Little Museum of Dublin facts for kids
| Músaem Beag Bhaile Átha Cliath | |
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| Established | October 2011 |
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| Location | 15 St Stephen's Green, Dublin, Ireland |
| Type | Local history museum, urban museum |
| Founder | Trevor White and Simon O’Connor |
| Public transit access | St. Stephen's Green (Luas Green Line) |
The Little Museum of Dublin is a special place in Dublin, Ireland. It's a museum that tells the story of Dublin's past. You can find it in a beautiful old building from the 1700s, right by St Stephen's Green. This museum shows how people lived in Dublin by displaying everyday items. These items were given by people who live in the city.
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About the Museum
The Little Museum of Dublin is a local history museum. It focuses on the social and cultural history of Dublin. The museum is located in an 18th-century Georgian townhouse. This building is owned by the Dublin City Council.
How the Museum Started
The idea for the Little Museum came from director Trevor White and curator Simon O'Connor. They started the museum in April 2011. It officially opened its doors to visitors in October of the same year. The Little Museum is a registered charity. This means it's a non-profit organization.
Awards and Recognition
The Little Museum has received many awards. In May 2013, an Irish Times article called it the "best museum experience in Dublin." TripAdvisor gave the museum a Certificate of Excellence for three years in a row. In February 2014, it won a "David Manley Emerging Entrepreneur Award" for arts. As of 2022, it was ranked among the top things to do in Dublin on TripAdvisor.
Museum Location and Reopening
The museum is located on St Stephen's Green. In April 2024, the museum temporarily closed its main building. During this time, it operated from a temporary "pop-up" spot on Pembroke Street. The museum fully reopened at its original St Stephen's Green location in June 2025.
What You Can See: The Collection
The Little Museum of Dublin tells the story of the city in the 20th century. It helps visitors understand what life was like in Dublin during that time.
Museum Artefacts
The museum has more than 6,000 items. Most of these items were given or loaned by people from Dublin. The museum has three floors of exhibition space. There is also one floor for office space.
- Stained Glass Panel: One special item is a stained glass panel of St. Brendan. It was made around 1920. It is thought to be by the Irish artist Harry Clarke. This small panel was saved from a skip (a large trash container). Some pieces of it are missing.
- Christy Brown's Work: In 2014, the museum bought a collection of work by artist and poet Christy Brown. The Little Museum and the National Library of Ireland now jointly own this collection. It includes private letters, sketches, paintings, and poems that had not been seen before. This collection was sold for almost 45,000 euro.
Exhibitions and Displays
The museum has many interesting exhibitions. These displays cover important events in Irish history.
- 1916 Rising: There are exhibits about the 1916 Rising. This was a very important event in Ireland's fight for independence.
- John F. Kennedy's Visit: You can also learn about U.S. President John F. Kennedy's visit to Dublin.
- U2 Exhibit: In 2014, the museum opened an exhibit about the famous rock band U2.
Other Programs
The Little Museum also offers other ways to learn and connect with Dublin.
City of a Thousand Welcomes
In June 2011, the museum started a program called "City of a Thousand Welcomes." This program aimed to show how friendly Dubliners are to visitors. It connected first-time visitors with local people. Over 1,000 local "ambassadors" volunteered. These volunteers included historians, teachers, and writers. They would meet visitors for a cup of tea or a drink. They would also suggest interesting places to see in Dublin. This program was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
I Love Dublin Classes
The museum also has "I Love Dublin" classes. These classes are for school children aged 6 to 17. They help young people learn more about their city.
Gallery
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Front Room of the museum
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Telephone display in the Treasury Room
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Groceries display in Treasury Room
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Rare decree of plenipotentiaries signed by Eamon De Valera under the heading Anglo Irish treaty
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Gold flake lightbox
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Messenger bike
