Public Walking Tours and Art Tours: March- May 2023.
Please see our new Spring and Summer 2023 schedule of history, art and architecture public walking tours just below. Remember: Private walking tours (exclusively for you and /or your own private / family / college or corporate group) are available year-round, on flexible (available) dates, simply by hitting the Green “Book Now” button, then selecting the “Private Tour” option. For public tours, on fixed dates, please see our full schedule below. Note the booking calendar for each event will display all dates for that type of tour. So please be careful to choose the right date (the date you want) from available date options on the booking calendar. Thank you.
EVENTS
Wednesday 22 March: 11.30AM Walking Tour of Dublin’s Medieval Walls (2 hours)
explores the remaining fragments of the old city walls, gates and watchtowers, and the dramatic, often violent events they witnessed over their over-700-hundred year presence. A very special tour. A 2-hour loop around the old city of Dublin’s medieval walls, walking with our maps in hand, this is almost like a treasure hunt, as we use the maps to help identify the locations of the former gates and watch towers that once lined the medieval walls. We’ll also explore and discuss the layered, often violent history those walls witnessed through the Middle Ages, including war, invasion, fire, plaque and bloody rebellion. We’ll discuss Viking History, the Normans, vanished churches, priories, chapels and medieval guildhalls. A fantastic way to learn about the often-forgotten, yet fascinating realities of medieval Dublin and learn about the origins of our city. Tickets here.
Saturday 25 March: 11AM: Drama and Politics in Dublin’s Medieval Core (1.5 hours -2 hours)
Everybody thinks about Dublin Literature as being Shaw, Wilde, Joyce, O’Casey. But what about writers who lived and worked in the old historic core, from Johnathan Swift and Lady Sydney Morgan, to James Clarence Mangan? And what of Irish Drama and the Irish stage in the centuries before the Abbey National Theatre? This superb walking tour explores theatre, literature, music and performance as well as themes as diverse as Bookselling and printing on Castle Street; drama and fatal politics at the Werburgh and Smock Alley Theatres; the old Music Hall and much, much more. Our route includes Smock Alley, Dublin Castle, Castle Street, Fishamble and Werburgh Street, Smock Alley and around. An eye-opening journey, around Dublin’s medieval core. Tickets available here.
Tuesday 28 March: 2PM: How to Read a Painting, convention, meaning and symbolism in Renaissance and European old master paintings.
The acclaimed “How to Read a Painting” workshop: our gentle, accessible, and highly enjoyable introduction to Art History. Learn about artistic conventions, the creation of meaning and the use of religious and mythological symbols and symbolism in Renaissance and European painting. As examples- to illustrate our learning points- we’ll view and discuss over a dozen paintings from the NGI’s wonderful collections, various stunning artworks by masters like Fra Angelico, Perugino, Titian and Andrea Mantegna. This events runs Tuesday 28 March and Thursday 06 April. Please take care to look at the booking calendar, making sure you book the correct date you want. Tickets for both dates here.
Friday 31 March: 2PM: Irish Painting 1670- 1850: & its European influences.
An art tour of Irish Art, from before the Battle of the Boyne through the 18th and 19th centuries- with genres including History Painting, Irish Landscape and Portraits. Learn also how ideas from England, France and Italy influenced Irish art in this era, and towards the end of our tour, the influence of the Grand Tour tradition in particular, when we’ll view and discuss “vedute” works bought and brought back here to Ireland, by Grand Tourists, purchased from artists like Canaletto in Venice, and Panini in Rome. This Irish Art event runs Thursday 31 March and Tuesday 04 April. Please take care to look at the booking calendar, making sure you book the correct date you want. Tickets for both dates here.
Tuesday 04 April: 2PM Irish Painting 1680- 1850: plus French & Italian influences, and the Grand Tour Tradition.
An alternative, second date to do this tour of Irish Art. (See longer description further above) This Irish Art event runs Thursday 31 March and Tuesday 04 April. Please take care to look at the booking calendar, making sure you book the correct date you want. Tickets for both dates here.
