Detailed Information
A History of Dublin through Walks and Talks
Talk One: Arrival of the Viking fleet in 841, consolidation of the area around the Dubhlinn black pool, assimilation with the natives in the Áth Cliath settlement, opposition from the ruling Irish chieftains in the surrounding areas.
Walk One: The Viking settlement
Talk Two: The emergence of the Hiberno-Norse social grouping, the growth of commerce in Dublin, trade with other Viking areas, arrival of the Normans, banishment of the Hiberno-Norse to Oxmanstown, importance of Dublin Castle.
Walk Two: The Dublin Castle/St Patrick's Cathedral area.
Talk Three: The Bruce Invasion, Black Death, Surrender and Regrant, Wars of the Roses, Tudor rule, Reformation in Dublin.Civil War, Cromwell in Dublin, Restoration, War of the 2 Kings, William of Orange.
Walk Three: The Grafton St/ St Stephen's Green area.
Talk Four: Georgian Dublin - design of the "new" city, expansion of suburbs, Canals, Wide Street Commission's impact on the city. Walk Four : Merrion Square area.
Talk Five: Act of Union, decline in centre of Dublin, new suburbs, transport, O'Connell and Emancipation, Parnell and Home Rule, rise of Nationalism.
Walk Five: The Bridges of Dublin.
Walk 1- Islandbridge War Memorial Gardens, Feb 1. Walk 2- Capel St. Bridge, Feb 8. Walk 3- O'Connell Monument, Feb 15. Walk 4- Phoenix Park, Feb 22. Walk 5- Liberty Hall, Mar 1.
Áinnle O'Neill is a retired school principal, who used his native Dublin and its environs as a resource throughout his teaching career. He attained a B.A. from UCD in History and Politics and an Honours M.A.in Local History from NUIM
Duration: 5 Thursday talks and 5 Saturday morning walks
Talks: Thursdays
Time: 19:00-21:00
Dates: 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Oct
Location: Belfield
Walks: Saturdays
Time: 10:00-12:00
Dates: 5, 12, 19, 26 Oct 2 Nov
Location: Various locations
Talk One: Pre-Viking Dublin, development of Áth Cliath settlement, Viking colonisation along the Liffey.
Walk One: Islandbridge and Kilmainham.
Talk Two: Everyday life in Viking/ Norman Dublin, Storytelling and Plays, Guilds and trading, Interaction with Hiberno- Norse.
Walk Two: Oxmanstown, Smithfield and the Royal Barracks area.
Talk Three: Health and Disease, Beggars and Punishments.
Walk Three: The North Inner City. Talk Four: The Huguenots in Ireland, Fires in Medieval Dublin, Laws covering fires, Development of a Fire Service, Major Fires of the 19th. century, Public Lighting.
Walk Four: The Phoenix Park.
Talk Five: Hackneys and private carriages, Horse drawn trams, expansion of routes, Electrification, demise of Trams.
Walk Five: The New Docklands, which developed after the building of the Customs House.
The following is a selection of recommended texts for those interested in reading further around the course content. We advise that you do not buy books in advance of the course as your tutor will discuss the list and suggest the most relevant reading for particular interests.
Ó Maitiú, Séamus, Dublin Suburban Towns, Four Courts Press
Geraghty & Whitehead, The Dublin Fire Brigade, Dublin City Council
Killeen, Richard, Historical Atlas of Dublin, Gill & MacMillan
Áras an Uachtaráin, OPW
Nolan, Brendan, Phoenix Park – A History and Guidebook, Liffey Press
Little, George, A., Dublin Before the Vikings, Gill & Co.
Barry, Michael, Victorian Dublin Revealed, Andalus Press
The students will have a better understanding of how Dublin expanded to the North, South, West and East over the centuries. They will be encouraged to read more about the topics covered in the course and explore the city further on their own.
A two hour talk on Thursdays and a two hour walk on Saturdays, with relevant maps and walk notes supplied to students.