The room brimmed at Elm Park Golf Club with members, family, friends, historians and local residents for the launch of Dr Beatrice Doran’s book Donnybrook: A History on the 7th of November.
A long queue quickly formed to purchase a signed copy, published by The History Press. The book describes the people, places, buildings and events in Donnybrook from the eighth century to the present day.
The author Dr Beatrice Doran, is a native of Donnybrook and an academic librarian, having spent 21 years as the Director of the Library at the Royal College of Surgeons. This is her second book, the first one being The History of Muckross Park College.
Launching the book was fellow Dublin 4 resident Fergus Darcy, Professor in Modern History at UCD who said “the book is very impressive in its scope. It is a joy just to flick through its pages looking at the pictures, many memories will be revived or enriched by the discussion of Donnybrook’s various spots, local and national institutions.”
Beatrice describied Donnybrook with affection and said how much she enjoyed the research. She discovered, to her own surprise, that Beaver Row was named after a beaver hat factory, that up to three million people attended the Irish International Exhibition in Herbert Park in 1907 and how the original Donnybrook Fair lasted for 600 years.
She went on to thank guests, colleagues, libraries and a “most special thanks to the people of Donnybrook who contributed generously their time and memories to the book.”
The book is available to buy in various shops and newsagents in the Dublin 4 area and in Eason’s bookshop.
Pictured above, from left: President of the Golf club Brendan Carrigg, Dr Beatrice Doran, Lady Captain of the Golf Club Marguerite Maher and Professor Fergus Darcy.
Photo by Leeza Kane
By Leeza Kane
