Dublin Diary #OnThisDay

What stories made the news in Dublin over the years during this month?

1 September 1831 – Dublin Zoo opened to the public.

1 September 1927 – Gerald J. Sherlock appointed Town Clerk of Dublin, until 1936.

1 September 1943 – Some 35,000 pupils in 80 Dublin primary schools sampled for the first time cheese sandwiches supplied by the bakery firm of Thomas Lawlor of Naas, and of Temple Bar, Dublin, under Dublin Corporation’s new schools meal programme.

2 September 1865 – Death of poet and mathematician Sir William Rowan Hamilton. He was born in Dublin on 9 August 1805. He graduated B.A., T.C.D. in 1827, M.A. in 1837, and LL.D. in 1839. He was Astronomer Royal for Ireland for many years, and wrote verse for the National Magazine (Dublin), 1830-31, over his initials. He was a close friend of Wordsworth, and was knighted in 1835.

2 September 1899 – Discovery of murdered remains of Dublin-born poet Thomas Childs, at his residence near Glasnevin Cemetery. He lived alone and his brother Samuel was charged with the crime though acquitted. Although he had only published one volume of poetry, Poems by an Obscure Author, he had left five others which he had instructed in his will were to be published. The murderer was never discovered.

2 September 1913 – Numbers 66 and 67 Church Street, Dublin, collapsed killing seven people, followed by public outcry against deteriorating housing, which led to the establishment (by the Local Government Board of Ireland) of a Committee to Inquire into the Housing Conditions of the Working Classes in the City of Dublin. The Committee heard evidence from 76 people over 17 days (see 7 February 1914).

2 September 1956 – The 11.10p.m. train from Howth to Amiens Street stopped at Clontarf railway station, which was closed the following day.

2 September 1982 – Death of Dublin-born teacher and humourist Paddy Crosbie, presenter of The School Around the Corner.

3 September 1821 – King George IV embarked from Dunleary, but had to wait for four days until the weather abated.

3 September 1882 – The Foresters’ Hall, Bolton Street, Dublin, was packed by DMP men for a protest meeting. The following day Commissioner Captain George Talbot dismissed 200 constables. Disorderly crowds roaming Sackville Street and College Green were contained by the Army.

3 September 1923 – Resolution of Dublin City Council grants Honorary Freedom of the City of Dublin to Irish tenor singer John McCormack.

3 September 1963 – Foundation stone for the new Abbey Theatre laid by President de Valera (see also 18 July 1951).

3 September 1979 – Frank Feely appointed Dublin City Manager.

4 September 1876 – Dublin Corporation resolution confirms Honorary Freedom on Isaac Butt, Q.C. He was the first person to receive Honorary Freedom of Dublin City.

4 September 1949 – Death of Sir Thomas F. Molony, aged 84, the last Chief Justice of Ireland. The office had been created in 1209. Molony was the son of James Molony, Harcourt Street, Dublin. He was called to the Irish Bar in 1887 and appointed Attorney general of Ireland in 1913. He was appointed Vice- Chancellor of Dublin University in 1931. He was survived by his widow the former Pauline Rispin of Eccles Street.

4 September 1973 – Death in Dublin of Florence Joyce, the last of James Joyce’s siblings.

4 September 1975 – Death of Dublin-born landscape and townscape painter Dorothy Blackham.

5 September 1860 – French College (later Blackrock College) opened.

5 September 1949 – Death of Thomas Byrne, Seafort Terrace, Sandycove, Co. Dublin. He had been a Member of Dublin Corporation since 1935. He served on various Committees including the School Meals Committee and the Town Planning Committee but was mainly associated with a number of Dublin hospitals including Cheeverstown and Sir Patrick Dun’s. He was a member and at one time vice-chairman of the Irish District of the Institute of Journalists and he contributed columns to several Irish newspapers – his main topics were women’s hockey and bowling. He was survived by his widow and family, and his remains were interred at Dean’s Grange.

5 September 2005 – Resolution of Dublin City Council confers Honorary Freedom of the City of Dublin on Ronnie Delaney and Bob Geldof – the conferring ceremony was held on 5 March 2006.

6 September 1831 – Act authorising construction of Dublin-Kingstown railway (1 & 2 Will. IV, c. lxix).

6 September 1937 – Billy ‘Wakey! Wakey!’ Cotton and His Band began a six-nights’ engagement at the Gaiety Theatre.

6 September 1981 – Death of Dublin-born author of My Left Foot Christy Brown. He was born in Crumlin, the son of a bricklayer. He was interred in St. Paul’s section of Glasnevin cemetery.

