Jacob’s is remembered by many Dubliners as a benevolent employer. The firm’s concern with welfare, while relatively innovative, was nevertheless paternalist and profit-driven, with a view to forging a loyal and healthy workforce in a city where housing and sanitation were notoriously poor. One of Ireland’s top three manufacturing firms for some time after independence, women and girls consistently made up two-thirds of its staff. This talk will explore the female experience of work at Jacob’s, covering issues of social class, gendered discipline, and discrimination in preference of

Christine Falls by John Banville is the One Dublin One Book choice for 2026, following on from Dublin Written in Our Hearts, an anthology, chosen for 2025. One Dublin One Book aims to encourage everyone in Dublin to read a designated book connected with the capital city during the month of April every year. This annual project is a Dublin City Council initiative, led by Dublin City Libraries and Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, which encourages reading for pleasure. The author introduces us to the maverick pathologist Quirke whose only passion is finding truth in science. While readers

The Five Lamps Arts Festival, located in the heart of the community in Dublin’s North East Inner City, was founded in 2007 by Roisin Lonergan, a former teacher from Marino College. Since its first edition, the Festival has grown to become a center for the creation and presentation of locally relevant, artistically ambitious works and is a highly regarded and much-loved part of the community. We believe that everyone should be able to experience and participate in arts and creativity.