Rialto Recounted: A Night Celebrating Community History

Written By Kat Ennis

What a brilliant evening at Rialto Recounted: A Centenary Celebration of the 1926 Census at St. Andrew’s Community Centre!

Held last night, the event brought together over 100 people for an evening of local history, storytelling, memories and community connection. It was a brilliant opportunity to reflect on Rialto’s past, celebrate the people and communities who have shaped the area over the past century, and recognise the strong community spirit that continues to define Rialto today.

A huge thank you to our Board Chairperson, Daithí Downey, who kindly opened the event and helped get the evening off to such a fantastic start.

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to making the event such a success — from those who shared photographs, memories and local stories, to our speakers, panellists, volunteers, staff and everyone who helped bring the evening together.

A special thank you to:

  • Tony MacCarthaigh

  • Breda Galligan

  • Alison Donoghue

  • Siobhan Geoghegan / Studio 468

  • Patricia McGann

  • Pat Doabb

  • Rialto Social Men’s Gardening Group

We would also like to give a special thank you to Susan Leen and Chris Maguire, who each created a specially commissioned large pieces for the event. Their work added a unique and meaningful creative element to the evening and helped us celebrate Rialto’s history in a very special way.

The community archive exhibition was another particular highlight, showcasing a wonderful collection of material charting life in Rialto from 1926 to the present day. A special acknowledgement goes to Kat Ennis, our Events & Communications Officer, who worked tirelessly over recent weeks to gather and compile the incredible range of local contributions featured in the exhibition.

A fascinating History Panel

The History Panel Discussion, chaired by Andy Malone, was another fantastic part of the evening. Andy, who grew up locally and was one of the producers behind RTÉ’s Come to Your Census, led a fascinating conversation exploring how Rialto has changed over the past 100 years, while celebrating the people, stories and community connections that remain at the heart of the area.

We were delighted to hear from:

  • Cathy Scuffil – Local Historian & Former Historian in Residence at Dublin City Library and Archive

  • Liz Gillis – Historian and Author

  • Ray Hegarty – Socially Engaged Artist and Rialto Local

The discussion offered a wonderful opportunity to look back at the people, places and events that have shaped Rialto, while also reflecting on the strong sense of community that continues to make the area such a special place to live.

Thank you to the Rialto community

The response from the community was fantastic, with over 100 people in attendance and a real sense of pride, warmth and connection throughout the evening.

A huge thank you to everyone who attended, contributed, shared a story, brought along a photograph, volunteered their time or helped spread the word.

It was a brilliant celebration of Rialto, its history and its people, and a wonderful reminder of what makes this community so special.

Thank you to everyone who helped us recount Rialto’s story. ❤️

To see images from the evening, check them out on our Facebook page here!

Kat Ennis
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A Grand Day Out!