7 September 1835 – Death of Dublin-born Dead Sea explorer Christopher Costigin. He was the third son of Sylvester and Catherine Costigin and was born in 1810. In the summer of 1835 he carried out a survey of the Dead Sea. He died at Jerusalem and was buried at Mount Zion.

7 September 1901 – Dalymount Park was officially opened. Lord Mayor Harrington kicked off the friendly game between Bohemians and Shelbourne, which the former won by 4 goals to 2.

7 September 1921 – The Legion of Mary founded at 100 Francis Street, Dublin, by Frank Duff, Fr Michael Toher and Mrs Elizabeth Kirwan (see also 7 November 1980). In 1928 the Legion of Mary opened a hostel for destitute men in Brunswick Street, named the Morning Star.

7 September 1935 – The Local Government (Dublin) Tribunal opened at the Custom House, Dublin.

8 September 1890 – Death of Alderman Cornelius Denehy, aged 81 at his residence, 41 Mountjoy Square, Dublin. He was interred at Glasnevin Cemetery.

8 September 1951 – The curtain fell on the last night of the Queens’ Theatre company, Pearse Street, Dublin.

9 to 14 September 1935 – The Irish Wireless and Gramophone Expedition opened at the Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin.

9 September 1954 – The fourth Irish Ideal Homes Exhibition opened in Dublin’s Mansion House.

9 September 1991 – Dublin City Council unanimously adopted the Dublin Civic Charter.

10 September 1763 – First number of Freeman’s Journal.

10 September 1920 – Election of John Allen Fitzgerald Gregg as Bishop of the Church of Ireland Diocese of Dublin.

10 and 11 September 1953 – American comedian Bob Hope on stage at the Theatre Royal, Dublin. On 24 and 25 September the singer Frankie Laine sang in concert at the Theatre Royal, and on 20 September jazz musician Stan Kenton was on stage there.

10 September 1969 – Election of Alan Alexander Buchanan as Bishop of the Church of Ireland Diocese of Dublin.

10 September 1980 – Dublin City Council approved planning permission for a crematorium at Glasnevin Cemetery

11 September 1855 – Ireland played its first-ever international game of cricket, at the Phoenix Park, beating England by 107 runs.

11 September 1861 – Lord Mayor Richard Atkinson hosted a grand ball at the Mansion House, Dawson Street, in Honour of His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales.

11 September 1937 – Ireland lost a cricket international by eight wickets against New Zealand, at Rathmines.

11 September 1976 – Death of Dublin-born landscape, flower and marine painter Eileen Costelloe. She was born on 2 March 1911, the daughter of silversmith John Costelloe, and educated at Presentation Convent, George’s Hill, Dublin. She first exhibited in 1949 and her first solo show was in 1959. In 1961 she exhibited for the first time at the RHA. She was especially attracted to the Connemara and Wicklow coastline.

12 September 1812 – Richmond Basin, Portobello, opened for supplying Dublin’s south side with water.

12 September 1824 – The inaugural meeting of the Dublin Mechanics’ Institute was held at Tailors’ Hall at which some 600 signatures were taken as subscribers. The aim was to promote the scientific education of artisans. A management committee of 27 was elected and the premises of the former Dublin Institution, at 15 Upper Sackville Street, which had a laboratory and a lecture room, was leased.

12 September 1919 – Detective Constable Daniel Hoey, DMP 11007, was shot dead at Townsend Street, Dublin, while on his way to the Central Police Station at Great Brunswick Street (now Pearse Street). He was born at Rhode, Co. Offaly in 1887 and had over 9 years’ DMP service.

12 September 1945 – The foundation stone of the Thomas Davis statue, College Green, Dublin, was laid by President Sean T. O’Kelly. It was to be another twenty years though before the statue and ensemble by sculptor Edward Delaney was erected.

13 September 1954 – The Minister for Health, T.F. O’Higgins, T.D., opened the new 80-bed maternity unit at St Kevin’s Hospital, Dublin.

13 September 1965 – The Irish Times re-appeared on Dublin’s streets after a ten-week industrial dispute.

13-18 September 1880 – Trades Union Congress meets in Dublin, for the first time in Ireland.

13 September 1907 – Tara Street Fire Station opened.

14 September 1852 – Death of Dubliner Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, victor of Waterloo, commemorated by the Wellington Monument in the Phoenix Park.

14 September 1936 – Inaugural Caledonian Airways flight from Baldonnell aerodrome to London. Lord Mayor Alfie Byrne, T.D. was a guest passenger.

