4 August 1805 Birth at  38 Dominick Street, Dublin, of William Rowan Hamilton, mathematician and scientist, discoverer of quaternions.

5 August 1823 – The Royal Hibernian Academy of Painters, Sculptors, Architects and Engraves was founded and granted charter. The Academy consisted of 14 members and 10 associates. The first president was William Ashford. The treasurer was architect Francis Johnston.

5 August 1847 – Funeral of Daniel O’Connell in Dublin.

5 to 7 August 1907 – The South Africa cricket eleven beat Ireland by 151 runs at College Park, Dublin.

5 August 1933 – Captain Oscar Heron and Private R. Tobin crashed and died at an air display in the Phoenix Park, Dublin.

6 August 1791 – Death of Mervyn Archdall, M.R.I.A., antiquary. Archdall was born on 23 April 1723. Educated at T.C.D., he published Monasticon Hibernicum (1786), after forty years’ labour. He edited Sir John Lodge’s Peerage of Ireland (seven vols., 1789). He died at Slane, Co. Meath.

6 August 1880 – Carlisle Bridge was re-named and re-opened as O’Connell Bridge by Dublin Corporation.

6 August 1900 – Dublin Boundaries Act extends Dublin city area by 4,125 acres and population by 26,000. Districts of Clontarf, Drumcondra, Glasnevin, new Kilmainham and portions of County Dublin are now included within the City boundary.

6 August 1905 – Over three inches of rain fell in Dublin.

6 August 1919 – Election of Charles Frederick D’Arcy as Bishop of Church of Ireland Diocese of Dublin.

7 August 1907 – Death of Dublin-born figure painter James Brenan, RHA. He was born in 1837 and educated at Strong’s School, Peter Street. He was headmaster of the Cork School of Art from 1860 to 1889. He exhibited at the RHA Exhibitions from 1862, and elected a Member in 1878. He was presented with an illuminated address by his friends on 20 September 1904. He died at his residence 140 Leinster Road, Rathmines.

7 August 1943 – Death of Dun Laoghaire-born artist Sarah Purser. In 1924 she founded the Friends of the National Collections and some years later was instrumental in securing Charlemont House, Parnell Square as the Municipal Art Gallery of Modern Art.

7 August 1951 – The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Paris Muncipal Council, M. Pierre de Gaulle and Madame de Gaulle, paid an official visit to Dublin. They were met at Dublin Airport by Lord Mayor Andrew Clarkin, before being entertained at a civic luncheon in the Mansion House. The French party later visited the Horse Show at the R.D.S. M. de Gaulle is a brother of French leader General Charles de Gaulle.

8 August 1746 – Charter for erecting and endowing St Patrick’s Hospital for Lunatics and Idiots, Dublin (for the insane, endowed by Swift, opened 1757). The Hospital was founded in 1745 pursuant to the will of Dean Jonathan Swift.

8 August 1781 – The foundation stone of the Dublin’s new Custom House (architect, James Gandon) was laid by John Beresford.

8 August 1801 – Death of Dublin-born (c.1741) Michael Stapleton, master-builder and stuccodore. He built Belvedere House in Great Denmark Street, Dublin, the examination hall and chapel at Trinity College Dublin, and Powerscourt House, South William Street. He died at his home, Mountjoy Place and was buried at Malahide.

8 August 1846 – Church of Ireland Diocese of Kildare united to Diocese of Dublin.

8 August 1864 – The laying of the foundation stone of the O’Connell monument by sculptor John Henry Foley (1818-74), on Dublin’s Sackville Street, was attended by an estimated crowd of 500,000. The Lord Mayor in his coach, the Corporation aldermen and the trades of Dublin, with their large and elaborate banners, paraded from St Stephen’s Green to the foot of the monument, taking three hours to pass. The monument was finally unveiled on 15 August 1882.

8 August 1935 – The annual Liffey swim from Kingsbridge to Butt Bridge was won by A. Crosbie of Sunday’s Well S.C. in a time of 27 minutes and 4 seconds. 31 competitors took part.

8 August 1953 – Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, opened – specialising in oriental material.

8 August 1964 – First rescue by Helicopter Rescue Service (operated by Irish Air Corps) when a man and boy are rescued from a drifting boat in Dublin Bay.

