Resources & Library

Back in print!  Buy it here!

The original book sold out in weeks, but Cherishing Heritage Preserving Community is now available in a a print-on-demand hardback.


For a short time, a limited number of copies of the new hardback edition are available to buy directly from Ulsara.

Copies are €35 and include delivery (within the Ulsara area). Click on the €42 option to include postage within Ireland.

Please note, delivery may take a couple of weeks.


For delivery outside of Ireland, please contact us or buy directly from Amazon.


Cherishing Heritage, Preserving Community

In 2018, Ulsara published a book to commemorate 50 years of the association. 


Cherishing Heritage Preserving Community was produced  by the Ulsara committee and edited by Fiona Slevin. It includes a foreword by Michael McDowell, SC and essays from recognised experts including Frank McDonald, Alistair Rowan and Ruth McManus. The book is beautifully illustrated with photographs by Andy Sheridan.


The following is taken from the Introduction to the book:

'The impetus for Ulsara’s establishment had grown for years. Residents  had watched helplessly as parts of their city were destroyed by ambitious developers acting within an unregulated planning environment. The catalyst that sparked active resistance to this was Dublin Corporation’s 1968 Development Plan, which included a set of provisions to rezone Upper Leeson Street and Leeson Park for ‘mixed commercial/residential’ use.'

Review

by Dr Joseph Brady, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Geography, UCD

This book celebrates the Upper Lesson Street area and tells the story of the Upper Leeson Street Residents’ Association (Ulsara). The book contains almost forty essays over its 250 or so pages from seventeen contributors. Some are personal reflections of life and issues in the area, some are academic discussions; all are fascinating and they are well woven through the main themes of the book.


As interesting as the chapters are, the experience of reading is greatly enhanced by the quality of the of the book. It is beautifully produced, with great skill and care and the production team, and especially the editor Fiona Slevin, deserve high praise.

The design is clear and bright and it is generously laid out on the page. The photographs are superb, both informative and atmospheric. They give us a great sense of place and those which introduce each section are particularly stunning. 


This is a well-considered, well-designed and well-written book. As its title promises – it is about Cherishing Heritage – Preserving Community.  The different styles and approaches blend well and it is both an enjoyable and educative read. While, doubtless, it will appeal to anyone who lives in the area, it will also appeal to anyone who has an interest in the city. The reader will not only understand better the particular nature of Upper Leeson Street and environs but also the wider issues that affect many other locations of note. Make sure to get a copy!!

Please note, the short video above is of the original hardback.


Download the original brochure here >>>

Ulsara Heritage Trail on GuidiGo

Our free Heritage Trail mobile app

Covering the whole Ulsara area, the app provides unusual insights and information on the built environment and past residents.

It tells the history of Leeson Street Bridge, the US Embassy, St Bartholomew’s Church, Ranelagh Gardens and Carnac on Upper Leeson Street. Some of the biographical profiles range from Patrick Kavanagh, to Eóin MacNeill, Pamela Lyndon (Polly) Travers (creator of Mary Poppins) and Sarah Purser.

Some of the content is adapted from our 50th anniversary publication, Cherishing Heritage Preserving Community’; other content is from additional research and publications. We hope this Heritage Trail will inform, enthuse and inspire you to know more about and value the history of our area.

Occasionally we will update the app: watch out for a notification at the top right of the screen when you open GuidiGo.

Accessing the GuidiGo Heritage Trail

  1. Go to iTunes or GooglePlay app store.
  2. Search for GuidiGO and download the app.
  3. Open the app and create an account. If asked, turn location on.
  4. ‘Upper Lesson Street Area Dublin Heritage Trail’ should show in ‘Around you’. If not, search for it.
  5. Tap on the icon to open it.
  6. Tap ‘Download’.
  7. Tap to open. (The Heritage Trail will appear in ‘Library’.) 
  8. The app will open as a map with all the stops shown.
    Tap on a stop, or tap ∨ at the top left of the screen to see a menu.
  9. Tap on ‘Search/List of Stops’;
  10. Tap on a stop; swipe right and left to view more.

Ulsara Newsletters

Ulsara publishes a paper newsletter, usually in Spring. 
Pdf copies of past newsletters are provided here.

Ulsara AGM lectures

Ulsara AGMs have always included informed and fascinating talks on a range of topics, from architecture to conservation to design, a few of which have been uploaded to SlideShare.

Go direct to https://www.slideshare.net/Ulsara, or see below and scroll through the presentations.
They include:
  1. Dr Ruth McManus on 'The Lodgers of Upper Leeson Street, 1911'
  2. Jacqueline Kelleher on 'The Heritage Community Garden'
  3. Dr Philip Crowe on 'Patrick Geddes in Dublin: Civic Engagement and Vacant Sites'
  4. Gerard O'Connell on 'River Dodder Flood Risk Management Plan 2011'
  5. Fergal McGirl on 'Energy Efficiency in pre-1945 Historic Dwellings in Dublin City'
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