15 September 1798 – The foundation stone of Sir Patrick Dun’s Hospital, Artichoke Road, was laid by Rev. Dr Kearney, Provost of Trinity College Dublin.

15 September 1969 – International Society for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled held its World Congress in Dublin.

16 September 1845 – Death of Co. Cork-born poet Thomas Davis (30) of scarlet fever at his mother’s house at 67 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin. He was interred at Mount Jerome cemetery, Harold’s Cross.

16 September 1945 – Death of John McCormack, tenor, honorary freeman of Dublin city, at his residence, Glena, Booterstown, Co. Dublin. His remains were interred at Deansgrange cemetery.

17 September 1762 – Death of Italian violinist and composer Francesco Geminiani. He was born in Lucca and studied under Corelli and Scarlatti. He lived at Spring Gardens, where a concert hall was attached to his home, and his remains were interred at St Andrew’s Church, Suffolk Street, Dublin.

17 September 1921 – The Football Association of Ireland was formed at Mary Street, Dublin. The League of Ireland had been formed in June 1921.

17 to 25 September 1927 – Opening ceremony of Dublin Civic Week held at City Hall. There was a military tattoo, fireworks, massed bands at Lansdowne Road. There was a John McCormack concert at the Theatre Royal on 18 September – the proceeds to go in aid of civic educational purposes. There was a pageant of Dublin history at T.C.D. Park, and other events.

17 September 1951 – Fire destroyed large sections of the Irish Times printing plant, machinery and workshops at Westmoreland Street, Dublin.

18 September 1820 – The Dublin Library opened in D’Olier Street; it cost over £5,500 and was built after a design by architect George Papworth. The Library was originally in Eustace Street, from whence it was removed to 2, Burgh Quay.

18 September 1890 – Death of Dublin-born dramatist Dion Boucicault. He was born at Gardiner Street, Dublin.

18 September 1993 – The £500,000-plus Stardust Memorial Park, Artane, was officially opened by Lord Mayor Tomas MacGiolla. The Park was designed by G. Barry, parks superintendent, Dublin Corporation (see also 14 February 1981).

18 September 1964 – Death of Dublin-born dramatist Sean O’Casey (84) at Torquay.

18 September 1987 – Death of Dublin-born landscape, still life and portrait painter Roger Shackleton. He was born on 14 December 1931and entered the National College of Art in 1949. He was at one time a librarian in King’s Inns Library. He died at St James’ Hospital, Dublin.

19 September 1836 – Mount Jerome cemetery was consecrated.

19 September 1839 – Robert Dickinson, with George Archer, in the room of John Long, deceased, appointed Town Clerk of Dublin, until 1842.

19 September 1905 – Death of Dublin-born Thomas Barnado (60), founder of Barnados.

19 September 1913 – Dublin City Council voted, on Councillor William Ireland’s motion, by 32 votes to 25, to reject plans to build a municipal gallery over the River Liffey to house Sir Hugh Lane’s pictures.

20 September 1803 – Death of nationalist Robert Emmet. Sentenced to death for treason for his role in a rebellion on 23 July he was hanged close by to St Catherine’s Church in Thomas Street.

20 September to 2 October 1937 – Old Dublin Society exhibition at the Municipal Gallery of Modern Art, Parnell Square.

20 September 1971 – Demolition began on Oliver St John Gogarty’s house in Ely Place, Dublin.

22 September 1862 – A subscription to a national monument dedicated to Daniel O’Connell was inaugurated under Dr John Gray, proprietor of the Freeman’s Journal, a Dublin city councillor who had been tried with O’Connell and sentenced for conspiracy in 1843. By the end of 1863, £5,463 had been subscribed from all over Ireland. Sculptor John Henry Foley (1818-74) was commissioned (see also 8 August 1864 and 15 August 1882).

22 September 1941 – Death of Dublin-born stained glass artist Michael Healy. He was born on 14 November 1873 at 40 Bishop Street, Dublin. He studied at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art, and in 1898 joined the Royal Hibernian Academy Schools. Over the next several years he lived at 61 Bride Street, 41 Heytesbury Street, and 21 Pleasants Street. There are many of his works throughout Ireland, Newfoundland, New Zealand, and USA. He died in Mercer’s Hospital and was interred at Mount Jerome cemetery.

22 September 1953 – The Pike Theatre Club, 18a Herbert Lane off Baggot Street opened by Alan Simpson and Carolyn Swift. The Pike Theatre seated 66. It was raided by police on 23 May 1957 on the grounds that The Rose Tattoo was obscene.