8 August 1973 – The eight-day Tour of Ireland cycle race started at the G.P.O., Dublin with 82 competitors.

9 August 1747 – Rev. John Wesley preached for the first time in Ireland, at St Mary’s Church, Mary Street, Dublin.

9 August 1813 – Richmond Bridge (opened on 17 March 1816) foundation stone laid by Charlotte, Duchess of Richmond.

9 August 1833 – A dreadful fire broke out at the Custom House stores, by which much property was consumed.

9 August 1886 – Death of Sir Samuel Ferguson (76), poet and antiquarian, at his home Strand Lodge, Howth. He was buried at Donegore cemetery, Co. Antrim.

9 August 1920 – During a meeting of Dublin Corporation, it was moved that the Paving Committee be instructed to change the following street names as soon as possible: Townsend Street to James Connolly Street; Great Clarence Street to Macken Street; Clarence Place to Macken Place; Brunswick Place to Pearse Place; Queen’s Square to Pearse Square; Queen’s Terrace to Pearse Terrace.

9 August 1922 – Clery’s department store, O’Connell Street (the original had been destroyed during the Easter Rising of 1916) was re-opened.

10 August 1846 – The Dublin to Carlow railway opened.

10 August 1920 – The Capitol theatre on Prince’s Street North opened. Although known as La Scala Opera House few operas actually were performed here. It was closed in March 1972 and demolished in 1974. The La Scala became the Capitol on 1 August 1927.

10 August 1967 – Death of distinguished musician Dr John F. Larchet, aged 83. He was born in Sandymount, Dublin. In 1921 he was appointed to the Chair of Music, U.C.D. Two years later he became music advisor to the Free State Army. He was also director of music at the Abbey Theatre for 29 years.

11 August 1907 – James Larkin formed branch of the National Union of Dock Labourers in Dublin.

11 August 1924 – Solicitor William S. Hayes filed a petition for the winding up of the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company. The winding up process was completed in September 1931 and the company closed after 108 years’ trading. The company was set up in 1823 and incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1833.

11 August 1985 – Death of Hector Grey, 81. He was born Alexander Thompson Scott, in Bowling, Dumbarton, Scotland. He sold toys and novelties in Dublin’s 57 Middle Abbey Street for nearly 50 years.

12 August 1821 – King George IV landed at Howth Pier, from the Lightning Steam Packet. He proceeded to Phoenix Park.

12 August 1873 – By order of the chief commissioner of the Dublin Metropolitan Police Col. Henry Atwell Lake, the band of the DMP was established.

12 August 1968 – Death of Dublin-born figure composition and religious subject painter Rev. Jack Hanlon. John Hanlon was born on 6 May 1913, the son of James Hanlon, proprietor of J. and R. Hanlon, butchers. He was ordained at Maynooth in 1939. He took painting lessons from Mainie Jellett. At the time of his death he was a curate at Churchtown, Co. Dublin.

12 August 1988 – The National Museum’s ‘Dublin 1000’ Exhibition 1842-1981 opened. Finds, plans and reconstructions from Wood Quay, Kilmainham, Christ Church and High Street were put on display. Lord Mayor Ben Briscoe, T.D., spoke at the official opening.

13 August 1836 – ‘Act for making a railway from Dublin to Drogheda’ (6 & 7 Will. IV, c.cxxii).

13 August 1903 – Death of May, mother of James Joyce, of cancer, aged 44. She was interred at Glasnevin.

13 August 1989 – Death of Dublin-born illustrator and etcher Ruth Brandt. She was born on 22 June 1936, the daughter of Frank Brandt, a designed in the E.S.B. Her mother was Muriel Brandt, the portrait, mural and landscape painter. She studied at the National College of Art and exhibited at the RHA in 1958. She exhibited at Dublin galleries such as the Setanta, the Lincoln, and the Emmet. Her first solo show was in Dublin, 1982. She died at her residence, Sherard Avenue, Dublin following illness.

14 August 1849 – At exactly 9p.m., the first public exhibition of electric light Professor Gluckman grand entrance at the Rotunda, facing Sackville Street. A galvanic battery of 120 cells illuminated the surrounding area until 11p.m.

14 August 1878 – Death of William Joshua Henry, Town Clerk of Dublin City since 1864. He was secretary of the Liberal Registration Association.

14 August 1897 – Death of William Archer, naturalist and librarian, at his residence 52 Lower Mount Street, Dublin. In 1877 he became the first librarian of the National Library of Ireland. He resigned in 1895.

