A Little Book of Blessington

© The Publisher

Full title: Blessington now and then, here and there: a dip into some of the historical background of Blessington, its people and its surroundings

Creator / Author: Blessington Local and Family History Society (compilers)

Item Type / Page count: Book / 84pp

When Published: 2002

Publisher / Place of Publication: Blessington Local and Family History Society / [Blessington, Co. Wicklow]

About: A profusely-illustrated collection of mostly short pieces highlighting various aspects of the history of the Blessington area and its hinterlands. The old photographs reproduced here are a particular delight. The most substantial article in the book runs to 12 pages on the subject of Russborough House.

ID number(s): None

Contents: Blessington : What’s in a name / Maureen Phibbs — The Downshires and their Blessington Estate / Kathy Trant — Blessington 1824-2002: from Pigot’s and Slater’s Directories and the 1901 Census — The Blacksmith — Churches: Blessington and Manor Kilbride / Elizabeth Halligan — The Girls of Kilbride School 1933 [photograph] — Russborough House / Crena McGee — A Nursery Maid Remembers / May Tyrell — Kilbride Camp: a short history / Peter Reynolds — From Pennybog to Shankill / Elizabeth (Lizzie) Eustace — Dublin to Blessington Steam Tram / Aidan Cruise — Blessington Garda Síochána / Peter Reynolds — The Horseshoe Hall at Poulaphouca / Tom O’Rourke Snr. — Band Hall Blessington — The First Picture Shows / Billy Gobbett — Brass and Reed Band c.1950[ photograph] — Three centuries / Bridget McEvoy — Fife and drum band 1904 [photograph] — Blessington Mart / Ned Doyle — Donard School 1919 [photograph] — The Blessington Horseshow / Ned Doyle — Blessington No.1 School 1937 [photograph] — Lime kilns / Aidan Cruise — A Walk Around Blessington / Aidan Cruise — Other publications about the local area.

Extra #1: Illustrated throughout with several black & white photographs.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

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

Ninth Collection of Articles on West Wicklow History

© WWHS

Full title: Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society: Number 9, 2017

Creator / Author: West Wicklow Historical Society & contributors, joint editors Chris Lawlor, Donal McDonnell

Item Type / Page count: Journal (Complete issue) / 170p

When Published: 2017

Publisher / Place of Publication: West Wicklow Historical Society / Baltinglass (?), Co. Wicklow.

About: This ninth publication of a set of articles on aspects of West Wicklow history is the most substantial yet with articles of the highest quality. A diverse range of topics is covered from medieval stone lamps and sheep wash-holes to the Plymouth Brethren and railway accidents. The most extensive article in this issue is by Chris Lawlor which looks at the impact of the Civil War on ordinary citizens as reflected in compensation claim records. Overall this publication makes a most appealing Christmas stocking-filler for anyone interested in West Wicklow history.

ID number(s): 0790-1739

Contents: Foreword from the Chairman / John A. O’Toole — Ramblings of the Secretary / Donal McDonnell — Editor’s Preface / Chris Lawlor — Archaeological excavation on Baltinglass Hill – Lathaleere – the evolution of a place-name / Paul Gorry — Death in the Glen of Imaal – 16^th September 1941 / James Scannell — The Plymouth Brethren and the Baltinglass connection / Cora Crampton – The Boyestowne Lordship: Baltyboys, Tulfarris & Humphreystown 1650-1850 [Part One] / Brendan Corrigan — County Wicklow Grand Jury 1793 – William Hanbidge’s recollections of wool-weaving in the 1820’s / John Hussey — A light into medieval Ireland: some thoughts on cresset-stones and a previously undocumented example from Newry townland, southwest Wicklow / Lorcan Harney — Denis Gavin and Ellen Murphy: early Queensland pioneers / Pauleen Cass — Odd fish in West Wicklow / Christopher Moriarty — Sheep wash-holes in West Wicklow / Seamus Balfe and John Hussey — A fatal accident on the Dublin & Blessington tram line in 1912 / James Scannell — Ernest Molyneux of The Decoy / Tom Molyneux – Tuckmills in West Wicklow / John Hussey — Trouble with the points / James Scannell – Three men and a (little) mountain / Brian McCabe – Raids, requisitions and recompense: the Civil War’s impact on West Wicklow, 1922-3 / Chris Lawlor – Review: Brendan Corrigan’s The History of Hollywood Co Wicklow / John Glennon.

