This book spans a period of 4,000 years and covers social, economic, political and military historical themes. Costello examines the impact of major historical events including the Great Famine, the Fenian Rising, World War 1 and the War of Independence and the impact they had on the village.

Drawing almost exclusively on primary sources, Milltown: An Illustrated History recovers the lost history of a small village community and attempts to tell some of its story.

David Costello has lived in Clonskeagh and Milltown for over fifty years. After working as a solicitor in private practice, Costello took time out in 2016 to research and write a history of Milltown. In 2019 he wrote a pamphlet entitled 'Milltown and its Parish Church 1819-2019' as part of the bicentenary celebrations for the catholic parish of Milltown.