Number 29 Year in Review: 2009

2009 was a good year for Number 29, with 35,000 visitors, throughout the year. The Number 29 gains new fans every day and recorded a figure of 60,000 unique page views for the year, a rise of 20%. Our education and events programming continued to grow and some interesting objects were added to the museum display.

Some highlights in a very busy year included…
January
March
April
May
June
August
September
November

January: Number 29 was selected to participate in the Heritage Council’s Museum Standards Programme for Ireland. Number 29 is now one of over 40 collections’ based organisations across Ireland taking part in the initiative which the Heritage Council describes as "the first of its kind in the Republic of Ireland, [MSPI] sets out to improve all aspects of Ireland’s museum practice. A voluntary programme, it has attracted involvement from across the cultural spectrum — from national institutions to small, volunteer-led organisations" http://www.heritagecouncil.ie/museums-archive/heritage-council-initiatives/museums-and-standards-programme/

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March: ESB/ Number 29 commissioned a high grade archival digitisation of the two paper and linen scrolls which form the "Rudiment Box", part of which is on display in the Nursery of the Georgian House Museum. These important and rare early 19th century educational resources were produced by the London firm of Darton and Son. One scroll is on loan to the museum by kind permission of the Church of Ireland College of Education. Images of from the scrolls as well as explanatory text are available online at www.esb.ie/main/about_esb/numbertwentynine/education/darton_scrolls.htm

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April: The Catherine McAuley School 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 ‘junk art’ and involved intensive sketching sessions in Number 29 over a series of weeks.

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May: A special lecture on Irish Harps & Harp makers was delivered by Jennifer Goff, Curator of Furniture and Musical Instruments from the National Museum of Ireland, as part of the inaugural Catch Up on Culture Week, a nation wide event aimed at encouraging the public to enjoy their local museum.

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June: An induction loop system & English language subtitles were installed on the Number 29 audio-visual to improve access for hard of hearing visitors. This is part of our ongoing commitment to make Number 29 as accessible as possible to a wide range of audiences.

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August:

Pictured: Poet Paula Meehan, reads at the Pepper Canister Church during the Merrion Square Open Day

The 5th 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 1000 visitors for the day. The former residence of Daniel O'Connell was among those houses open to the public for the event.

August: A special lecture, hosted in a period house on the north of Merrion Square and recorded for posterity by ESB Archives was delivered by Prof. Kevin B Nolan, on Daniel O'Connell: Merrion Square Resident.

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September:

Pictured: View of two late Georgian swords by John Read of College Green. Courtesy of a private lender.

Two historically significant swords by John Read of College Green were added to the collection on a private rotating loan of three years for display in the Master Bedroom. One of these swords was used at the battle of Ballinamuck in 1798.

September: 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. Age Action and ESB Customer Supply, sponsors of the exhibition were delighted to host Mary Mc Aleese for the launch, who spoke warmly of ESB and Number 29 and described the house as "a house to savour".

September: Number 29 took part in the fourth Dublin Culture night, running an active programme of tours and events, including a wildlife tour of Merrion Square with Eanna Ni Leamhna, an historical walking tour with Pat Liddy. The event was a partnership with the Pepper Canister Church and attracted 900 visitors.

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November: Number 29 took part for the first time in Dublin Senior Citizen’s day, organised by Dublin City Council and Transport 21.

November: The Georgian House Museum was featured as one of Dublin's hidden gems on DEN/TV's News2Day on Friday 16th November. Click here to see how children lived in the 18th century, and what kids today might make of life without running water, television, internet, or ipods.

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A busy & successful year ended with a full clean of the glass and ceramics collection, annual conservation work, and planning for 2010.