Join Cathal Dowd Smith as he dives into Malahide Castle's European connections as we virtually travel the continent!

The European connections are far and wide and are visible in the architectural fabric of Malahide Castle which drew influence from across the continent. Recent additions to the collections at Malahide Castle reveal many lives spent abroad which are reflected in the castle through the wealth of material objects which returned with the Talbot family from Europe. This illustrated talk will combine archival and material sources to unpick the European influences of the Talbot family in decorating their castle and will reveal the effect of the many generations spending lifetimes abroad. Over the course of the talk, we will travel from North County Dublin to Copenhagen, Vienna, Naples, Paris, Florence, Sienna, Athens, and Madeira.

Cathal Dowd-Smith is the Curator & Collections Manager of Newbridge House and Farm and Malahide Castle and Gardens. He holds a degree in the History of Art and Architecture and History from Trinity College Dublin. Cathal’s current research interests are in the Irish country house, and the architectural and landscape histories of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

This talk is part of the Festival's 'History at the Library' day which takes place on Saturday, 3rd October 2026. Click to book the other talks taking place that day:

10am - A Very Long Courtship: Fingal and Europe before the EU – Dr Declan Brady

11.30am - 50 Years: Ireland and the EU – Dr David McCullagh

2pm - The La Mancha murders: a centenary review – Claire Bradley

Description supplied by the event organiser.