Don’t let the darkening evenings of autumn get you down. There are a lot of interesting lectures and discussions to hone your mind and brighten your nights.

The Ballsbridge, Donnybrook and Sandymount Historical Society events, October to December 2009
Lectures below take place at 8.00 pm in St. Mary’s National School, Belmont Avenue, Donnybrook. Parking is available.
Members are free, and guests are welcome at €3.00 admission.
Thursday, 15 October: The History of the Grand Canal: Colin Becker, Inland Waterways Association of Ireland
Thursday, 19 November: John A. Costello– Compromise Taoiseach: Anthony Jordan
Thursday, 3 December: The Annual General Meeting and Members’ Evening giving members an opportunity to talk about an item of historical interest.
Members who wish to give a short presentation ( 5 to 6 minutes) should contact Gail Wolfe.
For further information, see the website, www.bdshistory.org, or contact pembrokelibrary@dublincity.ie, phone 01-6689575.

Genealogical Society of Ireland open meetings
Also, if you are interested in tracing your ancestors, or someone else’s, the Genealogical Society of Ireland is holding some open meetings this autumn in the Dun Laoghaire College of Further Education, Cumberland Street, Dun Laoghaire, at 8 p.m. Subscription is €3.
Tuesday, 13 October: Research Collections at Dublin City Library and Archive. By Dr Maire Kennedy, Dublin City Library and Archive
Tuesday, 10 November: Researching One Family History in County Wexford. By Gaye Conroy, Members, GSI
Tuesday, 8 December: The Bram Stoker Family– a typical 19th century Dublin Protestant Family? By Douglas Appleyard, Historian and specialist on the author of Dracula.

Royal Dublin Society (RDS) Autumn Speaker Series
The RDS talks take place on Wednesday evenings at 6.00pm, in the RDS Minerva Suite, Ballsbridge. Refreshments are served following the talk, in a friendly and informal setting, allowing for discussion and networking opportunities.
Admission to these lectures is free and open to the public, but advanced booking is required.
Upcoming RDS Speaker Series events:
Wednesday, October 7: ‘Arthur Guinness– Founder of the Dynasty’ by Patrick Guinness
Wednesday, October 14: ‘Byzantium’ by John Julius Norwich
Wednesday, November 4: ‘Adolf Mahr’– Dublin’s No 1 Nazi’ by Gerry Mullins
Wednesday, November 11: ‘Everyone’s Cup of Tea’. Tea tasting with Owen Dawson
Wednesday, November 18: ‘The Ernest Hemingway I Knew’ by Valerie Hemingway
Wednesday, November 25th: The ‘Old Dublin Society’ by Dudley Levistone Cooney
For further information, or to book, please contact:
Library Desk,
RDS Library,
Ballsbridge,
Dublin 4.
Tel: +353 (0) 1 240 7254
Fax: +353 (0) 1 240 7293
Email: librarydesk@rds.ie