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Blackrock Society Talks – Updated 15/1/2025

Blackrock Society “Scientia Sit Liberalis”
Blackrock Dolmen by Rowan Gillespie
Rowan Gillespie’s Dolmen (1987) at N11/Temple Rd junction

FORTHCOMING LECTURES & ACTIVITIES – Spring 2025 onwards

Monday 10th February 2025

“The Human Behans” with speaker Des Geraghty

Almost every Irish person knows about our own Brendan Behan – the man, his works and the myriad enduring stories about him. Behan was a playwright, poet and author of work that reflected many social issues and Republican themes. Born in Dublin in 1923 into a strong Nationalist family, he joined the youth wing of the IRA at 14, and two years later the IRA itself.  He was arrested by the British police while carrying explosives and imprisoned in the UK.
While in borstal and subsequently in prison, Behan took up his pen and wrote, “The Quare Fellow,” which was staged in 1954 to universal praise. His most famous work, “Borstal Boy,” is a semi-autobiographical account of his time in prison. Behan’s writing is marked with his own Dublin wit and opinions. Unfortunately, his fame and success were paired with burgeoning alcoholism and this ended up killing him at the early age of 41. Brendan Behan is still remembered as one of Ireland’s most prominent literary figures – and all too human.
Our speaker Des Geraghty has had a long association with the extended Behan family and unpicks the various threads woven into the legend that is Brendan Behan, including his brothers, parents, wife, children and his large social milieu. Des is the author of “Luke Kelly: a Memoir” among other books, and is a retired trade unionist and politician.
Des Geraghty
Des Geraghty
See further details of future, current and previous lectures for 2025, ’24,’23,’22,’20 and 2019 HERE

Please note there is an attendance charge of €5 for non-members of Blackrock Society

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Further talks and lectures for the Autumn/Winter of 2024 and Spring of 2025 will be on the Second Monday of each month and this site will be updated as talks are arranged. If you are interested in giving a talk, please contact Douglas by email at info at blackrocksociety.ie

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All lectures are at 8.00pm and are held in
COMHALTAS CEOLTÓIRÍ ÉIREANN, (See Map)
 32 BELGRAVE SQUARE
­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­MONKSTOWN
CO. DUBLIN A94XV02
Blackrock Society was established in 1921 and is supported by local businesses and is a Member of the Federation of Local History Societies.

Blackrock Society – Aims

Blackrock Main St at the turn of the 19th century

The aims of Blackrock Society are to:

To create an awareness of the history, culture, science and literary contributions, architecture, people and, indeed, the peculiarities of the County Dublin town of Blackrock, together with its surrounds, thus adding to the local community’s sense of itself.

To help preserve the unique character of Blackrock from diffusion or loss.

To record details of events, both local and national, consider their impact, and disseminate them through lectures and visits.

To publish an annual illustrated journal of our activities including lectures, discussions and trips.

We have been endeavouring to promote these aims from our inception in 1921.

Want to join Blackrock Society? Then please click here to download our membership form