FORMER Monty Python stalwart, writer and presenter Michael Palin, and best-selling author Helen Rappaport, will be the headline speakers at this year’s Dublin Festival of History this weekend.
Thousands have been attending free walks, talks, tours and exhibitions as the Dublin Festival of History 2018 continues.
Launched with astounding success last week, the Dublin City Council festival runs until October 7 and features 140 events in total, including many exploring themes of suffrage and women’s rights.
More than half the speakers on the programme are women, covering topics ranging from Hitler’s Valkyries to Victorian-era sex-workers. Sports, music, gaming, slavery, the Romanovs of Russia, and seminal moments in Irish history also make an appearance on the extensive programme of events.
Brendan Teeling, Dublin City Librarian, said: “This year, we’re marking 100 years of women gaining the right to vote, so it’s fantastic that the theme of suffrage is prominent in the festival’s programme.
“It’s important we tell the stories of the people who fought for women’s suffrage and have subse-quently shaped the country we live in today. That’s the great thing about history: looking to the past can provide context for the present and inspiration for the future.
“The events this year are incredibly diverse,” he added. “We’re covering 1,000 years of history, from the Vikings to the history of sports in Ireland to political artefacts from our recent referenda. There’s really something for everyone in the programme, and we would encourage anyone with an interest in history to come along – all our events are free”
Festival highlights include: ‘Michael Collins: the Man and the Revolution’ – with Anne Dolan and William Murphy at Donaghmede Library (Thursday, October 4 at 6.30pm); and A History Ireland Hedge School on the topic of ‘1918-2018 – A century of women’s activism’, taking place at Dublin City Hall (Friday, October 5 at 6.30pm).
Michael Palin will a,lso be in conversation with author and journalist Ed O’Loughlin about Palin’s book, ‘Erebus: The Story of A Ship’ (Dublin Castle; Saturday, October 6 at 7pm).
‘The Race to Save the Romanovs’ with the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling historian Helen Rappaport will be in Dublin Castle on Sunday, October 7 at 5pm).
A ‘Mythical Creatures’ exhibition at the Edward Worth Library at Dr Steevens’ Hospital in Dublin 8 (tours at 11am and 2pm on October 4.
The festival culminates with a ‘Big Weekend’ series of talks at City Hall and The Printworks, Dublin Castle.