Dublin City Libraries & Archives

Welcome to the Dublin City Public Libraries and Archive Podcast. In this episode Simon Carswell, the Irish Times Finance Correspondent, talks about Anglo Irish Bank and the part it played in Ireland's economic collapse. This talk, one of a series on the Irish Economy, was recorded in front of a live audience in the Central Library on 29 March 2012.

Gregory Connor, Professor of Finance at NUI, Maynooth, talks about the effect of Ireland joining the Euro, and how things may have worked out differently if our banking regulatory system had been stricter. He also addresses the housing situation, mortgage arrears and how Ireland might get out of debt. This talk, one of a series on the Irish Economy, was recorded in front of a live audience at the Central Library in March 2012.

Economist Ronan Lyons talks about the Irish property market, the changes over time to house prices in Ireland and what might happen in the future. This talk, one of a series on the Irish Economy, was recorded in front of a live audience in the Central Library on 15 March 2012.

Johnny Connolly outlines current research and policy on the broad areas of crime and drugs, and also discusses crime statistics and recent trends in drug consumption. Recorded in front of a live audience in the Central Library on 8 September 2011 as part of its 'Crime and the City' series.

Johnny Connolly is a criminologist in the Alcohol and Drugs Research Unit of the Health Research Board. He has researched and written on community policing, drugs and crime and alternatives to imprisonment. He is a Board member of the Irish Penal Reform Trust.

Johnny outlines current research and policy on the broad areas of crime and drugs. He explains where the statistics in use come from, what they explain and what they may conceal. He also goes through recent trends in drug consumption (rise in the Celtic tiger years, subsequent fall and the ‘headshop’ phenomena) and the official response to this. His talk was followed by questions and answers.

Declan Burke, crime author and journalist, reads from his novel 'Absolute Zero Cool', and explains how he had come to write the book. Recorded in front of a live audience at the Central Library in September 2011 as part of its 'Crime and the City' series.

Declan Burke is an author, journalist and noted blogger. As the owner of the Crime Always Pays website he keeps tabs on the crime writing scene, paying special attention to works and writers of Irish interest. He also pens a monthly Crime Beat column for The Irish Times Review supplement. A multi-talented chap he edited the recent bestselling Down these Green Streets anthology which drew together contributions from the cream of Irish crime writers and commentators on the craft, context and critical relevance of the crime genre in this Emerald Isle.

Declan reads from his novel Absolute Zero Cool, which was shortlisted for the Bord Gáis Irish Book Award and in between segments explains how he came to write this well regarded book.

Questions initially focused on the writing process, his publishing history, online promotion and his blog. Discussion afterwards ranged on everything from blowing up hospitals to crime writing in Ireland.

In this lecture, Brendan Twomey author of many books about Dublin, examines the life and works of Sir John T. Gilbert. The 15th Annual Sir John T. Gilbert Lecture, was recorded in front of a live audience at Dublin City Library and Archive on 23 January, 2012.

Born in 1829, Gilbert was author of the influential three volume 'History of the city of Dublin', published from 1857-59. He was a firm advocate of documenting the history of his native city using primary sources. His work on manuscripts relating to the city alerted him to the need for the preservation of Irish public records, many of which were in a neglected and vulnerable condition. He calendared the records of Dublin Corporation, which date from the twelfth century, and began the series of printed volumes The calendar of ancient records of the city of Dublin.

John T. Gilbert's valuable library of mainly 17th and 18th century books and manuscripts relating to Dublin and Ireland was purchased by Dublin Corporation after his death in 1898. It forms the nucleus of the special collections of Dublin City Public Libraries.

Brendan Twomey has published many books on the history of Dublin including 'Dublin in 1707: A year in the life of the city' (2009) and 'Smithfield and the Parish of St Paul, Dublin 1698-1750' (2005).

Author Cormac Millar reads from his novel 'An Irish Solution' and comments on the nature of crime and crime writing, the paradoxes raised when society attempts to control criminal activities and the failings of the political establishment. Recorded in front of a live audience at the Central Library in September 2011 as part of its 'Crime and the City' series.

Cormac Millar is the author of the critically acclaimed novels An Irish Solution and The Grounds. Cormac reads from An Irish Solution, interspersing it with comments and questions about the nature of crime and crime writing, the paradoxes raised when society attempts to control criminal activities and the failings of the political establishment.

John Lonergan. former Governor of Mountjoy Prison, talks of his time in the Prison Service and his philosophy on prison, dealing with prisoners and people in general. He touches on parenting, the importance of education, self-esteem and community. Recorded in front of a live audience at the Central Library in September 2011 as part of its 'Crime and the City' series.

John Lonergan entered the prison service in 1968 and became Governor of Mountjoy in 1984. After 42 years in the prison service he retired and wrote The Governor which told his life story from his upbringing in rural Tipperary to his retirement as the Governor of Mountjoy.

From 2011 to 2013 the Orchestra of St Cecilia performed the first three series of Haydn symphonies (18 concerts and 54 symphonies)at the Newman University Church, St Stephen's Green, Dublin, a building possessing splendid acoustics and architectural magnificence.

The Orchestra of St Cecilia was formed in January 1995. Drawn from the finest of Dublin’s professional musicians, it has a notable reputation for the excellent quality of its performances

The Orchestra of St Cecilia Collection was kindly donated to Dublin City Library & Archive, 138-144 Pearse Street in 2016.

On 7 March 2010 the Orchestra of St Cecilia, Dublin completed its project of performing all two hundred of Bach’s Church Cantatas over ten years and sixty concerts!

Cantata 150 Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich (No. 1) Sinfonia from highlights from the Orchestra of St Cecilia Complete Bach Cantatas Project 2001-2010 (Disc 1)