En route to Stoneybatter, this writer was surprised to see tram tracks embedded in granite cobblestones. A short section of rail started at the entrance to what looked like an industrial estate, and disappeared into the modern-day tarmac road. Some research ensued, and a query using some historical mapping showed the existence historically of a... Continue Reading →
Christmas Traditions, their meaning and origins can be lost nowadays in the murk of shopping, eating, drinking and the annual revival of 1970s glam rock that refuses to die. So let's delve into the past for a quick recap of the history of some traditions, and a reveal of some very odd Christmas cards of... Continue Reading →
In April 1859, Charles Dickens founded and edited a weekly periodical called “All the Year Round”. It contained long-form general interest articles both by Dickens himself and other popular Victorian writers. The edition dated 6th April 1867 contains an eyewitness account of the Fenian insurrection in Dublin with specific mention of the skirmish at Tallaght.... Continue Reading →
Following the launch of an updated Irish Newspaper Archive (available in all of our South Dublin Libraries), we were testing its functionality, randomly entering “Plunket Street” into the search field. For some background, Plunket Street once corresponded to John Dillon Street which runs almost parallel to Patrick Street. In the early 1800s Plunket Street comprised... Continue Reading →
While researching a “Big House”, Woodville, that formerly stood between Hermitage in Lucan and St. Edmundsbury, a newspaper article appeared that begged for further investigation. Woodville House The article's introduction was vague – “Their excellencies the Lord Lieutenant and the Countess Spencer held their first Drawingroom for the season yesterday evening”. Prior to 1922, the... Continue Reading →
In May 2006, it came to public notice that a previously unknown commemorative plaque existed on O'Connell Bridge. Made of bronze, the plaque commemorated a cleric by the name of Father Pat Noise, and his untimely end when his carriage entered the Liffey "in suspicious circumstances" on the 10th of August 1919. Image: Heather R... Continue Reading →
Given the time of year, we thought we'd have a look at some Christmas-themed items in our archive, Source. Here is a Christmas card sent by Capuchin Friar Fr. Ignatius Collins M.C. OFM Cap. Reproduced courtesy of the Capuchin Archives. Fr. Ignatius was an army chaplain during the First World War. He was sent to... Continue Reading →
Today is Remembrance Day. Its significance derives from the declaration of the armistice that ended the First World War on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. With the application of some numeralogy, we can see an uncanny coincidence with the events that started the war. On June the... Continue Reading →
Killakee House was a grand Georgian mansion located near Rathfarnham in County Dublin, Ireland. It was built around 1806 by Luke White, a wealthy Irish politician and bookseller, and served as the centrepiece of a large estate that ended up in the hands of the Massy family. The estate is now known as Massy’s Woods.... Continue Reading →
As you might guess, we in Tallaght Library Local Studies love old stuff. Occasionally some rare and unusual items come our way that we just have to share. Some weeks ago we had a telephone call in the Library from a lady with a book enquiry. This led to a conversation about old 78RPM records.... Continue Reading →
South Dublin Libraries Local Studies 