The Dublin and Blessington Steam Tram

South Dublin County Libraries have just published a new book by Aidan Cruise, The Dublin and Blessington Steam Tram: a Pictorial and Social History. Long before the Luas came to Tallaght, this tram trundled through the Village, and also had stops at the Belgard Road, Jobstown, Embankment, Saggart and Brittas, before making its way on to Blessington. In this book Aidan details the social aspects of the tram – the effect it had on the commercial life of the county, as well as the difference it made to the lives of the people who used it. The book was launched by Mayor Mick Duff at the County Library last Thursday evening and all the signs are pointing towards it being a bestseller! The book is available for purchase in all branches of South Dublin County Libraries priced €10.

Launch of South Dublin Rambles

Mayor Marie Corr will launch South Dublin Rambles by Frank Tracy at the County Library in Tallaght on Wednesday 10^th June at 7:30 p.m.

 The publication of the book is most timely – summer has at last arrived, the days are growing longer and the weather is improving. This guidebook contains six urban and six rural walks and the lively text also informs about the history, heritage, nature and landscapes of South Dublin County and of neighbouring Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County.

 After the launch copies of the book will be on sale in branches of South Dublin County Libraries,  priced €5.

All are welcome to the launch on Wednesday evening!

Kildare County Council marks its 110th birthday

News of local studies interest from our neighbours in Kildare:
The 110th anniversary of Kildare County Council will be marked on Wednesday, 22 April at 8pm in the council’s award-winning new headquarters at Aras Cill Dara, Naas with a public talk on the first meeting of the council in 1899. The talk by local historian, Liam Kenny, will take place 110 years to the day since the inaugural council took office following the local elections of April 1899. The event will reflect on the excitement — and the controversies — generated by the first election in which the people of county Kildare were given a say in the choice of their elected representatives. For generations before participation in county administration had been confined to the landed elite; the 1899 elections were the first to bring a level of democracy to the county. The timing of the commemoration is particularly apt given that campaigning is in full swing for the 2009 local elections with twenty-five seats to be filled on the council from electoral areas throughout the county.

Tallaght Historical Society Lecture Series 2008/2009

18^th September
Tallaght History Society – Information Evening
All Welcome

October 22^nd 2008 8.00 pm
Leo Swan Memorial Lecture
From Deserted to Vagrancy – The Pre-Famine Poor of Tallaght
By Sean Bagnall

The talk will be preceded by the Tallaght launch of Sean’s new book Tallaght 1835-1850 – A Rural Place, published by Four Courts Press. Copies of the book will be on sale in the library on the night

November 20^th 2008 8.00pm
History of Donadea and the Forest Park
Séamus Cullen

December 18^th 2008, 8.00pm
1916 – North King Street
Dublin’s Stalingrad
Chris Shouldice

21^st January 2009 8.00pm
The Poulaphuca Survey and the Old Farmhouses of Wicklow
Chris Corlett author of the recent book “Beneath the Poulaphouca Reservoir

!8^th Feb 2009, 8.00pm
Illustrated Talk on The Doorways of Ireland - title to be announced
Michael Fewer
Michael’s new book on the Doorways of Ireland will be launched on 12^th November

Wednesday 18th March 2009 8.00pm
Bumps in the Fields and Crumbling Walls – Practical Archaeology for Sunday Afternoons
By Hermann Geissel
Hermann’s new book of the same title was recently published by South Dublin Libraries

Wednesday 15th April 2009, 8.00pm
From the Jacobs Archive
By Douglas Appleyard

Clondalkin History Society Lecture Series 2008/2009

Joe Williams has just given us details of the Clondalkin History Society Lecture Series 2008/2009 which is as follows:

Monday 20th October
AGM

Monday 24th November
Katharine Tynan’s Cobbler
Joe Williams

Monday 26th January 2009
From Kingstown to Dalkey by Air Atmospheric Railway 1844-54
James Scannell

Monday 23rd February 8.00pm
W&R Jacob – Irish Biscuit Making
Séamus Ó Maitiú

Monday 30th March 8.00pm
Bringing Ireland into line with Rome in 19th Century
Frank Sweeney

Monday 27th April 8.00pm
The Monica Roberts letters from the Front 1914-18
Bryan Mac Mahon

Monday 25th May 8.00pm
Members at Home – Your Own Stories and Photographs

All Lectures take place in  Áras Chrónáin, Watery Lane, Clondalkin, Dublin 22

For more information on the society, please visit www.clondalkinhistory.com