Chisellers: Childhood in Dublin through the Centuries

Solidarity between generations 1994 Diary Dublin, 1994

This Diary was published by Dublin City Public Libraries as part of the celebrations for the European Year of Older People 1993. During that summer, children at branch libraries all over the city were encouraged to write poems and stories and paint pictures based on the theme of solidarity with older people. The results were then published in a Diary for the following year. This is one example of what they produced and is typical of the humorous nature of many of the entries.

The Diary is held in the Special Collections of Dublin City Library and Archive. Read more »

Queue outside the Women’s National Health Association, Photograph from Ireland’s Crusade against tuberculosis, being a series of lectures delivered at the Tuberculosis Exhibition, 1907. Dublin 1908

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Rosary Bead Making Section, Photograph, from St Joseph’s School and Home for the Blind, Drumcondra, illustrated souvenir 1958

This souvenir booklet details the work of St Joseph’s School, which was founded in 1884 and was originally run by the Carmelite Order, although the Rosminian Order took over in 1950. It is still functioning today. Rosary Bead making and repairing was part of the occupational training for the boys, and the accompanying article notes: Read more »

An Tostal 1953, Ireland at Home, National Programme. Dublin 1953

The Tostal was the name of a series of cultural festivals held in Ireland in the 1950s. Regional parades were held and arts and sporting events organized in Dublin as part of the festivities. The emphasis was on local pride and the importance of the Irish tradition. These young dancers would have been competing in a dance competition. This souvenir programme includes essays by Sean O Faolain, Michael Scott and Arland Ussher.

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Gymnasts, Masonic Girl’s School Photograph, from the Margaret Grace Pike Manuscript Collection, Dublin Ms. 26.

The Masonic Girl’s School  had been set up in 1792 to help the children of deceased Freemasons. It began its life in Prussia Street, but it later moved to Thomas Prior House on Merrion Road. The building is now a hotel. In 1892 there were 80 pupils in the Girls’ School in the Girls’ School. The school continued to function up until 1970. This particular picture is part of the Margaret Pike Collection, a collection of papers and other material which was donated to Dublin City Library and Archive by Margaret Learmond in 2005. Margaret Pike was the headmistress of the Masonic Girl’s School.

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Students in the library, from Photographs of the Masonic Orphan Boys’ School of Ireland