SIMON TIERNEYfinds ways to live well with less cash
Ireland’s great buildings
One of my favourite free places to visit in Dublin is Government Buildings (Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2, tel: 01-6194141). It is one of the better legacies of Haughey’s premiership that it was refurbished so successfully. Some humorists have even described it as the “Taj MaHaughey”.
Each Taoiseach is allowed to choose a number of paintings from the National Gallery and the State collection for his or her own office. Enda Kenny has the inevitable portrait of Michael Collins (by Sarah Cecilia Harrison). He also has In the West of Ireland by Paul Henry. A warm and tranquil landscape, there isn’t a sign of a financial crisis in this picture. Maybe it offers him some escape?
Tours normally take place every Saturday at 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm and 1.30pm. Phone ahead to ensure tours are going ahead. Tickets are available on Saturday mornings from the National Gallery.
There is free access to many OPW-managed heritage sites on the first Wednesday of every month in 2012. See heritageireland.iefor details. Apart from the free Wednesdays deal, the OPW is also offering free entry to a number of its sites to 25 people.
The locations are Pearse Museum/St Enda’s (Dublin), Derrynane House (Co Kerry), Emo Court (Co Offaly), Rathfarnham Castle (Dublin), Casino at Marino (Dublin). The first five people to email info@heritageireland.ie, quoting “Heritage Ireland Offer”, and stating the location of their choice, will be able to bring a group of five to the site of their choice.
Bantry House (Bantry, Co Cork, tel: 027-50047), the ancestral home of the Earls of Bantry, is a stunning early 18th-century building. There are three free family tickets (normally €26) available to the first people to email info@bantryhouse.com.
As part of the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council’s Summer of Heritage programme, there are free “living history” tours taking place this summer in Cabinteely House (Cabinteely Park, Co Dublin, tel: 01-2850118), the location for the filming of the Glenn Close film, Albert Nobbs. It is open for free Wednesdays and Sundays from 2pm to 5pm, until September 2nd.
Last but not least . . .
Historians Maurice and Jane O’Keefe completed a project which brings together the stories of the descendants of more than 100 Anglo-Irish landowners. An invaluable insight into the history of the big house, Ireland’s Great Houses (part of the Irish Life and Lore series) includes 70 recordings and is free to listen to at the Dublin City Library and Archive (138-144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, tel: 01-6744999). Bring photo ID to obtain a reference card.
