All posts by Seán Silke

Lambay_Castle_Approach

Irish Historic Houses Association

Castles, Country Estates, Dublin A to Z, Gardens, Historical

Ireland’s historic houses are a valuable cultural resource. These houses and their contents are part of the physical evidence that helps to define the cultural and historical relationship between Ireland and the rest of Europe. The umbrella organisation representing this resource is the Irish Historic Houses Association.

The preservation of this part of Ireland’s cultural heritage is of national importance and this has been recognised by successive governments, who have enacted legislation intended to safeguard historic houses, their parks and contents, for current and future generations and in the public interest.

Heritage properties that remain in private hands have a unique value, especially those that have been owned by the same family for several generations. Typically, they contain artefacts and archives that greatly enhance the cultural and historical significance of each country house in its locality, and indeed many historic houses encapsulate the history of their surrounding regions. Below you will find listed historic houses which are members of the IHHA within the counties of Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow. Within each of these links, the opening times for each property may be ascertained by clicking on the property’s website link (below), or by clicking on the “Opening Times & Further Details” button.

www.ihh.ie/index.cfm

DUBLIN

Lissen Hall  www.ihh.ie/index.cfm/houses/house/name/Lissen%20Hall

Lambay Castle   www.ihh.ie/index.cfm/houses/house/name/Lambay%20Castle

KILDARE

Burtown House  www.ihh.ie/index.cfm/houses/house/name/Burtown%20House

Coolcarrigan   www.ihh.ie/index.cfm/houses/house/name/Coolcarrigan

Harristown   www.ihh.ie/index.cfm/houses/house/name/Harristown

Leixlip Castle   www.ihh.ie/index.cfm/houses/house/name/Leixlip%20Castle

Lodge Park     www.ihh.ie/index.cfm/houses/house/name/Lodge%20Park

Moone Abbey   www.ihh.ie/index.cfm/houses/house/name/Moone%20Abbey

LOUTH

Barmeath Castle   www.ihh.ie/index.cfm/houses/house/name/Barmeath%20Castle

Beaulieu  www.ihh.ie/index.cfm/houses/house/name/Beaulieu

Collon House  www.ihh.ie/index.cfm/houses/house/name/Collon%20House

Killineer House  www.ihh.ie/index.cfm/houses/house/name/Killineer%20House

Rokeby Hall     www.ihh.ie/index.cfm/houses/house/name/Rokeby%20Hall

MEATH

Hamwood   www.ihh.ie/index.cfm/houses/house/name/Hamwood

WICKLOW

Altidore Castle   www.ihh.ie/index.cfm/houses/house/name/Altidore%20Castle

Killruddery House  www.ihh.ie/index.cfm/houses/house/name/Killruddery%20House%20

jewish-museum-outside

Irish Jewish Museum

Churches, Dublin A to Z, Historical, Museums

The Irish Jewish Museum houses a collection of photographs, paintings, and memorabilia telling the story of Ireland’s Jewish communities in Dublin & other Irish cities over the last 150 years. Staffed by volunteers, the museum is located on the site of Dublin’s Walworth Road Synagogue, once in the heartland of “Little Jerusalem,” a densely populated Jewish enclave off the South Circular Road.

Opening Hours:
Open to the public every Sunday, 11am – 2.30pm.
Groups and tours will be facilitated outside these hours by appointment only.
The museum is closed on National and Jewish Holidays.

Contact & Pricing:
jewishmuseum.ie
jewishireland.org
[email protected]
Tel: 089 426 3625
3 Walworth Road, South Circular Road, Dublin 8
Adults  €10; concessions

IMMA

Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA)

Art, Dublin A to Z, Museums, Tours

The Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) is Ireland’s leading institution for modern art and is located at the atmospheric complex of buildings known as the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham. [For heritage information about this location, please see the separate entry entitled “Royal Hospital Kilmainham“.]

The Museum’s temporary exhibition programme regularly juxtaposes the work of leading, well-established figures with that of younger-generation artists to create a debate about the nature and function of art. Works shown range from painting and sculpture to installation, photography, video and performance. 

