House Number 29 > Visitor Information

2007 in Review for Number 29

2007 was a very good year for Dublin's Georgian House Museum, with an increase of 11% in our visitor numbers over 2006. Over 33,000 visitors per year now tour this unique cultural resource in Dublin, seeing first hand what life was like for the middle classes and their less fortunate servants, in late Georgian Dublin.

Some highlights in a very busy year included…
February to March 2007 - Catherine Mc Auley Workshops
April - Sound Xchange
July - Derek Mooney Show
September - Merrion Square Open Day
September - Culture Night 2007: After Dark in Georgian Dublin
October - Age Action & Positive Ageing Week

February to March 2007 - Catherine Mc Auley Workshops
ESB Number 29 is committed to working with local communities. Since 2004, the museum has been running a regular art workshop for the Catherine Mc Auley National School which is located just behind the house museum, in Baggot Street. Every year pupils work with a different part of the primary art curriculum. The chosen subject for 2007 was still life. Pupils visited the Georgian House museum to get inspiration and then worked closely with Number 29 staff in workshops in different parts of the house. The fine results were displayed in an exhibition in the school for parents and teachers.

Inspired by the Collection; Samples of work from the Catherine McAuley School Project

Inspired by the Collection; Samples of work from the Catherine Mc Auley School Project

April - Sound Xchange
Have you ever wondered about the extraordinary story of every day objects? What is the history behind common place utensils such as the kettle? What was cleaning like in the days before the invention of the vacuum cleaner? Number 29 was one of a number of contributors to this excellent programme, Sound Xchange, on RTE Radio 1, which can be heard online at www.rte.ie/radio1/soundexchange/1133361.html.

July - Derek Mooney Show
Number 29 made the airwaves in July in a different way when Brenda O'Donoghue from the Derek Mooney Radio show took a tour of the house, to experience the upside, and the downside of Georgian living. Brenda also met some children visiting the museum and met one pupil in particular, who had a very interesting and historic ancestor. To find out more click www.rte.ie/radio/mooneygoeswild/fp2007/july03.html.

September - Merrion Square Open Day
September 1st saw the third annual Merrion Square Open Day, a day of special events celebrating the rich and diverse heritage of Merrion Square and its surroundings. Visitors got a chance to explore Georgian Dublin in a relaxed and informal programme, taking in the houses, gardens and churches in the heart of the city. This year was the most successful yet, attracting 700 attendees across 13 events.

Events included a wildlife walking tour in Merrion Square, a walking tour of Fitzwilliam Square, including its normally private garden, as well as a fascinating talk on 18th century scientists, by writer and broadcaster, Mary Mulvihill.

The event was organised by Electricity Supply Board (Number Twenty Nine Fitzwilliam Street Lower), the Irish Architectural Archive, the Irish Georgian Society, and St. Stephen's Parish Church. With the participation of the Irish Landmark Trust, the Mercy International Centre, the National University of Ireland, the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland, the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland and the Central Catholic Library.

Visitors to No 29 'Going Wild in Merrion Square' are totally enthralled while exploring the Natural Heritage of Urban Dublin in Merrion Square park with Eanna Ni Leamhna, botanist, ecologist, broadcaster.

September - Culture Night 2007: After Dark in Georgian Dublin
On Friday 14th September, Number 29 was proud to take part in Culture Night 2007. The event was a gathering together of over 80 of Dublin's museums, galleries, theatres, libraries, historic houses, cathedrals, artists' studios and cultural centres for a night of entertainment, discovery and adventure.

Each venue stayed open until 10pm in an attempt to open up a new audience for cultural activities in Dublin. Concerts, talks, films and more were part of the programme. Venues taking part included the National Gallery of Ireland, the National Museum, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the Chester Beatty Library.

Number 29 staged a joint venture with St Stephen's Church - the famous 'Pepper Canister Church' that is located around the corner from Mount Street Upper and ESB Head Office. The evening programme, entitled 'After Dark in Georgian Dublin,' consisted of an organ recital in the Church, followed by a walking tour of the Merrion Square area with broadcaster and writer, Pat Liddy.

Visitors were also offered a guided tour of Number 29 with the added treat of harp music provided by Teresa O'Donnell in the front drawing room. Culture Night was featured on The Mooney Show on RTÉ Radio 1 during the preceding week and 10 lucky listeners and their guests won a personalised Culture Night VIP tour, which took in four of the venues involved in the evening.

Harpist Teresa O'Donnell (l) adding a unique atmosphere to the evening, while Mooney show listeners (r) enjoy Culture Night with Number 29 guide, Michael Rochford.

October - Age Action & Positive Ageing Week
Number 29, in association with ESB Customer Supply and Age Action Ireland was proud to host an exhibition of photographs which has taken the country by storm by challenging negative public perceptions of ageing and older people.

The "Positive Images of Ageing and Older People in your Community" exhibition featured the winning images and some of the entries from this year's Age Action Positive Ageing Week Photographic Competition.

The images on show featured older people hill walking, running, playing with their grand children and working. There was a 68-year-old marathon runner and a 73-year-old body boarder.
'I'm gonna live and laugh til I die!' 1st Prize winner, Joanne Walsh, Sandymount, Dublin 4, in the Age Action 2007 Photo Competition.

'I'm gonna live and laugh til I die!' 1st Prize winner, Joanne Walsh, Sandymount, Dublin 4, in the Age Action 2007 Photo Competition.

The fact that they are enjoying life to the full was evident in each image. All photographs were taken by amateur photographers.