Number 29, is located just a short walk from Dublin’s busiest shopping street, Grafton Street. This lovingly restored 4 storey Georgian townhouse depicts the day-to-day life of a middle class family during the period 1790 to 1820. Check out our guide to Number 29 with details on its history, how to get here and more.
Situated at Number 29, Lower Fitzwilliam Street, just off Merrion Square, this restored Georgian house is now a museum. This popular Dublin attraction is all thanks to the Electricity Supply Board of Ireland (the ESB) who restored a number of other Georgian houses along this street as well as a chosen few houses on Upper Mount Street back to their original splendor in the early 1990′s. Through various exhibitions and an audiovisual presentation you get a real feel of what life was like in fashionable Georgian Dublin.
The tour…
The first part of the tour is an audiovisual presentation. This explains what life was like in Georgian Dublin as told by Olivia Beatty, the first occupant of the house. After the presentation, you’ll be taken on a guided tour - it starts in the basement and ends in the attic. The tour takes you through the living quarters of the hard working servants to the fine dining/ drawing rooms of the gentry and their bedrooms. Everything’s on display, furniture and furnishings, paintwork and plasterwork. In the attic you’ll see the children’s nursery, everything still in its place. All toys are still in tact, including two 19th Century dolls houses.
Many of the original 19th century furniture artifacts have been kept in the house. Much of the wooden furniture and cabinets would have been designed by local cabinet makers in Dublin - namely Mack Williams and William Moore. The house also has many paintings, portraits, landscapes and scenes of old Dublin history. These paintings are from well known, as well as some lesser-known artists of the time.
Opening times…
Tuesday to Saturday: 10am to 5pm.
Sunday: 12pm to 5pm.
Closed on Mondays, including Bank Holiday Mondays, Good Friday and for two weeks at Christmas.
How to get here…
Number 29, is only a walking distance from Pearse Street DART Station. When you arrive at Pearse Street Station walk up to Merrion Square, and walk across the park to the other side. You are then on Lower Fitzwilliam Street.
From the top of Grafton Street, at St. Stephen’s Green, head south along Merrion Row (St Stephen’s Green will be on your right hand side). The street changes to Lower Baggot Street and the next turn off to your left is Fitzwilliam Street Lower.
Bus routes 7, 8, 10, 15 stop near Number 29.
Admission into the house is around EUR6.00 for adults and children under the age of 16 are free. Concessions are also available.
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