Online Exhibitions

This fascinating exhibition celebrates the work of Anne Makower and Christopher Fitz-Simon in theatre, television and radio. This remarkable couple share the same birthday and have lived in the Dún Laoghaire area for 56 years. They worked in RTÉ from the early days, Christopher initiated such iconic series as Tolka Row and Anne produced most of the classical music programmes throughout her extensive career whilst juggling her other career as a soprano in recitals, oratorio and opera. Some of the most popular TV programmes which she directed were Music in the Making, five operas in the RTÉ Proms, and Piano Plus with John O’Conor.

Christopher moved to and fro between TV and the theatre. He held executive positions at the Abbey Theatre, the Irish Theatre Company and the Lyric Theatre, Belfast. He has lectured on Irish theatre in ten countries on four continents; among his many books (all available at dlr LexIcon) are The Boys, a joint biography of Hilton Edwards and Micheál MacLíammóir, founders of the Dublin Gate Theatre and most recently Rise above!: letters from Tyrone Guthrie. He has also been an adjudicator in the Tidy Towns Competition since 1991.

In addition to the exhibition below, here is a link to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown's YouTube site and the interview conducted by poet and playwright Vincent Woods with Anne and Christopher:

All Right on the Night: an interview with Anne Makower & Christopher Fitz-Simon - YouTube

All Right on the Night Exhibition

An exhibition organized by Dún Laoghaire Borough Historical Society in association with dlr LexIcon.

Curated by Colin and Anna Scudds of the Dún Laoghaire Borough Historical Society in association with dlr Local Studies at dlr LexIcon, this important exhibition marks the 200^th anniversary of the harbour. The exhibition tells a marvelous tale - full of high drama, colourful personalities, shipwrecks, royal visits, hulk ships and of course the diaspora - thousands of Irish people sought employment and brighter opportunities as they boarded the ferry from Dún Laoghaire, and for many it was to be their last glimpse of Ireland. The harbour is the dominant feature in the life of this town and it takes a leap of the imagination to recall what old Dunleary looked like 200 years ago. The story of how and why the asylum harbor was built in the first place and the history up to the present day can be seen in a clear timeline over three panels of the exhibition. It covers some of the key figures such as Richard Toutcher, John Rennie and the early Harbour Masters, Lieutenant William Hutchison and the Hon. Capt. Francis George Crofton. What were working conditions like for the workers who lived on Dalkey Commons and close to the Harbour? What seafaring tragedies happened over the years? When did the last fog horn sound? This is a vivid and accessible account of the history behind these much-loved piers of Dún Laoghaire Harbour.

This exhibition was funded by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council through dlr Libraries (Local Studies at dlr LexIcon). It was launched on 18 May 2017 by the Cathaoirleach Cllr. Cormac Devlin and the exhibition panels and poster were designed by Olivia Hearne of Concept2Print.

Bicentenary of Dún Laoghaire Harbour

In November 2018, dlr LexIcon hosted an exhibition on the life of Charles Stanley Cuthbert curated by dlr Libraries' archivist in residence David Gunning. Thanks to the support and generosity of Philip and Peter Cuthbert who donated their father’s manuscript diary of his experiences of WWI, amongst other artefacts and memorabilia, we are now delighted to present this digitised manuscript and a new version of the exhibition online via Microsoft Sway at https://sway.office.com/AuuzkQjW58504YY8?ref=email. The pdf version below of the manuscript diary is divided into two consecutive pdfs, part I and part 2.

After the war, Charles made his home in Ireland. He stayed at a variety of addresses in Dún Laoghaire and Blackrock in the 1930s and 40s and lived in Shankill from 1970 until his death at the age of 93 in 1988.

The Charles Stanley Cuthbert Collection was originally donated to dlr Local Studies & Archives in 2015.

Cuthbert Diary Part 1

Cuthbert Diary Part 2

Located at the entrance to the Big House, the gate lodge played an important role in the management and security of an estate while also allowing wealthy owners to experiment with architectural form and style. In many cases, these little buildings are the only remaining evidence of the big houses that have disappeared from the local landscape, though many lodges have fallen into ruin or been removed for road widening and development. 

