Baltinglass Detective Reigns in Spain

© The Publisher

Full title: The City in Darkness: a Stefan Gillespie novel

Creator / Author: Michael Russell

Item Type / Page count: Book / 338p

When Published: 2016

Publisher / Place of Publication: Constable / Carmelite House, 50 Victoria Embankment, London EC4Y 0DZ.

About: This is the third book in a series of historical crime fiction featuring the West Wicklow based Detective Inspector Stefan Gillespie. The action ranges from the Wicklow Mountains through Dublin and on to Spain and Portugal. The book is set in the early 1940’s which allows the author scope to use Second World War Europe and the ‘Emergency’ period in Ireland as backdrop to the story.

ID number(s): 9781472121929 / 9781472121912 / 9781472121943

WW Connection #1: The hometown of the main character is given as Baltinglass.

WW Connection #2: The author is a resident of the Baltinglass / Kiltegan area.

Extra #1: Opening lines: “There was barely a whisper of mist on the Upper Lake, a softness in the air where the water rippled among reeds and lapped on the pebble beach at the eastern end…”

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #3: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

Extra #4: Read a review of this book courtesy of Irish Examiner newspaper

Households in Hollywood Parish in middle of 19th century (2)

Full title: Parish of Hollywood

Creator / Author: Richard Griffith

Item Type / Page count: Book Chapter / eDoc / 1p

When Published: 1854

Publisher / Place of Publication: Alexander Thom and Sons for Her Majesty’s Stationary Office / 87 Abbey Street, Dublin.

Parent Publication [book]: County of Wicklow: valuation of the several tenements comprising that portion of the Union of Naas situate in the county above named / Richard Griffith, General Valuation Office / 27pp

About: The property tax system of 1850’s Ireland, otherwise known as Griffiths Valuation. It was the first major attempt at valuing property. This section lists the small part of the Parish of Hollywood in West Wicklow, which was covered by the Poor Law Union of Naas in County Kildare. Most of the Parish of Hollywood was within the area covered by the Poor Law Union of Baltinglass.

ID number(s): None

Contents: Blakestown Upper — Blakestown Lower — Britonstown

Extra #1: Read the entries for Griffiths Valuation Hollywood Parish within Naas Union (pdf file).

Extra #2: Search Griffiths Valuation and link to contemporary maps at AskAboutIreland.ie

Extra #3: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide

Extra #4: Link to the blog post for that part of Hollywood Parish within Baltinglass Union.

Croppy Biddy Don’t Lie Down

© The Publisher

Full title: Bridget ‘Croppy Biddy’ Dolan: Wicklow’s anti-heroine of 1798

Creator / Author: Ruan O’Donnell

Item Type / Page count: Book Chapter / 25pp

When Published: 1998

Publisher / Place of Publication: Four Courts Press / Fumbally Lane, Dublin 8.

Parent Publication [book]: The Women of 1798 / edited by Dáire Keogh and Nicholas Furlong / 208pp

About: This book chapter (pp. 87-112) looks at the role played by ‘informant’ Bridget Dolan in the conviction of several United Irishmen for anti-government activities in the Wicklow area. The most high-profile trial that she was associated with was that of William ‘Billy’ Byrne of Ballymanus, which led to Byrne’s execution. The author explores the circumstances of the demonisation of Bridget Dolan whom he refers to as “one of the most interesting women to participate in the rebellion and its aftermath”.

ID number(s): 1851823587 / 185182359X

WW Connection #1: Bridget ‘Croppy Biddy’ Dolan was born and lived in Carnew in South West Wicklow in 1777.

Extra #1: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #2: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.