Extra #1: Illustrated throughout with black & white photographs, maps, drawings and graphs.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

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

Extra #4: Visit the West Wicklow Historical Society website.

A Nostalgic Look at the Blessington Tramway

© The Publisher

Full title: The Dublin & Blessington Steam Tramway

Creator / Author: Andrew Fayle

Item Type / Page count: Journal Article / 3p

Journal Information: Industrial Heritage, Volume 8, No. 3, pp. 11-13, edited by John Keavey.

When Published: Autumn 1990

Publisher / Place of Publication: The Book House / Ravenstonedale, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, CA17 4NQ, England

About: A short and nostalgic look at the Dublin-Blessington-Poulaphuca line. It would appear that the author was familiar with the tramway as a boy and teenager, although recollections of specific placenames are questionable. The writer’s family moved to England in 1921.

ID number(s): 0265-5071

Extra #1: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

Extra #2: Includes a map.

Extra #3: Browse the 1911 Census entry for the author, Andrew Fayle

West Wicklow’s Only Tramway

© The Publisher

Full title: The Dublin and Blessington Steam Tramway

Creator / Author: H. Fayle and A.T. Newham

Item Type / Page count: Book / 32pp

When Published: 1963 (reprinted in 1980)

Publisher / Place of Publication: The Oakwood Press / Tandridge Lane, Lingfield, Surrey, England

About: The history of the Dublin-Blessington Tramway as told by two eminent railway enthusiasts and published as Number 20 in a series of ‘Locomotion Papers’. This must be regarded as the definitive history of the line as the authors have written extensively on the whole subject of railways in Ireland.

ID number(s): None

Contents: Preface – Chapter I – Chapter II: Rolling Stock – Chapter III: Description of the Line – Chapter IV: The 1911 Scheme – Chapter V: General Matters – Chapter VI: Anecdotes – Chapter VII: The Closing Years.

Extra #1: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

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

Extra #3: Includes eight pages of photographs and a map.

Extra #4: Allied Irish Banks sponsored a reprint of this book in 1980. This celebrated the opening of a new AIB branch in Blessington.

125 Years of Education in Blessington

© St. Mary’s

Full title: A History of St. Mary’s National School Blessington: 125th anniversary 1882 – 2007.

Creator / Author: St. Mary’s National School

Item Type / Page count: Book / 159p

When Published: 2007

Publisher / Place of Publication: St. Mary’s National School/ Blessington, Co. Wicklow.

About: A book that is a commemoration of 125 years of teaching at the local primary school. It celebrates the history of the community as told through a compendium of short pieces brought to life by past and present pupils.