Exhibitions usually last three to four months and up to four shows can be on view at any one time. IMMA originates many of its exhibitions but also works closely with a network of international galleries and museums.

This link takes you to a list of current events and exhibitions:  www.imma.ie

Opening Hours:
Tues to Sun: 10am – 5.30 pm (except Wednesday, opens 11.30am)
Sundays & Bank Holidays 12pm – 5.30pm
Closed Mondays (except Bank Holidays), Good Friday, 24-26 Dec.

Tours providing a general introduction to IMMA exhibitions take place Wed, Sat & Sun 2.30 pm. Each tour lasts 30 minutes. No booking required, arrive early for tours as numbers are limited.

Pre-booked guided tours are available, but must be booked at least 2 weeks in advance. Tour booking times are Tuesday to Friday at 9.30am, 10.30am, 11.30am and 2.30pm.

Tours are led by IMMA staff and are free of charge, donations are welcome.

Contact & Pricing:
imma.ie
Tel: 01 612 9900
Royal Hospital, Military Road, Kilmainham, Dublin 8.
Admission free (there is a charge for occasional special exhibitions).

Irish Rock'n'Roll Museum

Irish Rock’n’Roll Museum Experience

Dublin A to Z, Entertainment, Museums, Tours

The Irish Rock’n’Roll Museum Experience is essentially a tour featuring some of Dublin’s best loved professional music facilities, including the Button Factory (a live music venue); Temple Lane Rehearsal Studios; and Temple Lane Recording Studio (where artists such as Rihanna, the Script and Kodaline have recorded).

The Thin Lizzy exhibition celebrates one of Ireland’s greatest bands, within the setting of Apollo Studio where Phil Lynott recorded his last songs before his untimely death. The exhibition is incorporated into a fully functioning studio and features memorabilia such as gold and platinum albums, set lists, some of Phil Lynott’s costumes, and musical instruments.

The Wall of Fame as a symbol of Irish music royalty has been a fixture in Temple Bar since its unveiling in 2003, providing a focal point for many of Dublin’s walking tours and showcasing the music that is such an integral part of Irish culture. Recently, LED screens were added to the exhibit, allowing for new artists to be added to the exhibit more frequently.

Down through history, certain guitars and equipment have become as legendary as the musicians who play them. Gibson, Fender, Marshall, and Vox are companies that any musician or music enthusiast will know and love. On display in the museum is an extensive variety of vintage instruments and equipment.

Temple Lane Rehearsal Studios are the premiere rehearsal studios in Dublin. Many acts do pre-production for albums here, trying out new material and getting songs ready to record or perform. Now you can experience what it’s like to rehearse with your very own band.

Temple Lane Recording Studio has been at the centre of Irish music since 1984. Countless bands have recorded here, including Paolo Nutini, The Script, Rihanna and many more. Now, for the first time, explore and experience the iconic studios for yourself.

Opening Hours:
Open 7 days a week 10.30am to 5pm.
Advance booking recommended.

Contact & Pricing:
irishrocknrollmuseum.com
Tel: 01 677 7134 / 089 449 0795 (weekends).
Curved Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
Adults €22; concessions

Irish Traditional Music Archive

Irish Traditional Music Archive

Art, Dublin A to Z, Entertainment, Libraries

The Irish Traditional Music Archive is the national reference archive and resource centre for the traditional song, instrumental music and dance of Ireland. Here is found the largest collection in existence of sound recordings, books/serials, sheet music and ballad sheets, photographs, and videos/DVDs for the appreciation and study of Irish traditional music. The archive also holds a representative collection of the traditional music of other countries.

Visitors may listen to recordings, view DVDs and photographs, read music collections, and research material and topics of interest. The archive is open to all but for study and research purposes only.

Opening Hours:
Mon to Fri: 10am – 5pm, closed between 1pm and 2pm.
No booking required.