14 August 1932 – Death of Ernest Bewley, former Dublin City Councillor (1907 – 1914) at his residence, Danum, Zion Road, Rathgar. He was born in Bray, Co. Wicklow, and at the age of 16 started a coffee shop at 13 South Great George’s Street, Dublin. He bred jersey cattle, and pigs, at Clondalkin, and he also specialised in hackney horses. He was a member of the Royal Horticultural Show and he was survived by his widow, three sons and two daughters.

14 August 1935 – The motor engineering and warehouse premises of Booth Brothers, 63-67 Upper Stephen Street, Dublin, was completely destroyed by fire.

14 August 1942 – Death of Dublin-born (1875) Supreme Court judge and writer James Creed Meredith. He had joined the Irish Volunteers in 1913. He was a crew member of the yacht which landed arms at Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow on 1 August 1914. He published on a wide variety of subjects including philosophy and aesthetics. He died at his residence, 33 Terenure Road East and was buried at Temple Hill cemetery, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.

15 August 1649 – Cromwell lands at Ringsend, with c.12,000 troops. He was greeted by cannon, pealing of bells and flags.

15 August 1868 – Teachers’ conference in Dublin leads to foundation of Irish National Teachers’ Organisation.

15 August 1871 – The foundation stone for the new Industrial School at Artane was laid. Meade and Son were the contractors; the estimated cost of the School was c.£20,000.

15 August 1882 – The Daniel O’Connell monument, Lower Sackville Street, Dublin, was unveiled. Charles Stewart Parnell addressed the large crowd.

15 August 1882 – An Exhibition of Irish National Industries was opened at the Rotunda Gardens by Charles Dawson, M.P., Lord Mayor of Dublin.

15 August 1885 – Sackville Street renamed O’Connell Street – Dublin Corporation approved the change by vote on 8 December 1884. Local residents then obtained an injunction restraining Dublin Corporation from changing the name.

15 August 1897 – Death of Samuel H. Bolton, builder and member of Rathmines and Rathgar Town Commission for 25 years until his death. Bolton built the new Shelbourne Hotel, St Stephen’s Green, the Ulster Bank, College Green, and Findlater’s Church, Rutland Square, Dublin. He was chairman of the Rathmines and Rathgar Township waterworks committee and was largely responsible for the construction of the Glenasmole scheme. He was chairman of Killaloe Slate Company, the largest slate company in Ireland.

15 August 1983 – Civic reception for athlete Eamonn Coughlan at the Mansion House, Dawson Street, hosted by Lord Mayor Michael Keating.

15 August 1989 – The restored William Carleton (1794-1869) memorial was unveiled at Mount Jerome cemetery, Harold’s Cross, by the writer Benedict Kiely.

16 August 1882 – Dublin High Sheriff Edmund Dwyer Gray committed to Richmond Prison for three months for contempt of court.

16 August 1897 – Death of Dan Lowrey, impresario of Dublin’s Star Theatre, at Buxton, Derbyshire, where he had resided for the previous three months for the sake of his health. He had arrived in Dublin in 1879, when his father bought the Star Theatre. He was three times married. His remains were interred at Glasnevin.

16 August 1892 – National Literary Society founded in Dublin by W.B. Yeats and Douglas Hyde.

16 August 1935 – The printing works of Browne and Nolan, Fenian Street, Dublin was completely destroyed by fire – some £180,000 damage.

16 August 2002 – Death of Dublin local historian Éamonn Mac Thomáis. He was born above Rathmines Fire Station on 13 January 1927.

17 August 1734 – Ten-bed hospital opened by Mary Mercer, a doctor’s daughter, in Dublin. The hospital started as an alms house.

17 August 1821 – King George IV entered Dublin (see painting in National Gallery of Ireland by William Turner de Lond entitled The Public Entry of George IV into Dublin. His departure from Dunleary harbour and completion of east pier commemorated by renaming Dunleary as Kingstown.

17 August 1821 – Robert Shaw, M.P. for New Ross and Dublin 1804-26, Lord Mayor of Dublin 1815-16, was conferred with a Baronetcy during King George IV’s visit to Dublin.

17 August 1963 – Death of Dublin-born historical and portrait painter Kathleen Fox. She was born on 12 September 1880. She studied under William Orpen. She later had a studio in London, and in Paris. Her The Entombment is in the Church of the Assumption, Milltown, Dublin. She lived at Brookfield, Milltown where she died.

18 August 1932 – Lord Mayor Alfie Byrne bade farewell to James A. Mollison, who took off from Portmarnock Strand in his de Haviland Puss Moth, ‘The Heart’s Content’. Mollison landed over 30 hours later at Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick, Canada - thus completing the first solo east-west transAtlantic flight. Mollison was married to aviatrix Amy Johnson.

