Dublin City Libraries has launched a History on your Doorstep programme to help people living in Dublin learn more about their surroundings while limited to a 2km stroll, jog or cycle due to the covid-19 restrictions. It will also be of interest to those with ancestral connections to the city and its environs.
Whatever your preferred media you can find something of interest. Historian Cathy Scuffil is hosting live Facebook talks on the street names and place names of some of Dublin's best loved areas, including the Liberties and the housing estates in Crumlin, Ballyfermot and Drimnagh, while her colleague James Curry is uploading illustrated videos about the statues on O’Connell Street, the City’s bridges, and other monuments (you can watch the first one below).
Over on the library blog, you can read the historians' quick reads on topical subjects like the flu pandemic of 100 years ago, Molly Malone (did she really die of a fever?), the general strike of April 1920 and lots more.
The multi-media options continue with a number of podcasts – perfect for company while on a walk or (heaven forbid) doing the ironing – of talks presented at the Dublin Festival of History. Two episodes a week bring you hours of listening on topics including the War of Independence, the Crusades, the rise of Hitler and Great Irish speeches. You can subscribe here.
Or you might like to browse through some of the collections that make up the Dublin City Libraries and Archive Digital Repository. These cover different time periods and include photographs, postcards, letters, maps and ephemeral material. Highlights of the collection include the Fáilte Ireland Photographic Collection, Wide Street Commission Map Collection (1757-1851), the Irish Theatre Archive and the Birth of the Republic Collection.
There is also plenty of reading material available online, too. From history books on BorrowBox and history magazines on RBDigital, to thousands of old photographs, maps and historical documents available free-of-charge in image galleries.
