Discovering so many interesting things about South Dublin with this project- like the Swift Brook Paper Mills in Saggart that is now sadly closed. The history of this place is interesting, the paper production commenced at the mills in 1785 when John McDonnell bought a flour mill at the location and converted it for paper making. Also it was here that the paper was sourced to print the 1916 Proclamation. More interesting facts-
The mills gained fame for the excellence of their paper and employed many locals for generations before finally closing its doors in 1972- including the Famine times.
The name Swift Brook owes its origins to Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels and Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin which was connected with Saggart.
