Number 29 Year in Review 2008

2008 was a growth year for Number 29. Visitor numbers closed at just under 36,000 visitors, 5% ahead of the figure for the close of 2007 and 70% up on the figure for year 2002. The Number 29 website recorded nearly 50,000 unique page views for the year, up 41% on 2007.

Some highlights in a very busy year included…
February - Digitization of Darton Scrolls
March - St. Patrick's Festival Treasure Hunt
April - Catherine Mc Auley School Art Project
August - Merrion Square Open Day
September - Style in the City
September - Culture Night
October - Positive Ageing Week
November - Age Action & Positive Ageing Week

February: Digitization of Darton Scrolls

The Rudiment Box

Number 29 was delighted to commission digitisation of the Darton Scroll on loan from the Church of Ireland College of Education for archival and access purposes. An accessible version of this work has been added to the Number 29 website as a research and educational resource.

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March: St. Patrick's Festival Treasure Hunt
Number 29 was delighted to be asked to participate in the St. Patrick's Festival Treasure Hunt, a very popular event which saw 1200 visitors attend the museum this year, despite the wet weather.

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April: Catherine Mc Auley School Art Project
The Catherine Mc Auley art project was successfully completed this year with an exhibition of the children's art work in the local school. This year's theme was still life and involved intensive sketching sessions in Number 29 over a series of weeks.

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August - Merrion Square Open Day

The 4th Merrion Square Open Day was held this year on Saturday 30th August. The event was organised with nine other partners, opening ten historic properties, and staging 16 events through out the day. Total attendance exceeded 850 visitors for the day. Pictured Left: As part of the 2008 Merrion Square Open Day in St. Stephen's Church, Mount Street Upper, (also known as the Pepper Cannister) renowned musicians, Francis Kiernan (Flute) and Áine Ní Dhubhghail (Harp) performed Aires for a Georgian Day, a potpourri of late 18th & early 19th century chamber music

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September - Style in the City

Number 29 participated in the inaugural Style in the City, by hosting a special exhibition featuring pieces by four of Ireland's most successful fashion designers integrated into the displays in the museum. Featuring work by Peter O'Brien, Jen Kelley, Joanne Hynes, and Louise Kennedy, over 500 people attended over 4 days. Pictured Left: Peter O'Brien in the front drawing room of No 29 alongside a Khaki duchesse satin strapless evening dress with enormous khaki silk taffeta overskirt. Skirt is hemmed in knife pleats. Navy silk satin ribbon at waist

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September - Culture Night

Pictured: Wildlife tour of Merrion Square with Eanna Ni Leamhna

Number 29 took part in the third Dublin Culture night, running an active programme of tours and events, including a wildlife tour of Merrion Square with Eanna Ni Leamhna, (pictured) an historical walking tour with Pat Liddy, and a lecture on 18th century dining with Catherine Cahill. The event was a partnership with the Pepper Canister Church and attracted 500 visitors.

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October: Positive Ageing Week
Number 29 launched and hosted a special photography exhibition mounted by Age Action Ireland celebrating activity and creativity in old age. The event was part of Positive Aging Week.

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November: Good House Keeping in Historic Houses
Number 29 partnered with the Irish Georgian Society Conference, and the Office of Public Works to deliver "Good Housekeeping in Historic Houses", a seminar in Castletown house on 4th November. The key note speaker was Kathy Lithgow, Head Curator of the National Trust. Topics covered included access & conservation, furniture, glassware, textiles, and painting.

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