Fingal Festival of History 2023 Launched

Download the brochure here

Fingal Libraries seventh annual Festival of History was launched at Swords Castle on Wednesday 13th September. The festival will run from Monday 2nd to Thursday 12th October 2023 throughout the library branches.

Life in Ireland and Fingal is the main theme of the festival as we near the end of the Decade of Centenaries Commemorations. Talks include de Valera and Ireland in 1923 as well as life in Fingal during the 1920s, as well as the effect of the revolutionary period on the lives of children and the Anglo-Irish way of life. 

Other topics for discussion are the role newspapers and the printed word played in the fight for Irish freedom, British military deserters in the Irish Free State, The Markievicz Family, visitors to the Áras as well as the Spanish Flu and the fight against infection.

This year’s programme features some household names such as Dr David McCullagh and Flór McCarthy.  Both form part of the programme for the History at the Castle Day on Saturday 7th October at Swords Castle. Other speakers that day include Dr Declan Brady discussing life in Fingal during the 1920s and retired Garda Detective Chief Superintendent John O’Brien who will give us an insight into the how the Troubles in Northern Ireland impinged on life in the South and on that of An Garda Síochána.

This year we are collaborating with the Clonsilla & Porterstown Heritage Society.  Join them on a ninety-minute guided walk of the natural and built heritage of Clonsilla and the Royal Canal on Sunday 8th October.

County Librarian Betty Boardman said ‘’We in the Libraries Department of Fingal County Council are delighted to present a very interesting programme of talks and events for our seventh Fingal Festival of History. As we reach the end of the Decade of Centenaries Commemorations our programme reflects how the people of Fingal and Ireland resumed their lives after years of conflict”.

Lilian Whelan, Decade of Centenaries co-ordinator for Fingal said “Throughout the decade of centenaries, with the help of The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Fingal County Council has offered an exhaustive, innovative and creative programme of events, including arts commissions, such as our short film, “Peace to the ashes” created with Fingal Arts in 2022. The festival of history has become a stalwart of our Commemorations programming and we are very proud of its development and look forward to the diverse programming for 2023”.

All events are free to the public, but places may be limited so booking is advised.

Download the Brochure here