House Number 29 > Visitor Information

A photo of part of a Georgian front door with silver numbers 29

Number 29 Review 2010

An increase in visitor numbers of 4% was achieved with a final figure of 36,000 by year end. Several initiatives in programming contributed to this growth. Collections care and conservation routines continued and developed and the museum display was augmented by the addition of new loans.

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

January: The annual cleaning and inspection programme was carried out successfully in January instead of December. We learned that contractors and staff for the work schedule are more readily available post Christmas.

February A George IV child’s high chair was loaned to the exhibition and can be seen in the Children’s Room

March: Number 29 was selected as a venue for a clue in the St. Patrick’s Festival Treasure Hunt which contributed to the fact that we hosted over 1000 visitors on the day.

April: A selection of coins and paper money from the early 19th century were received from a private lender and are on display in the exhibition case in the Front Drawing Room.

May: Number 29 was delighted to launch Catch up Culture Week with the Irish Museums Association and Temple Bar Cultural Trust. The launch in the Front Drawing Room was attended by Mary Hanafin TD, Minister for Arts, Padraig Mc Manus, ESB Chief Executive, and Paul Doyle, Chair of IMA.

June: The Catherine McAuley National School’s Annual Art Exhibition (based on a theme from Number 29) took place and delighted the parents, students, teachers, and ESB management on opening day. Much credit to the teachers and students for the amazing collection of work.

July; The launch of the Heritage Week 2010 brochure took place in the Front Drawing room with Heritage Week Ambassador, Senator David Norris.

Number 29 and ESB took part in the inaugural Dublin Garden Squares Day, modelled on a similar event in London, and presented in the five historic squares in Dublin City by the Dublin Civic Trust.

Number 29 entered into a creative partnership with Imaginosity, the Children’s museum, to deliver a series of art and craft workshops in July for parents and children. The events were very well received and attended. This promoted Number 29’s reach in the family demographic, which was one of its 2010 targets.

August: A special handling collection was acquired for Number 29 for use with a variety of educational groups in tour and workshop settings.

The Merrion Square Open Day, to celebrate Heritage Week, included the participation of National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin City Council, and National Museum of Ireland. Irish Georgian Society, Mercy International, St, Andrews Church, Westland Row, St. Stephens Church (Peppercanister), Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Sweny’s Chemist, Irish Architectural Archive, National University of Ireland. University of Notre Dame, and Irish Landmark Trust and attendance surpassed that of 2009.

September: The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, made a return visit to Number 29 in September to launch Positive Ageing Week.

A full programme took place for Culture Night on Friday 25th September. This included a guided walk by Pat Liddy, free guided tours of the museum, and a dance installation based on the ESB Shannon Scheme at Ardnacrusha. Visitor numbers for the evening were higher than the previous year.

October The National Gallery of Ireland expanded their loans to Number 29 to include a View of the Devil’s Glen, Wicklow, by James Arthur O’Connor. The painting is on view in the front drawing room.

November:

An exhibition on the photography and photographic equipment of Franz Sebastien Haslebeck (1885-1973), entitled “Fond Memories Bring the Light,” opened in the Atrium at Number 29 and ran from 15th November until the 12th December. The exhibition, developed by ESB Archives & Heritage staff and the Haselbeck family, previously enjoyed a successful run at the Hunt Museum Limerick.

Number 29 took part in the second annual Dublin Senior Citizens’ Day, opening on Monday 29th November, by offering free entry to Senior Citizens on the day.

December The severe weather caused some disruption to the Number 29 opening and led to the cancellation of a planned Christmas Workshop in Association with Imaginosity.