ID number(s):None

Contents: Chairman’s address – Principal’s address — Introduction – Forewords – Hedge schools / Larry McCorristine – The National School System / Larry McCorristine – Towards a new school: Blessington 1882 – Blessington Catholic Schools – A Lament for Allen View National School [ballad] / Pat ‘Phildy’ McGowan – An Interview with Mr. Frank Murphy – probably the oldest surviving pupil of St. Mary’s – “I learned nothing” / Frank Murphy – Pat Hanlon (aged 93 years), The Rundle, Knockieran – Bridie and Jane Tyrrell – “Worse than Purgatory” / Evelyn Hudson – “Never missed a day” / Tom Tyrell – The Blessington Tram [ballad] / Peter C. Grattan – Sheila Walsh, née Boylan, aged 82 years – Billy Crowley – an interview – The Teaching of Religion in the National School – Parish Priests of Blessington Parish – The Church of Our Mother of Mercy / Beth Halligan — The Church of Our Lady of the Most Holy Sacrament / Beth Halligan – Seamus Dowling: the man from Mill House – School in the 1940’s – From Blessington to Baghdad / Joe Halligan – Hampden Bomber Crash Site Blackhill 1941 – Annie Byrne née Geoghegan, Burgage – “The Good Old Days” / Pete Nolan – The Primary Certificate – My Memories of St. Mary’s N.S. 1948-1949 / Ron Charles née Veronica Bohan — Knitting and Sewing – She Taught Them All / Vincent Byrne – Mrs. Elizabeth O’Donnell / Manus O’Donnell – Sean Davin, Principal of St. Mary’s N.S. from 1968-1996 – Memories of St. Mary’s National School, Blessington / Theresa Torsney née Creighton — Memoirs of St. Mary’s / Rena Hennessy – Willie Sargent Remembers – Blessington National School Parents Association – Darren McHugh – Schooldays in the 1980’s / Larissa Nolan – Gemma Ashe (R.I.P.) – Comórtas / Ciaran Duffy – Christy Casey – New Principal – Christy Casey (R.I.P.) – an appreciation – Lisa Frederick-Dunne (R.I.P) – Gerry Brown, Principal of St. Mary’s N.S., Blessington 1999-2007 – German in St. Mary’s 1995-2003 / Iris Rouse – Remembering St. Mary’s National School, Blessington 1995 to 2003 / Ellen Bytyqi, Naseem Nolan & Macha O’Donnell – Sport in St. Mary’s National School, Blessington / Lisa Smith – Turning the Sod / Gerry Brown – 125^th Anniversary Mass and Unveiling of Commemorative Stone — St. Mary’s National School, Blessington, Co. Wicklow – List of teachers – Epilogue.

Extra #1: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #2: Contains dozens of black and white photographs, mainly of local people.

Railroad to Blessington

© The Publisher

Full title: The Dublin and Blessington Steam Tram: a Pictorial and Social History.

Creator / Author: by Aidan Cruise (edited by Jim Corley)

Item Type / Page count: Book / 96p

When Published: 2009

Publisher / Place of Publication: South Dublin Libraries / Local Studies Section, County Library, Town Centre, Tallaght, Dublin 24.

About: A popular history of the Dublin to Blessington Tram told more in pictures than words. About two-thirds of the book is made up of historical photographs and illustrations which are shown to very good effect on the glossy paper used in the book’s production.

ID number(s):9780955379871

Contents: Mayor’s introduction – Acknowledgements – Transport in the 19^th century – Origins of the Dublin to Blessington Steam Tram – Accidents – Extension to Poulaphuca – Licensing Prosecution – Maintenance of the trams and line – War, rebellion and civil strife – Civil war – St. Brigid’s Sanitorium, Crooksling – Demise of the tram – Memories of the tram – Popular verse and local lore.

Extra #1: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

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

Extra #3: Contains photographs, maps and period advertisements.

Seventh Collection of Articles on West Wicklow History

© WWHS

Full title: Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society: Number 7, 2013

Creator / Author: West Wicklow Historical Society & contributors, joint editors Chris Lawlor, Donal McDonnell

Item Type / Page count: Journal (Complete issue) / 120p

When Published: 2013

Publisher / Place of Publication: West Wicklow Historical Society / Baltinglass (?), Co. Wicklow.

About: The seventh publication of a set of articles on aspects of West Wicklow history. This issue contains articles featuring locations from Coolattin to Croatia. It even strays into east Wicklow with an article on Charles Stewart Parnell and his times by Mary Bergin. However, the major article runs to almost a quarter of the entire publication and is a substantial essay, by Dunlavin native Chris Lawlor, on Feagh Mac Hugh O’Byrne.

