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News | 13 August 2025
History on your Doorstep volume 8 is now available
The eighth volume by the Dublin City Historians in Residence is available free from library branches.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Ray McAdam, launched the eighth edition of History on Your Doorstep at a reception in City Hall. The annual free publication features seven engaging chapters that explore Dublin’s history through fresh and personal perspectives. Written by Dublin City Council’s Historians in Residence, along with guest author and food historian Dr Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire, the new volume spans topics from religion and politics to food, fashion, and family memory.
Pictured above, left to right: Brendan Teeling, Katie Blackwood, Cathy Scuffil, Linda Devlin, Maírtín Mac Con Iomaire, Dervilia Roche, Cormac Moore and Elizabeth Kehoe. Photo credit: Fran Veale/Julien Behal Photography.
Highlights include:
Moira Mahon, a centenarian whose life reflects both political engagement and personal wisdom. Born in 1924, she tells historian Elizabeth Kehoe: “Love many, trust few, and always paddle your own canoe.” Her story is one of quiet strength, fairness, and dignity — an extraordinary life told with grace.
Yitzhak Herzog, Ireland’s first Chief Rabbi, who became Chief Rabbi of Palestine, and later of the new state of Israel (Dr Cormac Moore).
Manners, modernity and morality in 1920s Dublin, through readers’ letters to the Evening Herald (Katie Blackwood).
Liam O’Flaherty, literary firebrand and activist, including his 1922 occupation of the Rotunda Concert Hall (Dr Mary Muldowney).
Coddle, Dublin’s most divisive dish, explored in a rich Irish-language chapter (Dr Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire).
Grangegorman’s complex past, now made accessible through a new children’s walking tour (Dervilia Roche).
Flanagan’s Fields, and the legacy of 19th-century market gardener Michael Flanagan (Catherine Scuffil).
Edited by historian Elizabeth Kehoe and Dr Allison Galbari, History on your Doorstep volume 8 is available free of charge from all Dublin City Libraries, and the eBook of vols 1-8 can be borrowed from BorrowBox. You can also download volume 8 here.
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 & 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.
The Dublin City Council’s Historians in Residence programme is created by Dublin City Libraries, and is delivered in partnership with Dublin City Council Culture Company.
History on your Doorstep at your fingertips
Each of the History on Your Doorstep books (Vol 1-8) 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.
Volume 1 - 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 - 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 - This 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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.
Volume 8 - Seven chapters written by Dublin City Council’s Historians in Residence, along with guest author and food historian Dr Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire, this volume spans topics from religion and politics to food, fashion, and family memory.