18 August 1935 – The five-storey premises of Sinn Fein at Parnell Square East and the corner of Gardiner’s Row was destroyed by fire. Several residential tenants had to be evacuated.

19 August 2005 – Sculptor Paul Daly’s statue of Dubliner Phil Lynott, musician and frontman of rock band Thin Lizzy, was unveiled on Harry Street, Dublin (off Grafton Street).

19 August 1825 – Arthur Perrin elected Alderman of Dublin City Assembly. He was Lord Mayor in 1835.

19 August 1907 – The Royal Dublin Fusiliers’ Memorial Arch at St Stephen’s Green, opened by the Duke of Connaught, is a memorial to the officers and men of the five battalions of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers who fell in the Boer War.

19 August 1911 – Herbert Park, Ballsbridge was officially opened. It was named after the Right Hon. Sydney Herbert (1810-1861), the former owner of the Fitzwilliam estate and father of the Earl of Pembroke.

19 August 1922 – Death of Spencer Harty, C.E., J.P., former Dublin City Surveyor. He had retired in 1910. He was chiefly responsible for the Main Drainage Scheme, by which the River Liffey was no longer the city’s main sewer.

19 August 1936 – Dublin football side Bohemians defeated Austria F.C. 5 – 4 at Dalymount Park before a crowd of 20,000.

19 August 1942 – Dublin Corporation elections. There were 111 candidates for the 35 seats. Some 122,044 voted out of 291,660 eligible. Alderman Alfie Byrne polled 12,580 votes – three and a half quotas.

19 August 1966 – Death of Dublin-born illustrator George Altendorf (born 1904). He was appointed assistant art editor of the Irish Press on its inception in 1931, and later became art editor. In 1938 he began contributing illustrations to the Capuchin Annual, and also produced cartoons for Our Boys.

19 August 2005 – Sculptor Paul Daly’s statue of Dubliner Phil Lynott, musician and frontman of rock band Thin Lizzy, was unveiled on Harry Street, Dublin (off Grafton Street).

20 August 1955 – Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Denis Larkin, T.D. officially opened the 13th St Agnes Horticultural Society’s annual show at St Agnes Hall, Crumlin.

21 August 1744 – Election of William Aldrich as Lord Mayor of Dublin City, vice David Tew, deceased.

21 August 1882 – Irish Labour and Industrial Union established in Dublin; organised by Parnell and Davitt.

21 August 1977 – Dublin’s ‘First Open Air Rock Festival’ was held at Dalymount Park. The headliners were Thin Lizzy, and the bill also featured The Boomtown Rats.

22 August 1821 – King George IV visited the Theatre Royal, Dublin.

23 August 1818 – Grand Archduke Michael of Russia visited Dublin.

23 August 1821 – King George IV visited the Bank of Ireland, and later the Yarn Hall, Derry Street, Dublin. A marble statue of the King by sculptor Thomas Kirk was then erected by the merchants in the corridor of the Hall. In the evening he dined with Dublin Corporation members and the Lord Mayor Abraham Bradley King.

23 August 1846 – Death of Rev. George Downes, Dublin-born poet and translator of Sophocles. He was born about 1790, and was a draper’s assistant until Shackleton of Ballitore, Co. Kildare, invited him to enter his school. He then graduated B.A., T.C.D. in 1814, and M.A. in 1823. He was elected M.R.I.A. and assisted Dr George Petrie on his Round Towers of Ireland. He died at Dalkey, Co. Dublin and was buried at Ballitore.

23 August 1858 – Charles Dickens reads a selection of his works at the Rotunda Rooms, Dublin.

23 August 1972 – Death of Dublin-born primitive painter Aloysius J. Cashen at 107 Hollybank Road, Drumcondra. He had previously resided at 59 Glandore Road. He was a master tailor with a flourishing business at 17 South Anne Street. In addition to painting as a hobby he also wrote poetry, broadcast and acted. Between 1957 and 1976 he exhibited nine works at the Oireachtas. His best known work is The Ship That Never Sails (1957).

23 August 1998 – Ireland drew, at Clontarf cricket oval, with Australia ‘A’ in the last of a drawn five-game series.

24 August 1821 – The Custom House dock first opened for shipping during the Royal visit, and called George’s Dock.

24 August 1929 – James Gate defeated Jacobs 8 – 0 in a League of Ireland game at Rutland Avenue, Dublin. It would be the home team’s biggest ever winning margin.

