Goodbye to class of 2013/2014

Today our 2013/2014 class finish. From all the museum we will miss you, thanks for all your hard work and dedication over the last 11 months and best of luck in all your new endeavours. Come back in to see us and let us know what you are up to!

Class trip to Castletown

On Friday 1 of August we visited Castletown House in Cellbridge, the eighteenth-century Palladian house built by Speaker William Conolly. The house and parkland are really stunning. The house was preserved thanks to the efforts of Desmond Guinness and the Castletown Trust. The OPW took over the house in the 1990s and undertook an extensive restoration project. The tour was a fantastic insight into to the life of one of Ireland’s wealthiest eighteenth century families, but also told of the decline of the family.

As well as undertaking the tour we got to roam around the wonderful gardens and we even spotted a hedgehog! We also managed to get our first full class photo (complete with coordinators).

The photos supplied here were taken by our class photographer, Brian Matthews.

Walking Tour: Fiona Kavanagh

We are ending our tour-guide training by designing walking tours. Fiona’s walking tour was The Battle of Mount Street Bridge 1916: A personal story by one of the volunteers. The Battle of Mount Street Bridge was fought on 26 of April, 1916, around the corner from Beggars Bush Barracks. Irish Volunteers stationed on the corner of Mount Street and Haddington Road opened fire on British troops that were being deployed to deal with the rising in the city centre. It was the Irish Volunteer’s most successful engagement 4 British officers and 24 British soldiers were killed while over 200 were wounded in this one engagement.

Fiona has a personal connection with Mount Street, her grandfather was a volunteer who fought in the battle. As well as her usual enthusiasm, Fiona brought a fantastic personal element to the tour. Fiona will also be giving her tour as part of our Heritage Week programme of events. Unfortunately the tour has already booked up but Fiona has promised to return next year and give the tour to the new recruits!