The Villages Of Dublin (1987)

This charming book by Jimmy Wren was published to coincide with the general PR stunt that was the Dublin Millennium celebrations of 1988. By all accounts Dublin is significantly older than its so called 988 genesis but that year was proposed in 1986 because why the hell not that's why. Readers old enough will probably remember lots of stuff about vikings and of course the Millennium 50p coin. These coins were, according to those in the know in playgrounds during the 1990s, worth £50. The book contains a potted history of most of the villages that comprise Dublin. There are a few places notable by their absence but it does a fine job covering Abbotstown & Ashtown, Artane, Balbriggan, Baldoyle, Ballyfermot, Ballybough & Clonliffe, Ballymun, Blackrock, Blanchardstown, Cabra, Castleknock, Chapelizod, Clontarf, Clondalkin, Coolock, Crumlin, Dalkey, Donnybrook, Donnycarney, Drumcondra, Dun Laoghaire, Finglas, Glasnevin, Howth, Inchicore & Kilmainham, Killester, Lucan, Marino, Malahide, Monkstown, Portmarnock, Raheny, Ranelagh, Rathfarnham, Rathgar, Rathmines, Ringsend & Irishtown, Rush, Santry, Sandymount, Stoneybatter, Swords, and Tallaght. What makes this book really shine to my mind are the wonderful Ripley's Believe It Or Not-esque illustrated histories of the towns and villages. I don't own a scanner so I took photos of a few pages, excuse the quality. If you'd like to purchase a copy of the book you can get it here.