Opened in 1961 and ideally situated on Percy French Road in the heart of a residential area, Walkinstown Public Library has been a focal point in the local community for the past 50 years. At the time it was opened the library was run by Dublin County Council. It was designed by architect John O’Neill and cost €18,500 to build. The stock at the time was 7,500 books. It was the first library to have been opened by the council in 25 years and also the first to have central heating, but for the first year it had no phone.
Senior Librarian Helen Moloney (right) pictured with Helene Ward at the 50th anniversary celebrations in Walkinstown Library.
The official opening took place on October 2, 1961 and the ceremony was conducted by Joe Connolly, the chairman of the Library Committee and blessed by Fr Joseph Callan of St Agnes’ Parish, Crumlin. The library still has some borrowers who registered with them on that day. Staff recently discovered that one of their current borrowers who lives across the road from the library is in fact an altar boy who appeared in the photo of the opening ceremony.
The library celebrated 50 years of community service with a reception for members of the public along with current and past staff members. There was a selection of wine, juice, tea and coffee along with cheese, crackers, brown bread and smoked salmon, cocktail sausages, and strawberries dipped in chocolate.
There was an exhibition of information and photos from the opening night and of events through the years. The Walkinstown: The Musical Roads exhibition was also on display and the event was very well attended with over 130 present including councillors Ruairi McGinley and Henry Upton, Mary Healy who was the very first cleaner and stayed for 33 years, Kathleen Guinan and Jimmy Grehan, who was the library attendant for 30 years. Claire McGann who worked in Walkinstown in the early years and who just retired last September was also there.
The reception was followed by a music recital by Michael Reade, tenor, accompanied by Davnat O’Reilly on keyboard. Michael sang a selection of songs from the likes of Thomas Moore, Percy French and John McCormack to the delight of the guests.
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