Dr. Beatrice Doran, a Donnybrook-based historian, is researching her Wicklow ancestors as part of her new book.
Her grandmother Ann Donohoe (1861-1903) was born in Dunlavin one of the eight children of the late Bartholomew and Julia Donohoe (nee Curran). Their address at the time of Ann’s birth was Clonshannon, Dunlavin.
With the help of the Wicklow Family History Centre, Beatrice has also ascertained that Bartholomew and Julia were married in Dunlavin Catholic Church and that their other children were Michael (born 1851), William (born 1854) Juia (born 1856), Bartholomew (Born 1858), Elizabeth (born 1862) Catherine (born 1864) and Bridget (born 1866). So far Beatrice has not succeeded in finding out what happened to her seven great uncles and aunts, and and wonders if there are any of their descendants still living in Wicklow or elsewhere.
Dr. Doran’s book Donnybrook: A History, was published last week by The History Press. It was launched by Professor Fergus D’Arcy, (Emeritus Professor of Modern History at UCD) in Elm Park Golf & Sports Club on Thursday night last, in the presence of more than 250 of Dr. Doran’s friends and former colleagues.
The book tells the story of Donnybrook’s long and colourful history from the earliest times to the present day. The celebrated Donnybrook Fair that existed from 1204 until the late 1860s, is also included. The book is available from all the major bookshops and as an ebook on Amazon.
Dr Doran grew up in Donnybrook and still lives there. She was educated at Muckross and University College Dublin. A librarian by profession, Beatrice has worked in a number of libraries, including the Royal Dublin Society, the University of Ulster, the University College Cork and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland where she was Library Director. She is an Associate and former President of the Library Association of Ireland.