22 September 1957 – Death of Oliver St John Gogarty (79), surgeon, Senator and author; original of Buck Mulligan in James Joyce’s Ulysses.

22 to 24 September 1959 – Irish Congress of Trades Unions holds inaugural conference in Dublin.

22 September 1963 – Death of Church of Ireland Diocese of Dublin Bishop Arthur William Barton.

22 September 1980 – Two fires badly damaged Stratford College, Rathgar.

23 September 1892 – Dublin Corporation electricity station in Fleet Street, the city’s first electricity station, goes into operation under Dublin Electric Lighting Order (1892).

23 September 1935 – The third Theatre Royal, Hawkins Street, Dublin, costing £250,000, was opened by Minister for Industry and Commerce Sean Lemass, T.D.

23 September 1956 – Death of Dublin-born William Earley, stained glass artist. He was born on 11 September 1872, the son of stained glass artist John Earley. He attended the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art and first exhibited at the RHA in 1903. He resided for most of life at 56 South Richmond Street. Among his major commissions were a window at St Patrick’s Church, Ringsend, and a rose window at St Mary’s Church, Haddington Road. His last window, in 1949, was in the convent chapel of the Mater Misericordiae Hospital.

24 September 1672 – New Rules, by Arthur, Earl of Essex, for the governance of Dublin city. Under the New Rules, the council was to continue to consist of the Lord Mayor, 24 Aldermen, two sheriffs, 48 sheriffs’ peers, and 96 persons styled the commons, to be chosen from the guilds.

24 September 1827 – Catherine McAuley opened house in Lower Baggot Street, Dublin, as school and asylum for poor, which was dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy on 24 September 1828 (See also 10 November 1841).

24 September 1865 – Death of Dublin-born poet and humourist Patrick Vincent Fitzpatrick, aged 73. He was born at 2 Upper Ormond Quay on 19 July 1792, where his father carried on a business as a printer and engraver. In 1810 his poem ‘The Battle of Aughrim’ was published in Watty Cox’s Irish Magazine. He made the acquaintance of Daniel O’Connell and in 1829 he became the organiser, agent and sole manager of the O’Connell Tribute. He was interred beside O’Connell at Glasnevin cemetery.

24 September 1871 – Death of Sir James Dombrain, Inspector General of the Coastguard in Ireland, at his residence, Woodstock, off Sandford Road, Ranelagh. He was buried in the family vault at Mount Jerome Cemetery.

24 September 1906 – The Dublin Main Drainage Scheme was inaugurated by Alderman W.F. Cotton, J.P., chairman of the Dublin Corporation improvements committee.

24 September 1972 – The Dublin Port Workers’ statue at the end of the Bull Wall, Dollymount, is blessed by the Archbishop of Dublin.

25 September 1917 - Death of Thomas Ashe (1885-1917) at the Mater Hospital Dublin. He had been force fed in Mountjoy Prison having been on hunger strike since August 1917. He was a prominent republican and had led the Irish Volunteers at the battle of Ashbourne during the Easter Rising 1916.

25 September 1916 – First production of George B. Shaw’s John Bull’s Other Island at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin.

26 September 1957 – Shamrock Rovers became the first League of Ireland team to play in the European Cup - they lost 6-0 to Manchester United.

26 September 1976 – For the first time since 1934 Dublin defeat Kerry in the G.A.A. All-Ireland Senior Football final, at Croke Park.

27 September 1941 – Dublin’s pawnbrokers go on strike, lasting over ten months.

28 September 1987 – Resolution of Dublin City Council grants Honorary Freedom of the City of Dublin to Dundrum-born Tour de France winner Stephen Roche.

29 September 1979 – Pope John Paul II visited the Liberties of Dublin.

30 September 1910 – Resolution of Dublin City Council granted Honorary Freedom of the City of Dublin to Charles A. Cameron. He was the first employee of the City to be honoured in this way. The Freeman certificate, presented on 24 February 1911, was presented to Cameron with a massive casket of bronze and Irish marble. The Municipal officers gave him a diamond pin.

30 September 1852 – Birth at 2 Herbert Street, Dublin, of composer, conductor, and teacher Charles Villiers Stanford.

30 September 1950 – John Belton took office as Lord Mayor of Dublin.

30 September 1960 – Lord Mayor Maurice Dockrell, T.D., officially opened the new shopping precinct Grafton Arcade at Grafton Street.

© Dublin City Council.