Charles Haliday
Encyclopedia
Charles Haliday was an Irish
historian and antiquary who made significant contributions to the study of the history of Dublin, being particularly interested in the Scandinavian
antiquities of the city. He was born in Carrick-on-Suir
in County Tipperary
in 1789. In 1812, after spending a short time in London as a clerk in Lubbock's Bank, he settled in Dublin and became a wealthy man trading in bark on Arran Quay — a business his late brother's father-in-law gave up to him.
In 1832, when cholera first appeared in Dublin, he became a campaigner for improved living conditions among the city's poor, a role he was to play for the remainder of his life. The following year, he was elected a Member of the Ballast Board, a corporation for improving Dublin harbour and superintending the lighthouses on the Irish coast. He also served for many years as consul for Greece, Honorary Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce in Dublin, and a Director of the Bank of Ireland
.
In 1834 Haliday moved to Monkstown, County Dublin
. In 1843 he bought Monkstown Park, previously the residence of Lord Ranelagh, which he demolished and rebuilt. His new house had a large library to house his growing collection of books, pamphlets and tracts on Irish history. It also included a large facade and a tower folly
which both are protected structures today. Haliday was an avid collector of antiquities and compiled one of the largest private collections of Irish historical works. At his death his library comprised more than 29,000 pamphlets relating to Ireland, in addition to innumerable books, tracts, ballads, and broadsides
.
In 1847 he was elected a member of the Royal Irish Academy
. In 1850 he began to research the history of the port of Dublin on behalf of the Ballast Board. It was this work which led him to undertake a detailed study of the city's Scandinavian history — a period that had hitherto been almost entirely neglected by scholars.
Charles Haliday died at Monkstown Park on 14 September 1866; he was buried nearby in Carrickbrennan Churchyard
. His work on the early history of Dublin, The Scandinavian Kingdom of Dublin, was published posthumously in 1881. His vast collection of antiquities was inherited by his widow, Mary Hayes, who presented it to the Royal Irish Academy the following year.
His estate at Monkstown Park has since been used as a education premises. Corrig School {Monkstown Park School} operated there from the 1880s until the early 1920s. Since 1950 it has operated as the location for CBC Monkstown Park.
Kingdom of Ireland
The Kingdom of Ireland refers to the country of Ireland in the period between the proclamation of Henry VIII as King of Ireland by the Crown of Ireland Act 1542 and the Act of Union in 1800. It replaced the Lordship of Ireland, which had been created in 1171...
historian and antiquary who made significant contributions to the study of the history of Dublin, being particularly interested in the Scandinavian
Early Scandinavian Dublin
The First Viking Age lasted from 795, when Viking raids on Irish settlements began, until 902, when the ruling Norse dynasty was expelled from Dublin. This period of Irish history is characterised by a series of conflicts involving the native Irish and two Viking factions that the Irish called...
antiquities of the city. He was born in Carrick-on-Suir
Carrick-on-Suir
Carrick-on-Suir is a town in South Tipperary in Ireland. As the name – meaning "the rock of the Suir" – suggests, the town is situated on the River Suir. The of the town gives the population as 5,906 and shows that it has grown by 5.7% since 2002...
in County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
in 1789. In 1812, after spending a short time in London as a clerk in Lubbock's Bank, he settled in Dublin and became a wealthy man trading in bark on Arran Quay — a business his late brother's father-in-law gave up to him.
In 1832, when cholera first appeared in Dublin, he became a campaigner for improved living conditions among the city's poor, a role he was to play for the remainder of his life. The following year, he was elected a Member of the Ballast Board, a corporation for improving Dublin harbour and superintending the lighthouses on the Irish coast. He also served for many years as consul for Greece, Honorary Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce in Dublin, and a Director of the Bank of Ireland
Bank of Ireland
The Bank of Ireland is a commercial bank operation in Ireland, which is one of the 'Big Four' in both parts of the island.Historically the premier banking organisation in Ireland, the Bank occupies a unique position in Irish banking history...
.
In 1834 Haliday moved to Monkstown, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
. In 1843 he bought Monkstown Park, previously the residence of Lord Ranelagh, which he demolished and rebuilt. His new house had a large library to house his growing collection of books, pamphlets and tracts on Irish history. It also included a large facade and a tower folly
Folly
In architecture, a folly is a building constructed primarily for decoration, but either suggesting by its appearance some other purpose, or merely so extravagant that it transcends the normal range of garden ornaments or other class of building to which it belongs...
which both are protected structures today. Haliday was an avid collector of antiquities and compiled one of the largest private collections of Irish historical works. At his death his library comprised more than 29,000 pamphlets relating to Ireland, in addition to innumerable books, tracts, ballads, and broadsides
Street literature
Street literature or broadsides began in the 16th century and continued until the mid-19th century as a type of printing of large printed sheets of paper, designed to be plastered onto walls...
.
In 1847 he was elected a member of the Royal Irish Academy
Royal Irish Academy
The Royal Irish Academy , based in Dublin, is an all-Ireland, independent, academic body that promotes study and excellence in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is one of Ireland's premier learned societies and cultural institutions and currently has around 420 Members, elected in...
. In 1850 he began to research the history of the port of Dublin on behalf of the Ballast Board. It was this work which led him to undertake a detailed study of the city's Scandinavian history — a period that had hitherto been almost entirely neglected by scholars.
Charles Haliday died at Monkstown Park on 14 September 1866; he was buried nearby in Carrickbrennan Churchyard
Carrickbrennan Churchyard
Carrickbrennan Churchyard located on Carrickbrennan Road, Monkstown, County Dublin, Ireland is a graveyard that can still be seen today, but is no longer in use. It is notable as the burial place of many people who perished in local maritime disasters...
. His work on the early history of Dublin, The Scandinavian Kingdom of Dublin, was published posthumously in 1881. His vast collection of antiquities was inherited by his widow, Mary Hayes, who presented it to the Royal Irish Academy the following year.
His estate at Monkstown Park has since been used as a education premises. Corrig School {Monkstown Park School} operated there from the 1880s until the early 1920s. Since 1950 it has operated as the location for CBC Monkstown Park.
External links
- Charles Haliday, The Scandinavian Kingdom of Dublin