Richly illustrated with period photographs and original drawings by Michael O’Brien, Albert Perris tells the often-surprising story of Tallaght. A fascinating history of an ancient place. From its first mention in legend in the Book of Invasions, through early Christian monastic settlements, castles and grand residences, Fenian raids and the Battle of Tallaght, there has been huge change in Tallaght. In more recent times it has seen car and motorcycle racing, an aerodrome, the rise and fall of a chocolate factory and a pioneering telecommunications firm. The massive population explosion and rapid modernisation towards the end of the twentieth century means this once-tiny village in Dublin’s foothills is now home to over 80,000 people. Richly illustrated with period photographs and original drawings by Michael O’Brien, Albert Perris tells the often-surprising story of Tallaght. Table of Contents Chapter 1 Genesis – Tallaght in Pre-History 11 Chapter 2 Christianity, Comets and Cholera 19 Chapter 3 Tallaght Castle and the Archiepiscopal Palace 48 Chapter 4 Tallaght House 69 Chapter 5 The Battle of Tallaght, 1867 – What the Dickens? 91 Chapter 6 The Big Houses 105 Chapter 7 Oldbawn Paper Mills 120 Chapter 8 Those Damned Inquisitors – The Dominicans in Tallaght 127 Chapter 9 On the Move – Planes, Trains and Automobiles 148 Chapter 10 Tallaght in Times of Strife 167 Chapter 11 Industry and Commerce 191 Chapter 12 The Best Laid Plans 228 Chapter 13 The Coming of Age of Tallaght New Town 252 From a Settlement to a City – A Conclusion of Sorts 265 Works Consulted and Bibliography 271 Albert Perris was born in Tallaght in 1972. He has had a successful career in the community and voluntary sector for 25 years, managing and developing community, voluntary and social services throughout Ireland. He has served has National Manager of Specialist Services with the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Interim Head of Services with the national charity Alone, and CEO of national service provider Respond Support. Albert started his career as Co-Founder of the Tallaght Homeless Advise Unit in 1994, which resulted in him become involved in Social Research, undertaking numerous Social Research assignments in Tallaght, Clondalkin and Blanchardstown. His work was published by the Forum on Youth Homelessness (2000), Blanchardstown Area Partnership (2000) and Clondalkin Partnership (1999). After being commissioned by Tallaght Welfare Society to undertake an “Oral History of Tallaght” in 1999, he became heavily involved in Reminiscence Work with older people in Ireland, for which he was awarded a Social Entrepreneurs Award in 2009 for establishing a national initiative Reminiscence Ireland. He has trained Reminiscence Practitioners throughout Ireland. Through his passion for Reminiscence Work and Oral History, he discovered an equally enduring passion for Local History and its role in Community Identity and development. This led him to undertake “A Ramble About Tallaght”. He is very happily married with four ‘grown-up’ Children!