Local History
Famous Dublin Street Characters Part 1 – Bang Bang
Thomas Dudley was born here in our wonderful city of Dublin in the year of 1906, to his parents, John and Mary Dudley they had already had a sister daughter Ann. John, by trade was a chimney sweeper and Thomas was born into a Dublin that was slummed with Tenement housing and poverty knocked on nearly...
The Glimmer Man’s Tales Part 3 – Darkey Kelly
Rain poured onto Fishamble Street causing gushing Amazons down the curved hill. It was 4.04am, Diarmuid turned his collar up, he was making his way home from a party on Eustace Street. He wondered why he had stayed so late, an hour ago it was dry, why didn’t he leave then? Slipping and sliding and...
The Quays and Bridges of Dublin City
In 1209, the owners of buildings upon the river Liffey were granted a license from King John, to erect edifices which became known as the “Quays”. There are many references to buildings on the bank of the river, in the parishes of St. Michael and St. Audoen. In the thirteenth century, ships unloaded...
Dublin Tenement Experience & Museum – Living The Lockout
In 1913 a man by the name of Jim Larkin was appalled by the way some employees were treating the men, so he urged those workers to strike. This strike went on for nearly 6 months, and it had a huge knock on effect for the workers, who had their wages suddenly stopped. There where public meetings, riots...
A Snippet of Dublin History (Part 2)
Dublin has always been renowned for its restaurants and cafes and the early part of the Eighteenth century was no exception. On the eastern side of Essex Bridge, in the vicinity of the Custom House a coffee- house called the Cocoa Tree was located. In the recess between the bridge and the Custom House...
The Life of Bram Stoker
Abraham Stoker was born on the 8th of November, 1847 at 15, Marino Crescent,Clontarf, one of a family of seven children. His father was a civil servant and his mother, Charlotte, was a writer. He was a sickly child and spent most of the first seven years of his life, bedridden. During this time, his...
The Phoenix Park
Everyone as a child has fond memories of having a good time in the Phoenix Park with their family. When I was a child my da used to bring myself and my brother to this place and we would spend hours running up the steps at the Monument. How could such a wonderful park be in the middle of Dublin? How...
A Snippet of Dublin History (Part 1)
RAM LANE: A narrow passage, leading from High Street to Cook Street, was known in the beginning of the fifteenth century, as Le Ram Lane. The free school of the city of Dublin was erected in this area, which then became known as the “School-house lane”. In 1613, John Laffan, a young gentleman from...
The Oghamzone – The Book Of Lismore
Book of Lismore was originally known as the Book of McCarthy Reagh, of Cairbre in County Cork (Leabhar Mac Cárthaigh Riabhaigh). At present the manuscript resides at Chatsworth House, England, the Derbyshire seat of the Duke of Devonshire and Cavendish. Its contemporary name derives from its discovery...
The Military Museum
One day last week I had some time on my hands, I had me camera in me bag, I walked around to St James hospital and took the Luas over to the military museum. It’s free in and the Luas passes it and has a stop just outside it. I was surprised not to see it wasn’t full of freebie customers, but there...
Newspapers From The Past
Only 115 years ago society was radically different, it was a cold and crueller world, as these newspaper wanted ads prove.
FREEMAN’S JOURNAL (Irish Newpaper) WEDNESDAY 6th MAY 1896
SITUATIONS WANTED:
BUTCHERING; The parents of a respectable country lad are anxious to apprentice him to above.
CHILDREN’S...
Knockmaree Linkardstown Burial
For the past few hundred years, Dubliners and non-Dubliners alike have enjoyed strolling through the Phoenix Park, kicking a football around with friends or even deer watching. The Phoenix Park has for many generations been used for the most part as a recreational space. However, evidence for the use...
Where Does It Come From? (Part 3)
TO BE GIVEN THE SACK: Dating back to a time when tradesmen travelled from place to place in search of employment. They carried their tools in a sack, which would be given to the employer, for safe-keeping, until the job was finished. If the employer was dissatisfied with the work, the sack was returned...
