South Libraries Local Studies Section, The County Library, , Dublin 24. 01-4620073 [email protected] Leaving Cert History – Suggested Research Topics

Milling in County

There was a thriving milling industry in South Dublin County in the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Producing everything from corn, flour and paper to oil and gunpowder, the evidence of these mills can still be seen on our landscape today. South Dublin became an important centre for paper-making. Rags were required for the paper milling process and there was access to a ready supply in the nearby city. For example, your study could focus on a particular mill or type of milling.

Testing paper at Swiftbrook Mill, & a map showing the mills around Tallaght, 1816.

Sources

Books:

Hogg, William, The Mills and Millers of Ireland of about 1850, available County Library shelf 941.58 & LH 941.58

[In Tallaght and surrounding area] Bagnall, Sean, Tallaght 1835-1850, a rural place available County Library shelf 941.83Tallaght & LH 941.83Tallaght

Newspaper Sources:

Irish Newspaper Archives - includes Irish Independent archive. Available on computers at the County Library

Irish Times Archive. Available on computers in all South Dublin Libraries branches.

Oral Histories:

Interview with Kit Brady, former worker at Swiftbrook Paper Mill, Saggart, available at http://source.southdublinlibraries.ie

Other Internet:

Overview of mills in South Dublin County, including text, maps and photographs, at www.askaboutireland.ie (Reading Room>South Dublin County Library>The Mills of South Dublin County)

Photographs, available at http://source.southdublinlibraries.ie

Audio visual presentation of Kit Brady’s photographs of Swiftbrook Paper Mill available at http://source.southdublinlibraries.ie

Griffith’s Valuation: land valuation carried out between 1847 and 1864 – gives owners and tenants of mills, mill size, value, etc. Available at www.askaboutireland.ie

Maps, available at http://source.southdublinlibraries.ie & interactive maps available at http://gis.sdublincoco.ie/historical_mapping/

Mills of South Dublin County around 1850 Records from Griffith’s Valuation

Mill Miller Type of Mill Thomas Connolly Esq./ Paper Mill William Caldbeck Esq./ Thomas Seery Fairview Peter McNally/ Joseph Oil Mill (Clondalkin) Henry Esq./ Nicholas Clarke M McGarry Esq. Lead & Copper Lower Mills Palmerstown M McGarry Esq./ John O’ Cotton Factory & Lower Brien Esq. Logwood Mill Palmerstown M McGarry Esq./John Oil Mill Lower O’Brien Esq. SaintLaurence James Macken Mill (type not (Palmerstown) known) Old Bawn Samuel Neil Flour Mill Old Bawn Michael McDonnell Paper Mill Old Bawn John McCracken Esq. Mills (type not known) James Sharp Flour Mill Templeogue Francis Burke Mill (type not known) Templeogue Joseph McDonnell Esq. Paper Mill Tallaght James Williamson Paper Mill Backweston Michael & William Paper Mill Park McDonnell (Newcastle) Dodd borough Mrs. Anne Davis Corn Mill (Lucan) Saggart John McDonnell Esq. Paper Mills College land Thomas Connor Corn Mill (Rathcoole) Rathcredan Mary Anne McDonnell Corn Mill (Rathcoole) Thomas Murray Cloth Mill Willbrook Robert Gibney Flour Mill Willbrook William Evans Flour Mill John Read Esq. Woollen Cloth mill Ballyboden Nicolas Ryan Paper Mill Ballyboden John McDonagh Paper Mill Robert Sherlock Washing Mill Edmondstown John Read Esq. Woollen Cloth Mill Edmondstown Margaret Dollard Paper Mills