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News | 21 November 2024

History on your Doorstep volume 7 is now available

DCCCC website 800 x 540 HOYD Launch Nov 2024

The seventh volume in the popular series by the Dublin City Historians in Residence is free from Library branches.

The seventh volume in the popular History on your Doorstep series from Dublin City Historians in Residence was launched at City Hall on Wednesday 13 November, by Councillor Vincent Jackson, with guest speaker Dr Ruth McManus of Dublin City University.

History On Your Doorstep is an annual free publication, researched and written by historians, featuring stories of Dublin’s history. This year’s volume has been edited by Cormac Moore and Katie Blackwood. The Dublin City Historians in Residence programme is created by Dublin City Libraries, and is delivered in partnership with Dublin City Council Culture Company.

The volume continues the series purpose of bringing stories from Dublin’s history to life, and features chapters on:

  • ‘Four Holy Wells in North Dublin’: a journey into Dublin’s ancient sites of pilgrimage and local lore, by Katie Blackwood, Historian in Residence for Dublin North Central.

  • ‘The Society of St. Vincent de Paul ‘stood between hundreds of families and complete destitution’, which highlights the organisation’s pivotal role in the city’s history, by Elizabeth Kehoe, Historian in Residence for Dublin Central.

  • ‘Frank O’Connor: Pembroke Library’s First Librarian’, looking at the early career of one of Ireland’s literary greats, by Cormac Moore, Historian in Residence for Dublin South East.

  • ‘Marlborough House: A Shameful Place of Detention’, shedding light on a dark chapter in the city’s past, by Mary Muldowney, Historian in Residence for Dublin North West.

  • ‘”Dublin your Knowledge”: Exploring Whitefriar Street with the children of South City Community National School’. an engaging exploration of local history through the eyes of young Dubliners, by Dervilia Roche, Historian in Residence for Children.

  • ‘One Photograph, Many Stories’, revealing the layered narratives behind a single image, by Catherine Scuffil, Historian in Residence for Dublin South Central.

This new volume also features a chapter as Gaeilge in ‘Cath na Gaeilge ar an mBardas, 1920’, examining the movement to promote the Irish language within Dublin Corporation during the early 20th century, by historian Aindrias Ó Cathasaigh.

History on your Doorstep volume 7 is available free-of-charge from all Dublin City Libraries, and the eBook of vols 1-7 can be borrowed from BorrowBox. You can also download volume 7 here (PDF 6.5 MB).

The Historians in Residence

Since 2017, the Dublin City Historians in Residence have worked in neighbourhoods across the city to encourage local people to engage with history, and to promote its sources and discussion, especially the historical collections in Dublin City Library and Archive.

By engaging with local communities and keeping people front and centre of history, the Historians in Residence help the people of Dublin City feel a connection to their local history.

History on your Doorstep at your fingertips

Each of the History on Your Doorstep books (Vol 1-7) are available in your local library while stocks last and also available as eBooks from Borrowbox and to download as PDFs, using the links below.

The History on your Doorstep publications explore myriad aspects of Dublin’s fascinating history, including chapters that explore the legacy of architect Herbert Sims, why Lemon Street is called Lemon Street, and the colourful life and career of football player and manager extraordinaire, Patrick O’Connell, who played for Manchester United and went on to manage FC Barcelona. The books also mark significant events in Dublin’s history, with one volume dedicated to Bloody Sunday in 1920.

  • Volume 1 - ( PDF 4.1 MB ) - features chapters on suffragettes, the public housing architect Herbert Simms, the Monica Roberts collection of letters from First World War soldiers, a history of Edge Hardware in Fairview, Dublin railway workers, and William Spence and Sons foundry/engineering works on Cork Street.

  • Volume 2 - ( PDF 6.8 MB ) includes chapters on St. Ultan’s hospital, the piper Seamus Ennis, Dublin Corporation and the War of Independence, a history of Lemon’s Sweets, disappearing workplaces of Dublin, and housing in the Liberties.

  • Volume 3 - ( PDF 2.9 MB ) - is a commemorative edition marking the 100th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, 21 November 1920, with five chapters outlining the events of this terrible day in Dublin’s history.

  • Volume 4 - ( PDF 16.4 MB ) - the five chapters in this volume focus on different aspects of the city’s history, including weaving in the Liberties, war memorials in Dublin and a year with young historians.

  • Volume 5 - ( PDF 8.8 MB ) - reflects the research conducted by the four Historians in Residence and the Historian in Residence for Children into the events of the Irish Civil War.

  • Volume 6 - ( PDF 3 MB ) - six stories of Dublin history written by the Dublin City Council Historians in Residence and the Historian in Residence for Children, and Dublin City Council Culture Company tour guide Alvean Jones.

  • Volume 7 - ( PDF 6.5 MB ) - Seven stories from across the city, including chapters on Holy Wells, Whitefriar Street, the Society of St Vincent de Paul and Marlborough House. Tá caibidil speisialta i nGaeilge ag an Scíbhneoir agus Staraí Aindrias Ó Cathasaigh.

History on your Doorstep is produced by Dublin City Libraries, coordinated by Dublin City Council Culture Company and published by Dublin City Council.

Pick up a copy in your local library.