Heritage week

Duchas has produced a 200-page pocket book listing 500 events, county-by-county, during September 1st-8th. For information about Heritage Week CALLSAVE 1850 600 601 or 01 647 2466.

Heritage Week Events

these are some of the Dublin based events that caught my eye….

9 MERCHANT’S QUAY

A unique opportunity to view this magnificently restored 18th century building and also the archaeological remains discovered in the basement in the course of the restoration. This was part of the Historic Heart of Dublin Project, a European funded joint venture between Dublin
City Council and Dublin Civic Trust.
Monday 2 September 11.00am and 3.00pm
Venue: 9 Merchant’s Quay, Dublin 8
Free
Partial wheelchair access
Contact: Donncha Dlaing – Heritage Officer,
Dublin City Council
Tel 01 672 3184

ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY

Series of lunchtime lectures ‘Dawson’s Street buildings and people associated with Dawson Street, Dublin’.
Speakers will include Dr. Maurice Craig, Rev. Dr. Adrian Empey and Peter Pearson. Come to hear about Joshua Dawson, St Ann’s Church, Academy House, the Hibernian Hotel and other Dawson Street businesses and lots more.
2 – 6 September 1.10pm – 1.50pm
Venue: Meeting room, Royal Irish Academy
Free
Full wheelchair access
Contact: Siobhán O Rafferty – Librarian
Tel 01 638 0910

SMITHFIELD EXCAVATIONS – OPEN AFTERNOON

View the excavation of the first post-medieval development on the Northside of Dublin City
Thursday 5 September
Guided tours at 2.00pm, 3.00pm and 4.00pm
Meet: Chief O’ Neill’s Viewing Tower, Smithfield
Square
Free
Partial wheelchair access
Contact: Franc Myles, Margaret Gowen and Co.
Ltd.
Tel 086 853 7281

14 – 15 ST STEPHEN’S GREEN – CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION PROJECT

Built in the latter half of the 18th century, these two building are significant examples of 1780s Dublin and are typical of that time. These tours offer an opportunity to view the ongoing sensitive restoration of these protected structures.
Thursday 5 September 11.00am and 3.00pm
Venue: 14 – 15 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2
(Corner of Dawson St. and St Stephen’s Green)
Free
Partial wheelchair access
Contact: Donncha Ó Dúlaing – Heritage Officer,
Dublin City Council
Tel 01 672 3184

UNITARIAN CHURCH, 112 ST STEPHEN’S GREEN WEST

Open Lunchtimes at Dublin Unitarian Church. We invite the public to drop in and see the interior of this beautiful historic building. Filte roimh cch!
2 – 7 September 12.30pm – 2.30pm
Venue: Unitarian Church, 112 St Stephen’s
Green West
Free
No wheelchair access
Contact: Chris Hudson –
Unitarian Church Dublin Restoration
Committee
Tel 01 288 6442
email info@unitarianchurchdublin.org

Mostly the same old places already open are open. Nowhere as good as in other countries, where special efforts are made by the private sector.

Free event in the National Library tomorrow afternoon, – if you have never ventured in here into this nice space do so.

Just back from the 9 Merchants Quay event… interesting enough…. the basement finds are definitely what everyone was there for tho… pictures to come…

9 Merchant’s Quay

how others do it – France from NY Times

More than 10,000 privately and publicly owned landmarks in France will be open to the public during the annual Journees Europeenes du Patrimoine weekend festival on Sept. 21 and 22. Most of these sites — government offices, factories, convents and chateaus — are off limits for tourists the rest of the year. Nearly all will be free of charge.

In Paris, the late-19th-century orchid collections in the Luxembourg Gardens greenhouses will be open to the public, as will the Art Deco amphitheater at the Institute of Political Science, on the Rue St.-Guillaume. Visitors can also admire the Ministry of Justice, 13, place Vendome, near the Place de la Concorde, and, in the Seventh Arrondissement, the prime minister’s council chamber in the 18th-century Hotel de Matignon and the Assemblee Nationale in the Palais Bourbon and the Hotel de Lassey, as well as the Ministries of Youth and Education, and Agriculture. In the scenic Pays d’Auge countryside of Normandy, the 16th-century half-timbered Manoir de Cauvigny, ancestral home of Charlotte Corday, will open its doors for the weekend. On Sunday, Strasbourg celebrates the 250th anniversary of its School for Equitation, Fencing and Dance with riding, saber demonstrations, Baroque dance and a two-hour parade through town. Children at the 11th-century Loches Dungeon near Tours can try their hand at copying the graffiti cut into the stone by medieval prisoners.

Detailed schedules will be posted at regional tourist offices throughout the festival. In Paris, a Journees du Patrimoine information kiosk at the Jardins du Palais-Royal is open from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 16 to 22. Information: (33-1) 40.15.37.37 (from Sept. 16) or online at http://www.culture.fr (French only). CORINNE LaBALME

Went to see the Unitarian Church today. Interesting little building, very odd shape inside – L shaped.

http://www.archeire.com/buildings_ireland/dublin/southcity/stephens_green/west_unitarian_church.html

on dc3’s theme – just back from the UK where they are advertising a Doors Open Day in Scotland, where stately houses previously closed are opened up.

http://www.doorsopendays.org.uk/

Yes, the AAI are looking into a similar event for next year in Ireland covering all eras of architecture.

Also made it into St Audoen’s Church of Ireland (High Street) and St Marys Abbey Chapter House (off Capel Street) today. Both were interesting as I’ve been walking past both for years and never made it into either.

St Audoen’s was interesting because of the ruinous nature of a good part of it. Interesting to see ruins survive in a cityscape.

http://www.archeire.com/buildings_ireland/dublin/southcity/high_street/st_audeons_portlester.html

And if you have time, money or willingness to ramble, dont forget

London Open House Weekend; Saturday 21st September, Sunday 22nd September.