"In the nineteenth century the expanding Dublin middle class deserted the city for the suburbs, creating nine independent townships. This book examines the impact that these suburban towns had on the greater Dublin area ... The author explores the civic achievements of the townships in the areas of water supply, main drainage, public lighting, road-building, refuse-disposal, electricity supply, and the provision of town halls, public libraries, technical schools and public baths. The reaction at township level to the huge political changes in the 1914-1922 period is also explored, as are the attempts by Dublin Corporation, finally successfully in 1930, to extend its boundaries to include the townships"--Publisher's description.