Local History Resources
Mario Corrigan – Executive Librarian
Local Studies Dept.
County Kildare Library and Arts Services
CHECK OUT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY – MEMBERSHIP IS FREE IF YOU ARE UNDER 18
• All branch libraries should have
• a local history file
• Reference books such as encyclopaedias and dictionaries
• History books
• Internet access
• Main branches at – Athy, Naas, Celbridge, Leixlip, Newbridge and Maynooth
• Smaller branches at Castledermot, Ballitore, Clane, Kildare Town, Kilcock, Kilcullen, Monasterevin and Rathangan
• Mobile Library –
TYPES OF RESOURCES
• PRIMARY – original documents or resources which were written or compiled around the time of your period of study – books, newspapers, letters, pamphlets, census returns etc.
• SECONDARY – second-hand – usually books or resources written later about the particular incident, person or period which interests you
FORMAT RESOURCES MAKE TAKE
• Books
• Periodicals
• Newspapers
• Maps
• Postcards, prints and photographs
• Census and Valuations
• Websites –
www.kildare.ie/library Local Studies, Genealogy and Archives – Online Resources
• Books
• Primary – original or contemporary accounts of a particular event or period e.g. 1798 Rebellion or The Famine
• Secondary – e.g. accounts written about the Rebellion around 1998 during the 200 year anniversary or in 1995 during the 150 year anniversary of the beginning of The Famine
• Periodicals – published periodically
• One of the best resources we have for Co. Kildare is the Journal of the County Kildare Archaeological Society 1891 – present – all aspects of the history and archaeology of County Kildare
• NEWSPAPERS in Kildare Local Studies Dept. from 1763 – to present
most important in terms of County Kildare during your period
– Leinster Leader – 1881 – present
– Kildare Observer – 1880 – 1935
– Leinster Express – 1831 – 1884
– Nationalist and Leinster Times 1880 – 1959
• MAPS
– To show exactly where a place is that you are talking about
– To look at any items of interest that might be noted or recorded
• William Petty 1683
• Noble and Keenan 1752
• Alexander Taylor 1783
• Original Ordnance Survey 1837
• POSTCARDS, PRINTS and PHOTOGRAPHS
– Images of the landscape or streets and people of a different time
• How the people dress or the type of transport they use
• How the streets of your town looked 100 years ago
FAMOUS COLLECTIONS – EASON, VALENTINE, LAWRENCE
Local Studies Dept.; National Library;
e.g. Photographic Archive at www.nli.ie
• Census and Valuations
• 1901 and 1911 Census Returns
• Griffith’s Valuation
• Websites
– www.kildare.ie/library Local Studies, Genealogy and Archives – Online Resources
– www.kildare.ie/library/ehistory LOADS OF PROJECT IDEAS!!
– Possible Projects relating to Co. Kildare from these sites
– Gordon Bennett Motor Race 1903 [Library site]
– All Ireland Football Final 1928 [Library site]
– Co. Kildare in 1837 [Library Site – Lewis]
– Kildare in 1881 – Slater’s Trade Directory [Library site]
– Naas Workhouse – Kildare and The Famine [Library site]
– Burning of Palmerstown House in 1923 [EHistory]
– Naas Free Library – Opening in 1905 [EHistory]
Have a good look at all the resources on these sites and remember YOU CAN SEARCH EHISTORY for more information or possible topics
OTHER POSSIBLE PROJECTS
– Clongorey Evictions – book by Mary Ryan
– County Kildare in 1798 – focus on particular battle e.g.
– Battle of Prosperous 1798 (article in Fugitive Warfare)
– Battle of Rathangan 1798 (article in History and Society)
– Battle of Ovidstown 1798 (article in Fugitive Warfare)
– Battle of Ovidstown 1798 (article on EHISTORY)
– Kildare and 1916
– Kildare and the War of Independence
– Kildare and the Civil War
FOR 1916-1923 see James Durney’s Book – On the One Road)
– RAF and Luftwaffe internees on the Curragh WWII (Curragh Local History Book; Guests of the Nation and also Landed in Ireland)
– Ernest Shackleton – Antartic Explorer (lots of books in library; websites)
– Mary Leadbeater – Annals of Ballitore (Annals in Local Studies Dept.)
– King Edwards visit to Punchestown 1904 (Local Newspapers and Naas Local History Book)
– Dan Donnelly’s defeat of Cooper in 1815 (Book on Donnelly by Patrick Myler)
[An overview of resources you might use for your history project with loads of possible project ideas!]
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