Contact & Pricing:
itma.ie
[email protected]
Tel: 01 661 9699.
73 Merrion Square, Dublin 2
Free admission; donations welcome.

Irish Whiskey Museum

Irish Whiskey Museum

Dublin A to Z, Entertainment, Museums, Tours

The Irish Whiskey Museum uncovers the intriguing story of Irish whiskey. Learn the origins of Irish whiskey, its rise to glory, its dramatic fall and its current revival. Located opposite the main entrance of Trinity College, the museum is very centrally located.

The Museum contains a unique collection of Irish whiskey memorabilia that dates back to the 1800s. At the end of the tour you enjoy a sample of Irish whiskey.

There are 4 tours available:

  • Irish Coffee Masterclass teaches you the history and technique of Irish Coffee.
  • The Classic Tour consists of a guided tour and 3 Irish whiskey tastings.
  • The Premium Tour consists of the tour, 4 Irish whiskey tastings and a souvenir whiskey glass.
  • Blending Experience is an extended 75-minute option, including a tasting of 4 Irish whiskeys, plus a chance to blend your own personalised miniature bottle of whiskey to take home.

Opening Hours:
Tours run 10.30am – 6:00pm; early bird discount rates before 12pm.
Tour times vary depending on type, book online to see availability.

Contact & Pricing:
irishwhiskeymuseum.ie
[email protected]
Tel: 01 525 0970
119 Grafton Street, Dublin 2
Irish Coffee Masterclass – Adults €20; concessions
Classic Tour – Adults €23; concessions
Premium Tour – Adults €28; concessions
Blending Experience – Adults €35; concessions

Iveagh Gardens

Iveagh Gardens

Dublin A to Z, Gardens, Historical

Iveagh Gardens is one of the finest and least known of Dublin’s parks and gardens. Access is from Hatch Street.

The gardens were designed by Ninian Niven in 1865 as a cross between the ‘French Formal’ and the ‘English Landscape’ styles. The gardens demonstrate the artistic skills of the landscape architect of the mid 19th century; they display a unique collection of landscape features including rustic grottos, a cascade, sunken formal panels of lawn with fountain centre pieces, a rosarium, an American garden, and archery grounds.

The conservation and restoration of the gardens commenced in 1995 and to date most of the features have been restored (e.g. the maze in box hedging with a sun dial as a centre piece). The recently restored cascade and exotic tree ferns all help to create a sense of wonder in the ‘Secret Garden’. The pre-1860s rose varieties add an extra dimension to the Victorian Rosarium.

Opening Hours:
Gates open –
Mon to Sat: 8am
Sun & Bank Holidays: 10am
Gates close (around dusk) –
Mid Jan-Feb: 4.00 pm approx.
March-Oct: 7.30 pm approx.
Nov-Mid Jan: 3.30 pm approx.

Contact & Pricing:
iveaghgardens.ie
[email protected]
Tel: 01 475 7816
Clonmel Street, Dublin 2
Free admission

Iveagh Trust Museum Flat 4

Iveagh Trust Museum Flat

Dublin A to Z, Museums

For the past 120 years, the Iveagh Trust has offered affordable rented housing to people on low incomes, and good quality hostel accommodation for homeless men. The Trust owns and manages about 1,350 units of social rented and hostel accommodation in Dublin City and suburbs. This includes the famous Iveagh Hostel in central Dublin for homeless men (195 bedrooms).

A number of housing complexes were built by the Trust to replace slum dwellings in the area of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Patrick Street and Christ Church Cathedral between 1896 and 1945. The work was funded by the Guinness family at a time when Dublin city had the worst housing in the British Isles. In the early 1900s the flight of the middle class from the inner city to new suburbs left 50% of city dwellers in tenements. 33% of families lived in just one room. Insanitary, unhealthy conditions and extremely high mortality rates prevailed.

Flat 3B on the Bull Alley Estate is the only flat in The Iveagh Trust stock which has remained largely unchanged since the first tenants took up occupancy in 1904. The bulk of the furniture and fittings was acquired by the Trust from the Molloy family. The flat contains a living room and 2 bedrooms (one doubling as a food preparation area). Outside on the landing is a communal sink, w/c, and storage cupboard, used by the family to store coal.

