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Home Rule Buildings, Pearse Street.
Home Rule Buildings, thanks to Luke Fallon. A few doors down from the Dublin City Library and Archive on Pearse Street is this aging sign for Home Rule Buildings. The newspaper archives are throwing up...
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The striking gravediggers.
A historic image of Glasnevin Cemetery. Prospect Cemetery, more commonly known now as Glasnevin Cemetery, is one of my favourite places to wander in Dublin. From ‘Anonymous to Zozimus'( to borrow a...
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Attacking King Billy.
This September 1882 print shows a mob attacking the statue of King William of Orange which stood on College Green, outside Ireland’s historic parliament. The monument predated the parliament building,...
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The long life of James Stritch.
James Stritch and the Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa Funeral Committee, 1915. In republican lore, the 18 September 1867 holds a special place. On that day, a police van carrying two prisoners was besieged by...
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The Old Grey Whistle Test – Dublin (May 1985)
Thanks to our friend Conor McCabe for uploading this seven minute clip from The Old Grey Whistle Test (BBC2). It features presenter Andy Kershaw traveling to Dublin to report on the local live music...
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A Spectre is Haunting Ballyfermot: The 1952 Co-Op Scandal.
The Ballyfermot Co-Op of the 1950s, to quote one of its central activists, had the misfortune to fall”foul of reaction.” From an earlier anti-communist poster, 'Keep The Red Off Our Flag' (Edited by...
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Sedition on Lombard Street.
Plaque on Lombard Street today. The Irish Republican Brotherhood, which was formally born on Saint Patrick’s Day 1858, would have an enormous impact on the course of Irish history, and some curious...
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Bull-baiting in eighteenth century Dublin.
An eighteenth century illustration of bull-baiting (source) Bull-baiting was stupid, and it was also undeniably dangerous. Given this, it is perhaps not surprising it was hugely popular in Dublin and...
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“I prize above all earthly things, The Rights of Man and Common Sense”
Thomas Paine (1737-1809) Arthur O’Connor lived a remarkable life. Born near Bandon in Cork, he would serve as a member of the Irish Parliament in Dublin’s College Green from 1790 to 1795, while he...
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Jim Larkin Speaks: An account of Peter O’Toole in Strumpet City.
Peter O’Toole as Jim Larkin (Image Credit: RTE Stills Library, source) James Plunkett, author of the classic Strumpet City, often recalled Jim Larkin. In his essay ‘The Mission of Discontent’, he wrote...
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In defence of the Pantibar sign.
Pantibar, Capel Street (the building was formerly home to Baxendale & Co) With some honourable exceptions, shopfronts and signage in the capital have been in decline for a long time now. The city...
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Rare Republican Congress internal letter (September 1936)
Thanks to our friend Daniel Lambert (of the wonderful Bang Bang cafe in Phibsboro) for letting us share this wonderful historical letter which was has been in his family’s possession for eighty years....
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When Muhammad Ali came to Palmerstown.
Muhammed Ali at Steward’s Hospital, Palmerstown (1972) Muhammad Ali arrived in Dublin on 11 July 1972, eight days before his fight with Al Lewis in Croke Park. Ever the showman,he gave the people the...
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‘Éire Go Bragh’ hiding over Abercrombie and Fitch.
The Bank of Ireland on College Green today occupies the building that was once home to the Parliament of Ireland. Over what is now a financial institution, the Lion and the Unicorn still gaze over the...
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Eamonn Cooke archive mentions – shootings, threats and firebomb attacks
It has come to light in the last week that deceased, convicted paedophile and former pirate radio personality Eamon Cooke (1936 – 2016) may have been involved in the disappearance and death of...
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Robert Emmet and the munitions depot of Marshalsea Lane.
From Footprints of Emmet,published in 1903 (Digitised by South Dublin County Libraries) The ghost of Emmet and Easter Week: There are many reminders of Robert Emmet’s 1803 insurrection in Dublin today,...
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The Hogan Stand Shield.
Hogan Stand Shield, from the 1965 Capuchin Annual. I recently picked up the 1965 Capuchin Annual, which included a very fine tribute to Pádraig Ó Caoimh (1898-1964). A Roscommon man who moved to Cork...
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A good use of city space.
Where South Great George’s Street meets Dame Lane. Just behind Rick’s Burgers and in front of the ‘Why Go Bald?’ sign, there is a small space of land that nobody seems entirely sure what to do with. In...
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‘Spotlight on Johnny Giles’ from 1961 Soccer Annual.
Con Martin’s Soccer Annual appeared for the first time in 1961. Primarily focused on Irish domestic sides, it also included some coverage of the international team and Irish footballers making their...
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After Hours: The Jameson ‘Nightender’
Recently, I visited the Irish Whiskey Museum on College Green. Irish whiskey has a long (and sometimes dangerous!) history, and the story is well told in the Museum. One of the things that really...
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