Artwork by Trevor of Crumlin & Walkinstown History Group
Rare glimpse of area around the present day fire station on Crumlin Road
“ONE of our volunteers, Trevor, has been doing a bit of work around that area [of Crumlin],” explains Aidan of the Crumlin and Walkinstown History Group.
The Crumlin & Walkinstown History Group presents a rare glimpse of the area around the present-day fire station on Crumlin Road and Rutland Avenue before the housing scheme transformed it.
See unseen photos, hear long-lost stories of people and bustling businesses, and uncover surprising literary links to Joyce, Beckett, and Shaw.
It vanished from map and memory; a lost corner of Crumlin, hidden for decades, was brought vividly back to life. This is just one chapter in the bigger story of Crumlin’s past.
The Dolphin’s Barn fire station later replaced the many “lovely” homes that once lined the canal.
Aidan mentions that Trevor made contact with descendants of the people who lived in those houses, obtaining photographs and building up the story.
The event is a presentation to tell people about the history of the area and the houses that were demolished.
Aidan notes that it aims to inform people about a time when old houses were demolished and new ones were built, which is a significant part of local history.
The presentation has generated a lot of interest, as it was booked out quickly, indicating a need for a repeat of it.
Aidan expresses hope that the event will be a success and that people will be interested in hearing the story.
He also mentions that the Dublin City Libraries are running the Dublin Festival of History from the end of September to the middle of October this year.
Two talks are organised as part of the festival, both to be held in Walkinstown Library.
The first talk on October 4 will be about Ranelagh Square, a historic area in Crumlin, with a volunteer speaker who lives there.
The second talk on October 11 will be given by Speaker 2 about Kimmage Mills, a historic mill on the Poddle River, which operated for over 100 years.
Aidan would like to thank Walkinstown Library for facilitating the room and organising the booking system, Trevor for his research, and the members of the History Group for their help.
He also extends his gratitude to the people of Crumlin and Walkinstown for showing an interest in local history.
The ‘Vanishing Crumlin’ presentation takes place in the Walkinstown Library on September 10 from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.
Places are full as of writing, but make sure to get a spot on the waiting list on the Dublin City Library website.