Nellie Molloy, one of six children, found work as a weaver with the Greenmount Linen Co. in Harold’s Cross and had 27 years service there, until she left work to look after her sick mother. The rest of the family married. Nellie’s mother died in October 1967 and Nellie continued to live in the flat until her own death at the age of 95 in October 2002. By keeping her surroundings as they always had been, Nellie kept her memories of deceased family members very much alive. Following discussions with the family, the Trustees decided that the flat should remain a museum – a visual reminder of flat design and of how families lived in early 20th century Dublin tenements.

Opening Hours:
Viewing can be arranged for small groups by appointment only.

Contact & Pricing:
theiveaghtrust.ie
Tel: 01 454 2312
Flat 3b Iveagh Trust, Bull Alley Estate, Patrick Street, Dublin 8

James Joyce Centre

Dublin A to Z, Exhibitions, Museums, Tours

The James Joyce Centre is a beautifully restored Georgian town house, exhibiting items relating to the life and work of James Joyce.

The house was built in 1784 by Francis Ryan for Valentine Brown, the Earl of Kenmare, who used it as his townhouse. The plasterwork was done by Michael Stapleton, one of the finest stuccadores of the time. The house was given special mention by Constantine Curran in his book “Dublin Decorative Plasterwork of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries”, and the photographs he took were essential to the restoration of the house. Curran was also a close friend of Joyce’s.

In the 18th century this area of Dublin was very fashionable but it fell into decline in the 19th and early 20th centuries. By 1982 twelve houses on the street had been demolished by the City Council as dangerous buildings, including the house next door. Number 35 was saved by Senator David Norris, a Joycean scholar who also lives on this street. For many years, the Centre was run by descendants of Joyce’s brother Charles Joyce and sister May Monaghan. It is now run as a limited company with the support of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

The James Joyce Centre also offers guided walking tours of historic Joycean Dublin, taking in some of the monumental and ordinary sights and sounds of the city in which Joyce staged all his works. See the separate entry entitled “James Joyce Centre Walking Tours”.

Opening Hours:
Tues to Sat: 10.30am – 4.30pm
Closed Sun & Mon
Walking tours take place every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 11am.

Contact & Pricing:
jamesjoyce.ie
[email protected]
Phone 01 878 8547
35 North Great George’s Street, Dublin 1

James Joyce House Of The Dead

James Joyce House of the Dead

Dublin A to Z, Historical

The James Joyce House of the Dead is one of Dublin’s most interesting literary and historic buildings and is the place where Joyce set his famous short story, “The Dead”, and where director John Huston located his film of the story.

The man behind restoring the house – Brendan Kilty – had previously saved Sweny’s, the pharmacy in Clare Street immortalised in “Ulysses” (where Leopold Bloom purchased a bar of lemon soap).  At the turn of the millennium Brendan acquired the then derelict, burnt out and roofless 15 Usher’s Island. His mission was simple – to restore the house to its condition as of 1904 and to recreate the dinner party scene as described in “The Dead”. With the aid of an army of volunteers, supporters and friends across the globe, that dream was realised.

Sadly, the “dark gaunt house on Usher’s Island” has been sold on the instructions of receivers, and the property is now closed. Brendan Kilty filed for bankruptcy in the UK in 2012 and a large sum of money is owed to Ulster Bank in connection with the property. The building has since been approved for conversion into a tourist hostel.
rte.ie/james-joyce-house

According to an Irish Times news report (12/4/2017), 15 Usher’s Island was built around 1775 for Joshua Pim (who had a business in the adjoining house, number 16). “During the 1890s the upper floors of the building were rented by Joyce’s maternal great-aunts, who ran a music school and, most notably, held the Christmas parties that provide the scene for The Dead.”

www.irishtimes.com

15 Usher’s Island, Dublin 8