Victorian Dublin Revealed: The Remarkable Legacy of Nineteenth-Century Dublin

by Michael B. Barry

During the 63 years of Victoria's reign, Dublin was a simmering cauldron of religious and political tensions. The city developed into a curious mixture of impoverished central areas and comfortable middle-class leafy suburbs. This era spanned the peak of the industrial revolution and the rise of the railway and steamship. During that time, the city's shape and the pattern of life changed enormously.
Many people in Dublin live or work in Victorian buildings. Yet few realise the full extent of the outstanding heritage of that time that still exists here, a legacy more remarkable than in many other cities of that time. Michael Barry's striking photographs capture the essence of that period.

This is Dublin as you have never seen it. The surprising wealth of Victorian buildings throughout the city, including those hidden from the public gaze, is revealed here. Skilfully interwoven with these illustrations is the story of that important many-faceted era, being the formative years in which were created the foundations of the modern city. Written in a highly readable style, this entertaining book is essential for those who wish to explore the intriguing history and heritage of Victorian Dublin.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2011

About the author

Author and historian Michael B. Barry studied in Trinity College, Dublin. He has worked on transportation projects both in Ireland and around the world. With a strong interest in history and heritage, Michael has written several books including 'Victorian Dublin Revealed' and 'The Green Divide, an Illustrated History of the Irish Civil War'. His recent book 'Courage Boys, We are Winning, an Illustrated History of the 1916 Rising' is a best seller. It has been described in the press as the best illustrated book on the 1916 Rising, and has gone into reprint.

Michael is an accomplished photographer and, in the years leading up to 2008, traveled to Spain, Jordan and Morocco to take a large selection of images for 'Homage to al-Andalus, the Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain'. His research also took him to Syria in 2008. His photographs of Syria’s heritage taken then form a valuable archive which enabled him to create the book 'Beyond the Chaos, the Remarkable Heritage of Syria' in 2014.

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although the author is very interested in 19th century architecture his book is excellent as a short Dublin social, religious, and working history of the city at that time. It’s very readable and has great photos, nearly all taken by the author.

A lot of Victorian Dublin seems to remain so this could be used as a guidebook for seeing the town—businesses, churches, schools, residences, neighborhoods, and cemeteries. The Georgian era is familiar to many with its colorfully painted doors and restrained design. The author discusses what followed and was to spread out from the Georgian core. Early Victorian residential fronts have a lot in common with the Georgian but became more fanciful with time, especially south of the Liffey. Even factories and other workplaces have wonderful ornamentation. Interior photos of public buildings are great here too.

[T P Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting insight into an overlooked past of Dublin's past. We tend to focus on the Georgian heritage to the point where the very significant Victorian imprint on the city is neglected. It's beautifully illustrated with some great photographs. Unfortunately, it's mostly descriptive rather then analytical but still is a good read.

[Stephen Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book for research.