Learn about the gate lodges, the people who lived there and the purpose they served.

This exhibition, curated by David Gunning, dlr Historian in Residence, is part of a wider initiative that focuses on the Big Houses of Dún Laogahire-Rathdown, supported by the Decade of Centenaries, funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media. 

The exhibition is best viewed on a laptop or desktop computer. 

Cottages in Livery: The Gate Lodges of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown (Microsoft Sway)

PDF version of exhibition

The Oratory of the Sacred Heart was built on the grounds of St. Mary's Dominican Convent and dedicated to the Sacred Heart in 1919. The building commemorates the many local Irishmen who fought and died in the Great War. From 1920-1936, it was hand-painted by Sister Concepta Lynch, a Dominican nun at St. Mary's and the result is a stunning example of the Celtic Revival style. Stained glass windows were created by Harry Clarke Studios in Dublin. This exhibition tells the story of the Oratory. 

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown celebrated the Decade of Centenaries Programme in 2019 with this exhibition, a new book entitled Divine Illumination published by New Island Books (the first full-length account of this remarkable story), a redesigned exhibition and foyer at the Oratory on Library Road and an extensive series of workshops, talks and seminars. 

Exhibition curated by David Gunning, dlr Archivist in Residence at dlr Libraries, Nigel Curtin, Local Studies Librarian and dlr LexIcon Librarian Marian Thérèse Keyes. Funded by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, dlr Libraries and dlr Heritage Office and supported by the Dominican Sisters, Cabra and the National Gallery of Ireland.

Enjoy two videos about the Oratory of the Sacred Heart. The first video gives an overview of the Oratory and an account of the events held to celebrate the centenary in 2019 and the second video showcases the finale event, a mural painted in the grounds of the Oratory by 6th class Dominican Primary School Dún Laoghaire with artist Mags Harnett.

Divine Illumination: https://youtu.be/0nHYdhiDJ7k

The Mural: https://youtu.be/Dl06oJSGUeE

See also here for a virtual tour of the Oratory. This excellent resource was prepared by dlr Heritage Office.

Divine Illumination Oratory Exhibition

Edward Lee was a businessman who, in the 1880s built a chain of drapery shops in Bray, Kingstown, Rathmines and Dublin. He was recognized for his caring attitude towards his employees and was credited with introducing the weekly half-day holiday to Ireland in 1889. He also had a strong social conscience. During the 1913 Lockout, he disagreed with the tactics used by William Martin Murphy and other employers against the strikers. Edward and his wife Annie had nine children but only four sons survived into adulthood and the Great War took a terrible toll on the family. The Lee family lived for many years in The Grange, Stillorgan and later in Bellevue, Blackrock. An associated book written by Edward Lee’s great-grandson Michael Lee, entitled Edward Lee: Model Employer and Man of Moral Courage, is available in all dlr libraries and bookshops. Price €10.

Produced by dlr Libraries in partnership with Michael Lee and the extended Lee family.

Edward Lee Exhibition

The papers of F.M. O'Flanagan, the self-styled 'Recorder of Dalkey', donated to dlr Libraries in 2018, have been utilised to create an online exhibition exploring aspects of life in the heritage town during the twentieth century. F.M. O'Flanagan was a Dalkey resident and founding member of many local clubs and associations including the Dalkey Literary, Historical and Debating Society, and the Vico Bathing Place Swimming Club. The exhibition features material relating to O'Flanagan, his research on the history of Dalkey as well as documents concerning local societies and events.

F.M. O'Flanagan: Recorder of Dalkey (Microsoft Sway)

This exhibition is based on a diary written by 22 year old Kathleen King (née Murphy) (1893-1978) of Mount Salus Road, Dalkey during the 1916 Rising. It was found recently by her family amongst her collection of photos, letters, playbills and memorabilia. Kathleen moved in the same circles as Thomas and John MacDonagh, Joseph Plunkett, Edward Martyn and Máire Nic Shiubhlaigh and she was a staunch supporter of the cause for Irish independence. She married Dr Edward King in 1918 who went on to become the first Medical Officer appointed by the new Sinn Féin government. Kathleen was a prominent member of An Taisce in the 1950s and became one of Ireland’s leading bryologists.

