New attraction celebrating ‘Irishness’ opens in Dublin

A theatrical and cinematic experience celebrating 10,000 years of “Irishness” has opened at the Haymarket in Dublin’s Smithfield.

The Story of the Irish takes the audience on a guided tour from prehistoric times to today, outlining who the Irish people are and their story through the ages.

The attraction will support 21 jobs,

An actor, playing a member of the Tuatha Dé Dannan, a mythical pre-Celtic people, will guide the audience through six “chambers”, each representing a different period in time.

The first three chambers - The Beginning, Mystical Endeavour, and Celtic Fusion - cover the achievements of the early Irish.

"It is an awe-inspiring period, during which the Irish were at the cutting edge of human evolution," author and director Frank Fitzpatrick said.

The next two chambers, Defiance and Famine and Death, are “gut wrenchingly sad” he said.

“This is when the unique Irish culture fought against annihilation, and lost.”

The last chamber, From the Ashes, reveals the birth of modern Ireland, "from the ashes of an ancient 10,000-year-old Irish spirit".

Opening

Speaking at the opening of the attraction, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Paschal Donohoe said the success of Irish tourism was being spearheaded by entrepreneurs.

“Frank has identified an unmet need, a way of telling the history and culture of our country in an animated way.”

The organisers say the attraction is not suitable for children under the age of 12.

Tickets cost €12.50 for under-16s and €16.50 for adults. Family tickets cost €49.50.

Canadian ambassador Kevin Vickers and representatives of the US, Australian and British embassies attended the opening.