You must be almost there, almost sick of hearing about history. Sure, this whole year has been about Dublin a hundred years ago, but maybe I could entice you into some more of that, maybe some 10,000 year-old Irish history.
Dublin Festival of History will take place from the 23rd of September until the 8th of October. This is the fourth year that the festival will be running. So if you have not come to learn everything there is about what it is to be Irish and where the Irish come from, this will be a fortnight to learn as much as you can master.
The festival will take place in Dublin Castle Printworks, Dublin Libraries and other venues across Dublin City. It will present history lovers with exhibitions, films, tours, talks and family events. All these activities are free to attend, but some you need to book for in advance.
One definition defining history reads as follows: “A history is a chronicle of events, like the history of the United States’ mission to put a man on the moon, or the world history class that you have to memorize all those dates for.
History is a noun to describe past events, or an account of something, like the history of New York City. When you describe something as having a history, you’re implying it has an intriguing past.
For example, a necklace that’s been passed down through generations has a history. But when you say something’s history, what you mean is that it no longer exists. Your fear of the water is history now that you know how to swim.”¹
Dublin’s history goes back as far as the Viking raids of the 8th and 9th century, and history tells us they knew how to brave the waters. According to Dublin historians their first settlements were situated at the mouth of the River Liffey at Black Pool, therefore they must have known something about swimming.
Dublin’s history did not stop or begin at the Viking raids even though most history lessons will focus on Ireland in the 8th century, there were settlements here already when the Vikings arrived.
Let’s start backpedaling then, here we go, it is believed that St. Patrick had made his way to Ireland in the 4th century. St. Patrick, that saint, who came to Ireland to convert the pagans to the christian religion and rid the island of snakes.²
But before St. Patrick there was the Bronze Age 2400-500 BC; evidence of this can be found in West Cork. This period in Irish history was also known as Ireland’s Golden Age.³
And going back even further there was Neolithic Ireland 3900-3000 BC, the farming period when settlers from Britain arrived here via Scotland-Antrim and made their way to Kerry⁴ and Mesolithic Ireland 8000-4500 BC, an age of hunters. These Irish settlers also arrived here from Scotland.⁵
Does that make the Irish Scottish? Well there is only one way to find out more about this interesting past and history of the island called Ireland, you will have to attend the festival and do not forget to bring the kids.
For a full programme of events, please go HERE.
References
- https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/history
- http://www.battleofclontarf.net/the-vikings-in-ireland-9th-to-12th-century/ireland-before-the-arrival-of-the-vikings/3442
- https://www.archaeology.ie/sites/default/files/media/publications/nms-farmers-journal-04.pdf
- http://www.wesleyjohnston.com/users/ireland/past/pre_norman_history/neolithic_age.html
- http://www.yourirish.com/history/ancient/mesolithic/