ID number(s): 0790-1739

Contents: Preface from the Chairman — Ramblings of the Secretary — A man of integrity? The varying roles of Robert Chaloner, Earl Fitzwilliam’s land-agent during Black ‘47 / Fidelma Byrne — Contextualising a chieftain’s career: the case of Feagh Mac Hugh O’Byrne / Chris Lawlor – Wicklow Farm Labourers: a facet of the 1880s Land War / Pádraig G. Lane — The RIC and the IRA in Wicklow’s War of Independence / Kevin Cullen — Constable James Stephen Cunningham and his family / Shay Cunningham — Some facts about the activities of Mark Forstall in Croatia / Luka Vukusic – Scurlock’s Graveyard / Brian McCabe — The annual inspections of the Dublin & Blessington Steam Tramway Company in 1912 and 1913 / James Scannell — Donard’s New Church, 1925 [from the Leinster Leader Saturday, 18^th July, 1925] — The Wicklow landlord who held sway over the British Empire: Parnell and his times / Mary Bergin — Raids, robberies and attacks: West Wicklow during the Civil War / Jason Lawlor.

Extra #1: Contains several black & white photographs and maps.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

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

Extra #4: Visit the West Wicklow Historical Society website.

A Second Valleymount Compendium

© The Publisher

Full title: Valleymount – Facets of our Local History Part Two

Creator / Author: Fr. Richard Cantwell (editor) & contributors.

Item Type / Page count: Magazine (Complete issue) / 38p

When Published: Christmas 1990

Publisher / Place of Publication: Parish of Valleymount / Valleymount, Co. Wicklow.

About: This is the second of four collections of local history material which was first published separately in various issues of the Valleymount Parish News.  It covers areas such as Lacken, Baltyboys, Blessington, Poulaphuca and Valleymount. The major article in this collection is on the history of Valleymount G.A.A. club. It is a photocopied rather than printed publication and the quality of reproduction reflects this.

ID number(s): None

Contents: Cover drawing: The Church — Photograph of C. S. Parnell and T. M. O’Reilly —  Valleymount Church Restoration / Fr. Richard Cantwell  — St. Kevin’s Window / Fr. Richard Cantwell  – St. Joseph’s Valleymount, Re-opened / A Special Correspondent — Bishop Boden’s Well — Parish Registers of Births, Marriages and Confirmations  / Fr. Richard Cantwell — Ireland’s ‘Forgotten’ Valley / Barbara Page – To the memory of Father Rowan [poem] / Anon — Lough Cleevaun [poem] / T. M. O’Reilly – Granabeg [poem] / T. M. O’Reilly — …”When yez lave me in Baltyboys” / Matty Lennon – Sister Kevin Osborne / Fr. Richard Cantwell — Fr. Seamus McGeehan [obituary] / Mgr. Owen Sweeney — The Lord Mayor / Mattie Lennon — Diamond Jubilee of Father Dufficy / Fr. Richard Cantwell — The Dublin Blessington Steam Tram / Fr. Richard Cantwell — Valleymount GAA Club / Sean O’Sullivan – Items from ‘Leinster Leader’ – A Peek at our History / Fr. Richard Cantwell.

Extra #1: Contains illustrations and reproduction photographs throughout the text.

Extra #2: Link to the full text of this magazine via this page at blessington.jimdo.com.

**UPDATE** September 2022: This ebook does not appear to be currently available to read online.

Sixth Collection of Articles on West Wicklow History

© WWHS

Full title: Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society: Number 6, 2011

Creator / Author: West Wicklow Historical Society & contributors, joint editors Chris Lawlor, Donal McDonnell

Item Type / Page count: Journal (Complete issue) / 100p

When Published: 2011

Publisher / Place of Publication: West Wicklow Historical Society / Baltinglass (?), Co. Wicklow.

About: The sixth publication of a set of articles on aspects of West Wicklow history. This issue contains articles featuring locations as diverse as Calverstown, Co. Kildare, Glen of Imaal, High Park and Australia. The major article in this edition is ’Pastimes’ by Joseph McArdle, a fictional account of life in the Tuckmill area of Baltinglass in the late 19^th century. It is a chapter from a manuscript entitled ‘The Hillside Farm, or How We Lived in the Eighties’. Another chapter from this manuscript was published in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society: Number 5, 2009.

