Arts and Culture - Dublin Castle - June 2024

In June some of our members enjoyed a guided tour of Dublin Castle, one of the most important buildings in Irish history. From 1204 to 1922, it was the seat of English rule in Ireland. Since 1922, many important events have been held in the Castle, including state dinners and commemorations and the inaugurations of Ireland’s presidents.

We were shown the impressive State Apartments including Throne Room and St. Patrick’s Hall, which is the great ceremonial room. . One of the more poignant rooms was the James Connolly Room. It was from this room that he was taken to Kilmainham in May 1916. The Chapel Royal which is now deconsecrated, has some beautiful galleries and stained glass windows displaying the coats of arms of many of Ireland’s Viceroys - some of our roads and streets carry their names – Mountjoy, Wentworth, Clarendon, Shrewsbury, Dorset, Harcourt etc.

After an hour of history and architecture, it was time for lunch so Jim McGrath led the way to the restaurant in the Chester Beatty Library which is just behind the Castle.

A wet day in July saw us travelling to Skerries to visit the Mills. We had a fabulous tour with Paddy, a local who has been involved with the mill since the restoration project began in the 1990. A watermill in Skerries can be traced back to the 1100s and in records dated 1578, a windmill is listed on the same site. In 1840 the mills were extended to include a bakery, which continued to operate until destroyed by fire in 1986. The restoration project resulted in the opening of Skerries Mills as a Community Heritage Centre in 1999. We had a fabulous tour with our guide Paddy, a local, who has been involved with the restoration project since the beginning. He was very entertaining and had many stories about the mills and some of the characters who worked there. We hadn’t far to go for lunch as there is an excellent restaurant upstairs in the visitors centre.

We finally got to visit Kilmainham Gaol in August – this was a popular tour and 26 members came along. We were booked in for 2pm so we met for coffee and cake beforehand, then had lunch! Kilmainham Gaol opened in 1796 and one wing dates back to then. Conditions were grim here to say the least and the later parts of the building were brighter and bigger by comparison. Most of the prisoners were common criminals but political prisoners were also held here. It was particularly moving to see the cells were the 1916 leaders were held and the tour ended in the Stonebreakers Yard where 14 of those leaders were executed. The starkness and simplicity of the monument here adds to the atmosphere.

There isn’t a visit planned for Sept. as many of our members are off to France. Croke Park Stadium and Museum are provisionally booked for mid-Oct. More details later and yes, there is a restaurant on site. Hope you can be there!

Jane C.