Blackrock Society “Scientia Sit Liberalis”

Blackrock Dolmen by Rowan Gillespie — **Rowan Gillespie’s Dolmen (1987) at N11/Temple Rd junction**

FORTHCOMING LECTURES & ACTIVITIES – Spring 2026 onwards

Monday 9th February 2026

John A Costello and the true origins of Ireland’s economic revival

by Cormac Lucey

The Irish economic miracle through which we have all lived is often attributed as the child of Sean Lemass and Ken Whitaker. Cormac Lucey would argue differently and says the previous Taoiseach John A Costello played an understated role which the public know little about.

Cormac Lucey writes for The Sunday Times Ireland about economics. He is a chartered accountant who has worked in various industrial and corporate finance jobs in both Ireland and Germany. He served as a special adviser to Michael McDowell, during the 2002-07 government. He lectures in finance at Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, the Irish Management Institute and Chartered Accountants Ireland. He is also a frequent commentator on public affairs.

See further details of future, current and previous lectures for 2026,’25,’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 Spring, Autumn/Winter of 2026 will be confirmed shortly and we will be moving to a different venue with possibly a different day of the month due to the unavailability of CCE our usual home. We will be confirming the new venue shortly, 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

~o~

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 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

Blackrock Society

Blackrock Society Talks – Updated 08/02/2026

FORTHCOMING LECTURES & ACTIVITIES – Spring 2026 onwards

Monday 9th February 2026

John A Costello and the true origins of Ireland’s economic revival

by Cormac Lucey

The Irish economic miracle through which we have all lived is often attributed as the child of Sean Lemass and Ken Whitaker. Cormac Lucey would argue differently and says the previous Taoiseach John A Costello played an understated role which the public know little about.

See further details of future, current and previous lectures for 2026,’25,’24,’23,’22,’20 and 2019 HERE

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

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

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.

FORTHCOMING LECTURES & ACTIVITIES – Spring 2026 onwards

Monday 9th February 2026

John A Costello and the true origins of Ireland’s economic revival

by Cormac Lucey

The Irish economic miracle through which we have all lived is often attributed as the child of Sean Lemass and Ken Whitaker. Cormac Lucey would argue differently and says the previous Taoiseach John A Costello played an understated role which the public know little about.

See further details of future, current and previous lectures for 2026,’25,’24,’23,’22,’20 and 2019 HERE

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

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.

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.

MONKSTOWN