ID number(s): 0790-1739

Contents: A word from the Chairman — Ramblings of the Secretary — Death in the valley [the killing of Neil ‘Plunkett’ O’Boyle] / James Durney — Blackhall Castle, Calverstown, Co. Kildare [and theories as to the possible functions of its Sheelagh na Gig] / Cora Crampton – Knockpatrick Hill legend [a dress fastener for a chieftain’s cloak] / Dorothy Leonard — Michael Dwyer and Bridget Brown of Cummock / David Ward — The role of  horses in farm life in the 1920’s / Stanley Jackson — Miscellaneous biographical notices relating to Baltinglass, appearing in newspapers, 1748-1904 / Paul Gorry – Martin Byrne, 1815-1892 / Dermot Kavanagh and Brian Kavanagh — Farewell to the 25-pounder field gun / James Scannell — Hollywood, an historic village /  John Glennon — Passage tombs in West Wicklow / Mairéad Connellan — [‘The Hillside Farm, or how we lived in the 1880s’ an extract entitled]…Pastimes / Joseph McArdle — The Westbys and High Park House / Peadar Cullen — St. Nicholas’s Holy Well, Tournant / Chris Lawlor — Christmas Day 1910 Dublin and Blessington Steam Tramway timetable / James Scannell.

Extra #1: Contains several black & white photographs and maps.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

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

Extra #4: Visit the West Wicklow Historical Society website.

Fifth Collection of Articles on West Wicklow History

© WWHS

Full title: Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society: Number 5, 2009

Creator / Author: West Wicklow Historical Society & contributors, joint editors Chris Lawlor, Donal McDonnell

Item Type / Page count: Journal (Complete issue) / 107p

When Published: 2009

Publisher / Place of Publication: West Wicklow Historical Society / Baltinglass (?), Co. Wicklow.

About: The fifth publication of a set of articles on aspects of West Wicklow history. This issue covers locations from Baltyboys to Kiltegan with contributions from natives of the area.  Also featured is a major article by Chris Lawlor on Tithe, Protest and Criminality around Dunlavin during the years 1823-1845.

ID number(s): 0790-1739

Contents: Frontispiece: A map of 31 holdings in Stratford, late 18thC — A word from the Chairman — Ramblings from the Secretary — All the year round / Joseph McArdle — St. Patrick’s Missionary Society: S.P.S (The Kiltegan Fathers)  / Peadar C. Ó Cuilinn — Tithe, Protest and Criminality around Dunlavin, 1823-1845 / Chris Lawlor — Billy’s Country – a childhood memory / Kathleen Kinsella (née Keogh) — The West Wicklow Historical Society Officers 2009 — Baltinglass Cistercian Abbey / Mairéad Connellan — When Britannia’s sons with their long-range guns ran out in the Glen of Imaal / Liam Kenny — Photo from the past – John Dwyer, son of rebel leader Michael Dwyer / Eugene Byrne — West Wicklow as described in the Parliamentary Gazetteer of 1846 / compiled by Jason Lawlor — A horse tale / Dorothy Leonard — Memories of Donard [photo essay] — Elizabeth Smith comes to Baltyboys / Jim Corley — Dairy farming in West Wicklow: from the horse driven dash churn to creamery milk collection / Stanley Jackson — Methodists in Baltinglass – a juvenile obituary / Andrew Winnett — Extracts from the ‘Post-Chaise Companion or Travellers’ Directory Through Ireland’ / William Wilson — The development and present state of local Irish historiography / Chris Lawlor — A dangerous line / Janes Scannell — Endpiece: Map of Clough, Baltinglass 1722.

Extra #1: Contains black & white photographs, graphs and map reproductions.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

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

Extra #4: Visit the West Wicklow Historical Society website.