Dublin
The Irish Revolution, 1912–23
Brian Hughes
Dublin – capital of Ireland and, to some at least, the ‘second city of the Empire’ – was central to the Irish Revolution. But there were many different ‘Dublins’, including the city borough and its suburban townships, picturesque seaside settlements and the Dublin and Wicklow mountains to the south, and a rural hinterland to the north and west. The city was a hub for the development of the suffrage and republican movements. It also witnessed the largest industrial dispute in the history of the island in 1913, the bulk of the fighting at Easter 1916, and some of the most famous (and infamous) moments of the War of Independence and Civil War. There was also a relatively large and well-organized unionist minority, chiefly centred around the southside townships. The north and west of the county, meanwhile, shared more in common with neighbouring counties than with the city.
This book provides a rounded and original overview of revolution in both Dublin city and county. It highlights the sometimes vast differences in experience in urban and rural Dublin, and the wide range of political and military activity undertaken by Dubliners. In particular, the book focusses on ‘ordinary’ or rank-and-file participants alongside those who took no part at all but witnessed seminal – and not so seminal – moments in Irish history as they happened around them.
Brian Hughes, a native of west Dublin, lectures in the Department of History at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.
Four Courts Press. c.256pp. Paperback. Ills. €24.95
Available here.
Killester
From medieval manor to garden suburb
Joseph Brady & Ruth McManus
Killester: from medieval manor to garden suburb explores the development of Killester from its earliest days as Killester Demense, through its transformation in the early twentieth century as a garden suburb for ex-servicemen and onwards to the emergence of today’s suburb. Its history has given it a unique character and this is richly illustrated by maps and photographs. This is the first of a series of studies, entitled Dublin – Shaping the Suburbs, that explores the development of Dublin’s suburbs as many reach their centenary. This publication was commissioned by Dublin City Council as part of the Dublin City Strategic Heritage Plan 2023 to 2028, and is part funded by the Heritage Council.
Ruth McManus is an associate professor in Geography and associate dean for Teaching & Learning at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, DCU. Her recent books include the second edition of Dublin 1910–1940, shaping the city and suburbs (2021), and (with Joseph Brady) Building healthy homes, Dublin Corporation’s first housing schemes 1880–1920 (2021).
Joseph Brady is an urban geographer who specializes in the study of the growth and development of Dublin and who has published extensively on the topic. A particular research interest is the provision of social housing in the twentieth century.
Four Courts Press. 150pp. Full-Colour Ills. Large Format. Paperback. €17.95
Available here.
