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THE NATURAL HISTORY Museum in Dublin will close for a number of years to allow for an ambitious refurbishment.
The project plans to address longstanding issues with accessibility as well as improve the preservation of the collection.
The building, located on Merrion Street Upper, houses the Dead Zoo, which is home to thousands of irreplaceable specimens, from elephants to insects.
Paolo Viscardi, told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that, among other issues, some valuables had been damaged after 2019′s “beast from the east”.
“It snowed in the roof space of this building, because the roof isn’t good enough. That melted and then leaked into the rest of the gallery. So the elephant got covered in water, and that’s not good to taxidermy … Those are the sorts of problems we want to prevent in the future.”
The museum is open now but will close in September, when investigative works will take place to determine the scope – and duration – of refurbishments.
The Dead Zoo will be moved to Collins Barracks, another National Museum of Ireland site, where visitors will still be able to see exhibits for free.
Fitzgerald Kavanagh & Partners has been appointed to lead the design team for the significant transformation, which is supported by the department of Tourism, Culture and the Arts.
The 1856 structure has been described as a “museum in a museum”, due to its Victorian architecture.
Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin TD described today’s announcement is a “milestone” for the attraction”much loved by the Irish people”.
“I am really pleased that the work is progressing on this project which will deliver a modern, safer venue that is more accessible and engaging and will protect both, the building and the collection, for future generations.”
Chair of the National Museum of Ireland, Prof Cathal O’ Donoghue said said the building has been experiencing issues “for many years” and the investment will ensure that it can be conserved and protected for future generations.
The ground floor of the Merrion Street location will remain open seven days a week with free admission until 2 September.
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A number of years. ? Sounds like Bam are going to make another fortune out of this one . What 1 billion refurb .. comes to 2 billion due to costs and delays
Wasn’t it closed for a few years already relatively recently?
Yes, after a stairway collapsed though. There was a documentary on the remedial work. I always loved going to the Dead Zoo but I suppose a major structural upgrade once every century is reasonable enough! Glad we can still see them at Collins Barracks.
Several years….. Jesus you’d build a hospital…..ooh wait. ..
Hoping….presuming; the original floorboards with their earned aged-creaks, and the wooden and glass cabinets, so lovingly crafted by human hands will be returned and retained. There is an authentic (echoing) sound, sight and ‘feel’ (and that delicious odour) within this building that travels one back a century and beyond to a gentler more refined time, as if one has disembarked a time machine.
@Keth Tgi:
Well said.
I visited there a number of yrs back,and was so captivated by everything that the whole afternoon went by.
A fantastic experience.
While they are at it would they ever put the Irish names on the exhibits?
@Padraig O’Brien: I guess they want to people to be able to read and understand everything.
Oh No, my favourite “Dead Museum” is going to be closed. It is always a great place to visit and enjoy for free. Shush (dead museum).
@ZA “Humanitas”: dead part been moved to Collins museum
Hopefully they can get this done for under a billion but I’m an optimist
The parallel universe of the Irish public service
There is a statue of Prince Albert (Queen Victoria’s husband) right up against that Museum’s outside wall in the Dáil grounds. I wonder if it will be affected by any renovations.
Dies this mean we’ll finally get a dinosaur?!?!! Aaaarrrrgh!!
@Jack Hayes. I suppose that’s why they have the taxonomy references.
I was lucky enough to see the Blaschka glass models many years ago. I look forward to seeing them again when it re-opens.
no doubt the “I’ve a degree” experts in everything will take over and it will never again open…as with most projects the public service get involved in …zero grasp of reality is a job requirement
When will the dead zoo be open again in the new location?
Permanent move to collins barracks ahead. More office space needed for the extra tds we are told we need. The national history museum was already speculated upon a number of years ago.
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