Produced by dlr Libraries with support from dlr Heritage Office and based on the loan of material from the extended King family in Dalkey. The exhibition is divided into two parts. The Biography consists of 16 panels about Kathleen's life and times. The Diary has 15 panels, reproducing the Diary with text transcribed on each page. An audio podcast of Kathleen King's Diary is available at http://libraries.dlrcoco.ie/online-library/library-podcast. It is read by Kathleen's great grand-daughter, Joanne King.

Kathleen King Exhibition - Biography

Kathleen King Exhibition - Diary

Curated by Patrick Kiersey, this wonderful exhibition consists of 30 photographs, taken over Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown in the 1950s by Norman Ashe. They are of special interest as they depict the area when there were more fields than houses, lanes that became dual carriageways and landmarks that are no longer.

Patrick Kiersey, Art/Photographer teacher, with a keen interest in historical photographic collections, worked in Dún Laoghaire VEC/ETB for many years. He found the collection almost by accident and is restoring the images of aerial photographs from all over Ireland taken in the early 50s. The Norman Ashe Collection can be seen on Facebook (The Old Drone: Norman Ashe Aerial Photographic Collection). Patrick can be contacted at normanashe.collection@gmail.com

Norman Ashe Aerial Photography Collection

This is the story of Private 21526, Cleary, John of 'D' Company, 9th Dublins but it is also the story of his comrades and includes extracts from their surviving letters. John Cleary, like so many others, has no known grave and no photograph of him exists to date. But he is always remembered...

Exhibition curated by dlr Senior Library Assistant Seán Downes and produced by dlr Libraries in 2018.

Remembered - A Bray Man in the Great War Exhibition

‘This exhibition is a tribute of gratitude to a little stretch of water that has been for me a place of solace and inspiration, those moments when I soothe my mind in all weathers in preparation for a day of heaven-knows-what difficulties and travails. These photographs record the visual impact of the sky, the sun, the spires of four churches seen from the sea, and, of course, the many beautiful birds and sea creatures that share the sea so willingly with us human intruders. From photos of the past to the many recreational pursuits at Seapoint and not forgetting the majestic Martello Tower, this exhibition captures the unique elements that make Seapoint an idyll without equal’. Prof. Eoin O’Brien

In addition to the attached exhibition, curated by Prof. Eoin O’Brien, we are pleased to note that the O’Brien Archive at dlr LexIcon includes his Coastal Photographic Collection, comprised of printed photos, digital photos and miscellaneous papers relating to the area. Copies of the publication Seapoint: Sea, Sky and Spires are available and a signed copy of his important The Beckett Country: Samuel Beckett’s Ireland. The latter outlines in text and photography the importance of place in Beckett’s writing, much of it relating to Dún Laoghaire, Foxrock and environs. Prof. O’Brien is a cardiologist and Professor of Molecular Pharmacology at UCD’s Conway Institute. He is also a noted Beckett scholar.

See also: The Beckett Archive in UCD https://www.ucd.ie/specialcollections/exhibitions/beckett/

Seapoint: Sea, Sky and Spires

What was life like in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown over the years? Storyteller Helena Byrne posed this question to members of local day care centres. Enjoy these stirring memories of trips to the Baths on sunny days, shopping in the much-loved local shops of the past such as Lee’s, and getting dressed up for a Saturday night out in the Top Hat! This heartwarming exhibition is the culmination of a social history project to collect and preserve reminiscences and recollections of times gone by.

A huge thanks to the staff and members of all the participating day care centres for sharing their stories, especially: Beaufort Day Care Centre (Glasthule), The Clevis Unit (Leopardstown), Leopardstown Park Day Centre, Mount Merrion Friendship Club and Shankill Day Care Centre.

This is a joint project by dlr Libraries and dlr Age Friendly Programme, and is supported by the Creativity in Older Age Fund, part of the Creative Ireland Programme.

Stirring Memories - full exhibition on Helena Byrne's website, including lots of wonderful photos and over 150 minutes of recorded interviews

Stirring Memories (PDF version)