14 Henrietta Street opens its doors to collect memories of past residents

European Museum of the Year (Silletto Prize 2020), 14 Henrietta Street, is opening up its doors on May 3rd to collect memories of those who once lived there or grew up in a Dublin tenement.

As part of an initiative to ensure the preservation of the lives, memories and stories of Tenement Dublin, Dublin City Council Culture Company is inviting the public to share their memories. Your Tenement Memories will kick off with an Open Day on Tuesday, May 3rd (from 10am – 1pm and 2pm to 4pm) in 14 Henrietta Street, Dublin, where those who lived in a tenement or knew someone who did can come to reminisce, so that their living histories can be captured and preserved for future generations in our national collection.

A key part of the initiative is to connect with tenement residents who were relocated from the city centre to suburbs such as Cabra, Drimnagh, Ballymun, Crumlin, Ballyfermot and Finglas which began in the 1930s up to the 1970s.

A series of drop-in events will run in these areas over the coming months in local libraries and community centres, to encourage people to share their memories of this huge historical shift.

“At 14 Henrietta Street, we want to listen as well as speak to visitors, along with previous residents of the house and other tenement houses of the City.

“Memories are at the very heart of social history and bring the museum to life” says Iseult Byrne, CEO of Dublin City Council Culture Company.

“The museum is a special place for people that wouldn’t normally see themselves represented in history and is a house where they can come to have a chat, reminisce, and feel like they’ve been transported back to their own house, or that of their mother or grandmother.

“At the museum and through our upcoming open day and drop-in events across Dublin, we want people to share their memories of tenement Dublin and the suburban shift that followed, and know that we’ll look after and preserve them for future generations.”

14 Henrietta Street shares and honours the lives and loves of real people, creating a connection between history and people living today.

Along with the help of passionate tour guides and social historians, the memories that are being collected are from the viewpoint of children who grew up in or around the tenements.

Former residents such as Peter Brannigan bring the museum to life by continuing to share memories today of living in the house, having been born in the basement of 14 Henrietta Street in 1939 and growing up in what is now the reception of the museum as one of 13 children.

The museum’s ability to transport people back in time through stories, objects and even smells has resonated with Dubliners and international visitors alike since its opening in 2018.

Tour guide Gillian Ryan, who has family connections to Dominick Street and whose Granny and Great Aunties were traders on Moore Street, believes that our social history is just as important as our political history.

Gillian, along with the other Tour Guides, is sharing and helping to preserve personal recollections and memories, and it’s not just the story of the house she is telling; it’s her family’s story and the lives of so many Dubliners.

The memories are collected and preserved in line with international museum standards.

The building of a documentary record of Dublin’s social history is done through recorded interviews and underpinned with principles of ethics, consent and accountability.

These memories will contribute to the existing Collection of memories and will inform cultural programming, tours and events for 14 Henrietta Street.

The Open Day and Community Sessions will aim to capture new memories to share.

Your Tenement Memories Community Sessions Schedule

• Tuesday, May 3rd: 14 Henrietta Street, Dublin 1, 10am – 12pm and 2pm – 4pm
• Tuesday, May 10th: Cabra Library, Navan Road, Dublin 7, 10am – 12pm
• Wednesday, May 11th: Ballymun Library, Ballymun Road, Dublin 9, 10am – 12pm
• Monday, May 16th: Ballyfermot Library, Kylemore Road, Dublin, 10, 10am – 12pm
• Wednesday, May 18th: Richmond Barracks, Inchicore, Dublin 8, 10am – 12pm
• Monday, May 23rd: Pearse St Library Reading Room, 144 Pearse St. Dublin 2, 10am – 12pm
• Tuesday, May 24th: Finglas Library, Finglas Village Centre, Dublin 11, 10am – 12pm
• Tuesday, May 31st: Central Library, Ilac Shopping Centre, Dublin 1, 10am – 12pm
• Tuesday, June 7th: Dolphins Barn Community Centre, Dublin 8, 10 am – 12pm
• Wednesday, June 8th: Coolock Library, Dublin 17, 10am – 12pm,
• Monday, June 13th: Ballybough Community Centre, Dublin 3, 2pm – 4pm
• Tuesday, June 14th: Walkinstown Library, Percy French Road, Dublin 12, 10am – 12pm
• Monday, June 20th: Kevin Street Library, 18 Lower Kevin Street, Dublin 8, 10am – 12pm
• Monday, June 27th: Aughrim Street Parish Centre, Dublin 7, 10am – 12pm

Your Tenement Memories is supported by the Heritage Council under the Heritage Capacity Funding 2022