Local History

by Patrick Ryan on Nov 13th, 2025 - 239 Views

Stolen Crown Jewels, Séances, Salacious Sex Scandals – And Sherlock Holmes? With the recent Paris jewel theft still making headlines Patrick Ryan finds an even more intriguing Irish tale with a link to the greatest detective character in crime fiction.  The recent theft of France’s... 

by John Keane on Nov 6th, 2025 - 252 Views

The Royal Hospital Kilmainham The Royal Hospital has stood in Kilmainham since the 1680’s and is one of the most impressive buildings in Ireland.  It has a rich history and has stood witness to many of Ireland’s most impactful historic periods and events. Its history began in 1677 when James Butler,... 

by Patrick Ryan on Oct 23rd, 2025 - 316 Views

Time For Change? Patrick Ryan takes a look at the history of our timekeeping over the last 150 years. To Countess Markievicz it was an outrage, further evidence of the yoke of imperialism. To insurance assessors it remains an annual headache spawning mountains of further paperwork, while for doctors... 

by Patrick Ryan on Oct 2nd, 2025 - 377 Views

  Show Me The Money! With Budget Day looming Patrick Ryan takes a look back at the history of tax, and efforts to avoid it.   On Tuesday the attention of the nation will be on Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers as they deliver the long anticipated... 

by John Keane on Sep 30th, 2025 - 489 Views

Dublin’s Hellfire Club If you look south-westwards from Dublin city on a clear day, you will be able to see the silhouette of the Hellfire Club, which sits on top of Montpellier Hill in County Dublin. The site is a popular destination for walkers today and has spectacular views of Dublin Bay and Howth.... 

by Patrick Ryan on Jul 18th, 2025 - 515 Views

Puffendor – The Man Dubs Loved To Hate Patrick Ryan takes a look back at the life of one of the most despised men in Irish history.  Ireland has no shortage of heroes to herald or Bogeymen to blame and boo. Usually our pantomime villains are from overseas; those who persecuted the Irish, robbed... 

by Patrick Ryan on Jul 15th, 2025 - 533 Views

In It To Win It, Innit? Patrick Ryan takes a look at how lotteries have been sponsoring fantasies in Dublin and London for 300 years.   Admit it. You had the dream again. Your lottery numbers came up, you’ve won a fortune, a house, a car – all problems consigned to the dustbin of history,... 

by Patrick Ryan on Jun 26th, 2025 - 1535 Views

Dodgy Boxes, Dodgy Books And The Bogeyman  Patrick Ryan takes a look at Dubliners’ love of cheap entertainment, legal or not.   The increasing popularity of decoders which allow TV be accessed at a fraction of the subscriptions charged by companies like Sky and Virgin Media through “dodgy... 

by Patrick Ryan on Jun 18th, 2025 - 681 Views

Exploding Hogsheads And The Flaming Pig Patrick Ryan looks at the story of how the squeals of a sow and cartloads of poo saved Dublin. This month marks the 150 anniversary of a catastrophic blaze in the Liberties which, but for the bravery and ingenuity of Dublin’s first Fire Chief, and his men... 

by Patrick Ryan on May 12th, 2025 - 1090 Views

Dublin’s Horse History Patrick Ryan looks at Dublin’s long love affair with all things equine. What would Dubliners of the past make of our modern capital? Along with the obvious changes in technology, living standards, and fashions what we lack would perhaps come as big of a surprise... 

by Jack Croome on May 7th, 2025 - 1256 Views

The Legend of Brian Boru’s Crown Brian Boru the legendary High King of Ireland is celebrated for uniting the island’s warring clans and remembered for +his death during the complex and bloody Battle of Clontarf in 1014. Yet a mystery endures the fate of his crown a relic symbolizing Ireland’s... 

by Jack Croome on Mar 12th, 2025 - 1100 Views

  The Napper Tandy In the pantheon of Irish revolutionary heroes, names like Wolfe Tone, Robert Emmet, and Michael Collins loom large. Yet among these giants lies a figure whose fiery passion and audacious escapades have faded into obscurity that of James Napper Tandy. A Dublin born agitator, soldier,... 

by Patrick Ryan on Mar 5th, 2025 - 704 Views

Making A Living From Death In D8 Patrick Ryan takes look back as the macabre work of Dublin’s resurrectionists, and asks if modern medicine faces the similar ethical questions to those posed 200 years ago.  “Most countries send out oil or iron, steel or gold, or some other crop,”... 

by Patrick Ryan on Feb 24th, 2025 - 815 Views

The Life Of ‘Oul Zoz Patrick Ryan takes a look at one of Dublin’s most colourful characters, and the Liberties most famous sons.  He was named in memory of a pious Palestinian, according to WB Yeats “the last gleeman . . . being alike poet, jester, and newsman of the people”... 

by FRG.ie Admin on Feb 17th, 2025 - 702 Views

Zozimus Ireland’s Last Gleeman and the Bard of Dublin’s Liberties Few figures capture the spirit of Dublin’s storied streets as vividly as Michael J. Moran, better known as Zozimus. Born around 1794 in the heart of Dublin’s Liberties, Zozimus rose to fame as a street rhymer whose passionate... 

by Patrick Ryan on Feb 11th, 2025 - 825 Views

In Thrall To Sweetness -Patrick Ryan takes a look at slavery in the history of Dublin. The Vikings. Sure, they might have been tough, but today they’re often just soft targets wearing silly helmets. Look at slavery. These Norsemen (“North men”) are often credited with bringing... 

by Jack Croome on Feb 5th, 2025 - 2890 Views

Hidden In Plain Sight – An Old Kilmainham History – Jack Croombe gives us a wonderful history of Old Kilmainham  As you wander through your local streets, take a moment to appreciate the beauty, lore, and history that surround you. Every corner of Dublin 8 really does hold a story, many... 

by John Keane on Jan 20th, 2025 - 1423 Views

Saint Laurence O’Toole’s Heart Saint Laurence O’Toole is the patron saint of Dublin. He was archbishop of Dublin between 1162 and 1180 during the Anglo-Norman conquest of Ireland and his heart is today kept in Christ Church Cathedral encased in an iron heart shaped reliquary (a container for relics). Laurence... 

by Jack Croome on Dec 18th, 2024 - 2430 Views

The Rise fall and Legacy of Dublin’s old Tram Network Dublin’s tram network was once a defining feature of the city, an ambitious public transportation system that connected neighbourhoods, spurred suburban growth, and became an integral part of daily life. Though dismantled in the mid-20th century,... 

by John Keane on Dec 12th, 2024 - 2087 Views

Saint Stephen’s Day and the Wren Saint Stephen’s Day, the 26th of December, was once commonly known in Ireland as Lá an Dreoilín  which means ‘Day of the Wren’ or  ‘Wren’s Day’. On this day, all over Ireland, men, usually local bachelors, called ‘Wren Boys,’ paraded through the...