Local History

by Craig O'Reilly on Sep 13th, 2023 - 81 Views

Dublin Gangs From the Liberties Back in the Ye Old Times – Craig O Reilly delves into the history of the gangs of Dublin 18th century Dublin was a city exploding in population. It had a Protestant majority, but Catholics were coming to Dublin to seek work. The city was expanding and changing rapidly,... 

by Craig O'Reilly on Jul 12th, 2023 - 259 Views

Skeletons found at historical Site of St Mary’s Abbey on Capel Street Street Almost a hundred skeletal remains dating back to ancient medieval times have been uncovered during the architectural phase for a new hotel on Capel Street in Dublin City Centre. The site was purchased by Beannchor hospitality... 

by Craig O'Reilly on Jun 13th, 2023 - 547 Views

St Catherine’s A History – Craig O’ Reilly delves into the history to St Catherine’s, scene of Robert Emmet’s grizzly demise. St Catherines is a site in the liberties which is steeped in history. At times it was a centre of power in Dublin, while at other points in time... 

by Craig O'Reilly on Mar 21st, 2023 - 370 Views

Saint Patrick – A History – Saint Patrick – A History – Craig O Reilly tells us a bit about the real man and some of the more obscure myths about him Saint Patrick is a patron Saint of Ireland; a complex figure linked to both the establishment of the Church in this country, and... 

by FRG.ie Admin on Mar 15th, 2023 - 1545 Views

An Account of the Old Kilmainham Mill by Chartered Engineer Philip Brunkard Philip Brunkard Chartered Engineer My memory recall for works as a trainee engineer for Mssrs Bates Tentering Mill, Rowerstown Lane, Kilmainham, Dublin 8, date circa 1958 – 1959. I was engaged by Mssr Hubbard Brother Limited... 

by Craig O'Reilly on Jan 4th, 2023 - 389 Views

Looking Back At Dublin Street Criers – In this article, Craig O Reilly discusses the history of Dublin’s famous street cryers If you were walking through Dublin in the run up to Christmas, you may have seen street vendors selling gifts. You might even have heard them before you had seen... 

by Craig O'Reilly on Oct 24th, 2022 - 591 Views

Bridges of Dublin – In this series Craig O Reilly examines the history of some of Dublin’s most famous Liffey crossings O’ Donovan Rossa Bridge The O’ Donovan Rossa Bridge is a stone road bridge joining Winetavern Place to Chancery Place. It is not actually the first bridge built on... 

by Sean Murphy on Jul 26th, 2022 - 1087 Views

St James’s Parish: Two Churches, One Graveyard – Another excellent snippet from Sean J Murphy’s excellent A History of St James’s Church and Graveyard, Dublin, From the 12th to 21st Centuries It will be a well-known fact to inhabitants of the area that while St James’s Parish has had... 

by Craig O'Reilly on Jul 19th, 2022 - 776 Views

“Mushatt’s Cream Of Emulsion,” “Black draft”, “Hippo Wine and Squills”; these were just some of the wonder cures people were once lining up for in the Liberties.  This would have been at a chemist shop at 3 Francis Street, run by Louis and Harry Mushatt. They created all kinds of medicines... 

by Craig O'Reilly on Jul 4th, 2022 - 869 Views

The Gunpowder Explosion of 1597 – Craig O Reilly recounts this explosive little known story of Dublin  On 11th March 1597, disaster struck the quays of Dublin when 140 barrels of gunpowder exploded bringing terror and destruction. The blast led to the death of about 1/10th of the population... 

by FRG.ie Admin on Apr 7th, 2022 - 1150 Views

St James Church and Graveyard Book Launch! – A must for those with an interest in the history of Dublin    Historian Sean J Murphy has launched his new book on the history of St James Church (presently Lyons Distillery) and graveyard from its foundations in the 12th Century straight to its currently... 

by Stephen Davis on Oct 12th, 2021 - 1333 Views

Magazine Fort To Be Developed As A Tourist Attraction – Stephen Davis as the news about the new development   “Now’s here’s a proof of Irish sense Here Irish wit is seen When nothing’s left that’s worth defence We built a Magazine” Jonathan Swift It has been announced... 

by Craig O'Reilly on Jun 16th, 2021 - 1144 Views

How James Joyce Was (Nearly) A Famous Singer – An odd but true tale James Joyce is mainly known for his outstanding achievement as an Irish novelist, less well known is that he dreamed of becoming a tenor. His father was considered a well regarded tenor singer, though he did not take it up as... 

by Craig O'Reilly on Apr 14th, 2021 - 4175 Views

  Paul Morphy And The greatest Chess Game –  Considering the popularity of “The Queen’s Gambit” Craig has helpfully provided us with a chess themed article with an Irish connection Paul Morphy is widely considered to be one of the greatest chess players of all time. Born... 

by Stephen Davis on Nov 2nd, 2020 - 1425 Views

Spooky Dublin 1. Marsh’s Library This 18th-century building is home to the ghost of its founder Archbishop Narcissus Marsh. His ghostly apparition is said to search the library for a letter hidden there by his niece. His niece Grace eloped at the age of nineteen with a sea captain, leaving the... 

by Shane Adlum on Oct 19th, 2020 - 1766 Views

Back to the Future: A look at Dublin Cinemas Part Two Back to the Future: A look at Dublin Cinemas Part Two – Shane Adlum presents part 2 of his fascinating look into the world of Dublin cinema! Savoy 16-19 Upper O’Connell Street, Dublin 1 The oldest operational cinema in Dublin. Perfectly... 

by Sean Murphy on Jul 28th, 2020 - 2734 Views

Distillers and St James’s Church and Graveyard – In this article, Historian Sean J Murphy provides us with an insight into the Liberties’ Distilling history Sean J Murphy In Dublin on 25 July 2017, St James’s Day, the formerly disused Protestant St James’s Church in James’s Street... 

by Craig O'Reilly on Jul 10th, 2020 - 1956 Views

Dueling In Ireland – A History – Craig O’ Reilly takes an interesting look into the history and weirdly gentleman etiquette of dueling in Ireland  While the phrase “pistols at dawn” may bring to mind a Hollywood movie, or “dueling with a rapier” makes you think of the film... 

by Shane Adlum on Jun 17th, 2020 - 1980 Views

Niccolò Paganini-The Devils Violinist – Sometimes you can be so good….they think you’re bad! Niccolò Paganini was the most celebrated violin virtuoso of his time. A man so talented that people say he must have sold his soul to the devil in exchange for his incredible abilities. Some... 

by Craig O'Reilly on Apr 24th, 2020 - 1380 Views

Irish Volunteers barricade Townsend Street, Dublin, to slow down the advance of troops, during the Easter Rising. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)   Remembering Easter Monday 1916 The 1916 Rising is a historic event which still resonates with Irish people today, and perhaps now with...