Dubline Storymap Launched

Minister Varadkar launches ‘Dubline Storymap’ - an App and website connecting you to the heart of the city through stories.

The new and innovative app and website package project was developed by Storymap, in association with Failte Ireland, and wants to transform the way tourists walk around the city centre.

The app guides you through the central area of the city through its stories and storytellers - uncovering a great wealth of culture and history along the way. Each story is told by a different local person, and the app crackles with personality and wit at each stage. From thrilling tales of Dublin at war to flaming rivers of whiskey, charming childhood memories to the wild animal gangs, the surprising history of Dublin’s gay bars to the War horse of Dublin - the Dubline Storymap collects the most fascinating stories for locals and visitors to enjoy as they explore the city centre.

Minister Varadkar said “The Dubline is all about telling the story of the city of Dublin. Now visitors can also hear the stories along the trail as told by real Dubliners, focusing on the hidden history and secrets along the way. This is a great way of bringing history to life.”

The app is available for free for both Android on the Google Play store, and for iPhone on the iTunes store. At each stop along the route the app presents the relevant story to listen to while you walk, or as a video to stop and watch the teller themselves in crisp HD video. Additional features include ‘rambles’ - which let the user take themed routes along the Dubline, each one highlighting a distinct take on the area. Also available is the function to ‘make a ramble’ and generate a walking route of stories to take you anywhere along the Dubline.

Along with the App, the Dubline Storymap website (Dubline.storymap.ie) lets you explore the Dubline at your leisure. For local Dubliners it’s a brilliant way to get a new perspective on their home town, and for potential visitors it’s a great way become enthralled by Dublin culture and its people.

Storymap is the creation of two innovative filmmakers from Dublin, Tom Rowley and Andrew Flaherty. With the Dubline Storymap they've built on the success of the critically acclaimed Storymap Dublin App and website, and developed a new project tailored to the rich and varied history of the Dubline. Storymap (www.storymap.ie) launched in 2011 as a new way to experience a city, through its people and stories.

Storymap Co-founder Tom Rowley said “It’s been a great experience, working with Failte Ireland to take our project a big step further. It’s been amazing to see the mad and diverse stories of the area. It’s tough to pick favourites but if I had to it would be the Liberty Belles, and their story ‘Ruggys up’. It’s a group of women who meet each month to chat about their memories and we filmed one of the sessions. It’s hilarious - one minute they’re talking about their childhoods as being peaceful and funny, the next they talk about the wild Animal Gang, Lugs Brannigan and knuckle dusters” [see the story here: http://dubline.storymap.ie/ruggy-ups]

Andrew Flaherty said "It's fascinating to see the strange histories of the route. The Whiskey Fire is my own favourite, told on the App by Las Fallon - when a flaming river of whiskey tore through the Liberties, and people came out with any container they had to drink it. No-one could put it out, as water just made it worse, until the city had to heap piles of horse manure onto the streets. 13 people died, but not one from burns, all of them from alcoholic poisoning!" [see the story here: http://dubline.storymap.ie/the-great-whiskey-fire]