Come Here To Me!

The historiography of any period is never complete. For young historians, the period known commonly as the ‘Irish revolutionary period’ can appear one with little room for new writers, with so much written on the pivotal events and personas.

Thankfully, recent years have seen historians engage with the ‘Irish revolution’ in new and exciting ways, moving beyond the macro and looking at individual events and themes in greater detail. A particular effort of note would be Mercier’s top class ‘Military History of the Irish Civil War’ series, but in the field of biography O’Brien’s new ‘Sixteen Lives’ series will see first biographies of some of the executed leaders of 1916 published. New Island books have launched ‘1916 In Focus’, with Paul O’Brien’s study of the Four Courts garrison during Easter Week the first work in the series.

O’Brien’s last effort, ‘Uncommon Valour’, which looked at the South Dublin Union, was reviewed here on the blog in February 2010. Looking at key battles and events in Easter 1916, O’Brien has managed to turn events that take up a few paragraphs in broad-histories into full works, which gives you an in-depth look at some characters who somehow often manage to escape from the narrative of other works.

The Four Courts is more so associated with the Civil War in the popular memory of Dubliners, but some of the bloodiest events of the Rising occurred in the area around the courts. The area which saw heavy fighting during the Rising between the 1st Battalion of the Irish Volunteers and British Military Forces was an area home to some of the poorest Dubliners in tenement dwellings, not far for example from the buildings which had collapsed on Church Street in 1913, killing seven. Edward Daly commanded the forces which occupied the Four Courts and surrounding areas. He would later be executed for his role in the week.

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Strolling around Hodges & Figgis yesterday a couple of new Dublin related books caught me eye, the first I’ve seen for the Christmas market

Dublin 1911 edited by Catriona Crowe (Royal Irish Academy) €20.00 RRP

The book will start in January 1911 with the New Year newspapers and work through the year’s events to explore themes such as poverty, health, the flight to the suburbs, leisure and transport. The Royal Irish Academy are working with the National Archives to produce a book which wil give people a chance through rich illustration, fold-out census reports and previously unpublished photographs to experience the Dublin of 1911.

Dublin 1911 - Catriona Crowe

Victorian Dublin Revealed: The Remarkable Legacy of Nineteenth-Century Dublin by Michael B. Barry (Andalus Press) €28.50 RRP

This is Dublin as you have never seen it. The surprising wealth of Victorian buildings throughout the city, including those hidden from the public gaze, is revealed here. Skilfully interwoven with these illustrations is the story of that important many-faceted era, being the formative years in which were created the foundations of the modern city. Written in a highly readable style, this entertaining book is essential for those who wish to explore the intriguing history and heritage of Victorian Dublin.

Victorian Dublin Revealed: The Remarkable Legacy of Nineteenth-Century Dublin - Michael B. Barry

Memories of Baggotonia: Bohemian Dublin from Wilde and Joyce to Beckett and Behan* by Brendan Lynch (The Liffey Press) €19.95 RRP (* Seems to be another version known as Prodigals and Geniuses: The Writers and Artists of Dublin’s Baggotonia)

Memories of Baggotonia: Bohemian Dublin from Wilde and Joyce to Beckett and Behan - Brendan Lynch

For online shoppers, you can get the three for €64.05 (with free delivery) on Books Depository or for €79.62 (includes delivery) with Amazon. A tidy saving of €15.57 for going with the former.

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