24 August 1984 – ROSC ’84 international art exhibition opened at the Guinness Hop Store. This was the fifth ROSC – the previous four took place in 1967, 1971, 1977 and 1980.

25 August 1986 – Major floods caused by Hurricane Charlie in Dublin city.

26 August 1879 – Butt Bridge opened. The swivel bridge cost £44,662, while the Port and Docks Board was compensated for loss of berthage by £3,000. The bridge was designed by Bindon Blood Stoney, C.E., and the contractor was W.J. Doherty. In 1891 the swivel bridge was rendered useless by the construction of the Liffey viaduct east of Butt Bridge.

26 August to 8 September 1882 – Discontent among Dublin Metropolitan Police: about 500 constables meet to demand grant similar to that given to R.I.C.; 225 dismissed after attending further meeting prohibited by commissioner; 700-800 special constables sworn in for temporary duty; 208 of the dismissed men reinstated on 8 September.

26 August 1913 – Beginning of strike in Dublin of 700 tramway-men belonging to Larkin’s Irish Transport & General Workers’ Union (developing into general lockout of members).

26 August 1935 – Dublin Fire Brigade attended fires at 62b South Circular Road, at Kane’s Court off Moore Street and at Talbot Street. In the space of a fortnight there had been seven fires in Dublin city.

27 August 1728 – In severe weather the cock of the Tholsel was blown down.

27 August 1874 – Death of Dublin-born sculptor and songwriter John Henry Foley at Hampstead. He was born in Montgomery Street on 24 May 1818 and baptised at St Thomas’ Church, Marlborough Street. His works include statues of Edmund Burke and Oliver Goldsmith outside the main gates of T.C.D., and a statue of Henry Grattan on College Green. At the time of his death, he was working on the O’Connell monument in Sackville Street (now O’Connell Street), Dublin. Foley’s remains were interred at St Thomas’ Churchyard. His brother Edward A. Foley was also a sculptor.

27 August 1892 – South City Markets off South Great Georges Street severely damaged by fire. The Markets were restored and re-opened, but without the four great pyramid towers, in September 1894.

27 August 1937 – Ireland’s first traffic lights - at the junction of Merrion Square and Clare Street, Dublin.

27 August 1973 – The Russian supertanker Grigory Ashkanov arrived in Dublin port.

28 August 1814 Birth at 45 Lower Dominick Street, Dublin, of Sheridan Le Fanu, writer of gothic and mystery stories.

28 August 1821 – Grand Installation of the Knights of St Patrick, after which the Knights, and many of the nobility, dined with King George IV at Dublin Castle.

28 August 1954 – The Irish Fern was launched for Irish Shipping Ltd. at Liffey Shipyard. The 1,375dwt. vessel was 218ft in length.

28 August 1982 – Frank Sherwin Memorial Bridge (from St John’s Road West to Wolfe Tone Quay) officially opened by Lord Mayor Dan Browne. The bridge was designed by Richard J. Fowler of Dublin Corporation Road Design Section and cost £1.5m. The contractor was Irishenco Ltd. The first car to cross the new bridge was that of Lord Mayor Dan Browne. Dublin City Councillor Frank Sherwin died in 1981.

29 August 1879 – Death of Dublin-born barrister, poet and editor Hercules Ellis. He was born c.1810, and graduated B.A., T.C.D. in 1828, and M.A. in 1832. He was interred in his family’s plot at Mount Jerome cemetery. He edited Romances and Ballads of Ireland (Dublin, 1850), and Songs of Ireland (Dublin, 1849).

29 August 1890 – Science and Art Museum and National Library of Ireland opened. The Lord Lieutenant, Earl Zetland, conferred the honour of a knighthood on the senior architect, Thomas Newenham Deane on the day of the official opening.

30 August 1775 – Death of George Faulkner (76), owner and printer of the Dublin Journal. He was an Alderman in 1770.

30 August 1831 – Opening concert of Dublin Musical Festival with Niccolo Paganini as chief attraction.

30 August 1943 – Dublin’s Capitol Theatre was officially re-opened by Lord Mayor Martin O’Sullivan, T.D.

31 August 1881 – The Channel fleet sailed from Dublin Bay.

31 August 1913 – Riots in O’Connell Street, Dublin. James Larkin, wearing a beard as a disguise, spoke to striking tramway workers from the balcony of the Imperial Hotel, O’Connell Street (later Clery’s Department Store). Over 600 people were treated in hospital for injuries.

© Dublin City Council.