Thursday 06 April: 2PM How to Read a Painting, convention, meaning and symbolism in Renaissance and European old master paintings.
A second chance to do the “How to Read a Painting” workshop: a gentle, accessible, and highly enjoyable introduction to Art History. Learn about artistic conventions, the creation of meaning and the use of religious and mythological symbols and symbolism in Renaissance and European painting. (See longer description further above) Tickets for both dates here.
Tuesday 18 April 8PM (sharp) Local History Talk: Rathmines.
A slide lecture on the social and architectural history of Dublin’s Rathmines District. This talk is a live, in-person event. No tickets. No bookings. Admission free and first come/first serve.
Wednesday 26 April: 11 AM Walking Tour of Rathmines
A walking tour on the social, artistic, revolutionary and remarkable architectural history of Dublin’s Rathmines township. We’ll look at and discuss some of the townships superb buildings up close and in-person. One Hour 35 minutes Approx. Tickets €20 + bking: available here.
Tuesday 09 May 8PM (sharp) The Buildings of Dublin’s Liffey Quays: Talk.
Local History talk, a slide lecture learn about some of the forgotten history, and remarkable architecture that line the banks of Dublin’s River Liffey.This slide-talk is a live, in-person event. No tickets. No bookings. Admission free and first come/first serve.
SUNDAY 14 May 11.30AM The Buildings of Dublin’s Liffey Quays & streets around: Tour.
A unique walking tour, from Hueston Station to the Four Courts -includes the Royal Barracks, the Bluecoat School, Saint Paul’s Church, Smithfield Square and the evolution of the Quays- an architecture and history walk. Unmissable. Tickets and details available here.
* Location of our live, in-person History Slide talks
Our 4 free, evening time slide-talks all take place in Portobello, Dublin 8, in the Community Hall behind the (former) Church of Ireland of Saint Kevin’s, Bloomfield Road, Dublin 8. The speaker is Arran Henderson. In the tradition of all Dublin Decoded events, they will cover a mix of architecture and history and will be lavishly-illustrated. These talks are held with the support of Portobello Tidy Towns and their kind Committee. Dublin Decoded also wish to acknowledge the sponsorship of Dublin City Council (DCC).
Online Art Talks
Finally, and also for art lovers, our 8-part Venice Art Talks series, have now concluded. However one final reminder that the first 4 Talks from the series, are available to buy online. If you are going to Venice soon, and/or if you missed the live talks series and would like to catch up now, tickets for Recorded version (only) Talks 1-4 are now available at a reduced price HERE. Note that these recorded videos are available to ticket-holders for 8.5 weeks from your date of purchase.
ALL the DETAILS, the prices, dates and the tickets for our online ART TALKS in gneral – both live and recorded- may be found HERE As regular guest know we explore a different part of Europe or of Italy each year. Join us.
We look forward to perhaps seeing you on tour. To get early notification on Dublin’s best Art, Architecture and History tours and events, join the mailing list for our free newsletter email. (Typically 8-10 emails per year) If you would like to sign-up (to subscribe) then you may do so here.
Arran Henderson | Dublin Decoded Tours.
images below: guests on recent various “Medieval Walls” walks, and on other tours, and including Portobello and our private Art Tours!
Selected Recent Public Tours, from 2022
Saint Stephen’s Green and the Secret Interiors of Newman house: a tour around all of Stephen’s Green and into the rarely seen secret 18th century interiors of Newman house.
The WSC, old Parliament and the Irish House of Lords: the evolution of Dublin from the mid-1600s and into the 1700s, including the achievements of the famed (and feared) Wide Streets Commissioners (WSC) and works by legendary Georgian architects like Edward Lovett Pearce and James Gandon. Details, and rarely-noticed survivors of the WSC era on Andrew’s Street, Dame St, College Green, and nearby D’Olier Street, then the climax of our a tour is a private visit within the stunning old Irish Parliament complex, including James Gandon’s Rotunda, and Pearce’s shimmering, miniature masterpiece at the heart of the building, the former Irish House of Lords.
