Report 2007 Report 2007

11mm National Museum of Ireland National Museum of Ireland Report 2007 Report 2007 Front Cover: The Sea Stallion from Glendalough, replica of an eleventh-century Dublin Longship being lifted into Clarke Square, Collins Barracks, August 2007. Back Cover: The Sea Stallion from Glendalough being returned to water in preparation for its return voyage from Dublin to Roskilde, Denmark, May 2008. 11mm Our Purpose is to: Collect, preserve, promote and exhibit all examples of Ireland’s portable material heritage and natural history. Interpret and promote the collections and make them accessible to audiences at home and abroad. Be the authoritative voice on the relevant aspects of Irish heritage, culture and natural history. Maintain the lead role in education, research and scholarship pertaining to the collections and their contexts. First Published in 2008 by National Museum of Ireland, Dublin. © National Museum of Ireland. ISSN 1649 0339. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, broadcast or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission in writing from the publishers. The National Museum or Ireland – Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Benburb St. Dublin 7. The National Museum or Ireland – Archaeology, Kildare St. Dublin 2. The National Museum or Ireland – Natural History, Merrion St. Dublin 2. The National Museum or Ireland – Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo. Telephone: +353 677 7444 Email: [email protected] Website: www.museum.ie National Museum of Ireland Report 2007 Franciscan Faith Sacred Art in Ireland 1600 – 1750, National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History Contents In t r o d u c t I o n Message from the Chairman of the Board of the National Museum of Ireland 4 Introduction by the Director of the National Museum of Ireland 8 co l l e c t I o n s Art and Industry 12 Irish Antiquities 17 Irish Folklife 22 Natural History 27 Conservation 31 Registration 35 Exhibitions 40 se r v I c e s Education and Outreach 48 Marketing 52 Photographic 59 Design 62 Facilities (Accommodation and Security) 66 Ad m I n I s t r A t I o n General 70 Financial Management 70 Human Resource Management 71 ICT 72 Financial Statements 1st January 2007 – 31st December 2007 78 Pu b l I c A t I o n s b y mu s e u m st A f f 108 bo A r d o f th e nA t I o n A l mu s e u m o f Ir e l A n d 114 st A f f dI r e c t o r y 115 1 Marble Silenus Mask, 1st Century AD Clár ré A m h r á Teachtaireacht ó Chathaoirleach Bhord Ard-Mhúsaem na hÉireann 6 Réamhrá ó Stiúrthóir Ard-Mhúsaem na hÉireann 9 bai l I ú c h á I n Ealaíon agus Tionscal 14 Seaniarsmaí Éireann 19 Saol Tíre Éireann 24 Stair an Dúlra 29 Caomhantas 33 Clárúchán 37 Taispeántais 45 se I r b h í s í Oideachas agus For-Rochtain 50 Margaíocht 55 Grianghrafacht 60 Dearadh 64 Saoráidí (Foirgintí agus Slándáil) 68 ria r A c h á n Ginearálta 73 Bainistíocht Airgeadais 73 Bainistíocht Daonacmhainní 74 TFC 75 Ráitis Airgeadais don tréimhse 1ú Eanáir 2007 – 31ú Nollaig 2007 77 fo I l s e A c h á I n fh o I r e A n n A n mh ú s A e I m 108 bo r d Ar d -mh u s A e m n A héI r e A n n 114 eo l ai r e fo I r n e 114 3 Message from the Chairman of the Board of the National Museum of Ireland 2007 was a year of significance in a number of respects Conservation work on the Asgard began early in for the National Museum of Ireland. It was marked the year on this importance project. The Museum by the achievement of the astonishing one million had a spectacularly successful exhibition with visitors to the Museum for the first time in its history. the Sea Stallion in August. This important event 2007 was the 150th anniversary of the opening of the attracted widespread acclaim. Guest of Honour, Natural History Museum on Merrion Street. poet Seamus Heaney, added to the cultural richness of the occasion at the formal event on 17th August In July there was an unfortunate accident at the at Clarke’s Square, Collins Barracks. This very Natural History Museum in which up to fifteen successful event spoke an eloquent testimony to persons were injured when a portion of the stairs the subject matter of the exhibition. The Irish High collapsed. The response of the Emergency Services, Crosses went on display and this too also captured Gardaí and staff of the Museum was comprehensive widespread interest and acclaim. and effective. The Board expresses its thanks for this. The National Museum of Ireland – Country Life The Board formally approved the redevelopment at Castlebar went from strength to strength. The plan for the Natural History Museum in February appointment of Tony Candon as Manager/Keeper at 2007. Significant development and expenditure Turlough Park is likely to further enhance the good- plans were announced at the beginning of the news-story of this important museum. year. At a Press Conference on 24th January 2007 the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr John The National Museum is proud to have purchased O’Donoghue announced details of cultural projects through Adams the precious and important Stanley to be funded under the National Development Plan. Collection incorporating 950 historical items. The following provisions were made for the National Museum namely: A number of other successful and significant exhibitions also took place through 2007 including • Central Block, Collins Barracks and the Franciscans Faith: Sacred Art in Ireland 1600-1750; Asgard gallery – €70 million Neillí Mulcahy – Irish Haute Couture of the 50s and 60s. • Redevelopment of the Natural History I am pleased to report that the Museum received a Museum – €15 million substantial donation of clothing, fabrics and related • General Capital Works – €26 million archives from designer, Neillí Mulcahy. • Shared Storage Facilities for Cultural Institutions – €30 million There was also an exhibition of paintings and sketches by Lorcan Walshe entitled The Artefacts The National Museum looks forward to Project. This was a worthy exhibition and will, no developments consequent upon the aforesaid doubt, spread the message of the cultural and artistic provisions and is keen to progress with those beauty of those objects to an audience additional to works at the earliest possible time. those who enjoy the artefacts themselves. Mention should also be made of the exhibitions in Kildare St Issues of Corporate Governance in accordance that captivated a very wide and acclaimed audience, with the Code of Practice for the Governance of namely that of Life and Death in the Roman World, State Bodies have been complied with under all The Rites of Passage – the excavation of the Mound of relevant regulatory headings in accordance with the the Hostages. obligations attaching to the National Museum for the year 2007. 4 Great work has gone into the preparation of the Statement of Strategy this year and this important work will be completed early next year. Likewise very considerable work has been done in relation to a Procurement Policy for the National Museum and this will be brought to its final stage early in 2008. Comprehensive work is under in relation to Risk Management at the Museum. The Board continues to work closely and effectively with the Director and his staff and wishes to express its thanks for their great work throughout the year. Likewise the National Museum continues to work closely with the OPW and the Board wishes to acknowledge the work being done by it on behalf of the National Museum. Finally and importantly the Board would wish to thank the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, the Secretary General and staff of the Department for the great support and co- operation received by the Board from them in 2007. Ar aghiadh leis an obair! Dr. John O’Mahony SC Chairman Board of the National Museum of Ireland 5 Teachtaireacht ó Chathaoirleach Bhord Ard-Mhúsaem na hÉireann Bliain tábhachtach ar roinnt mhaith cúiseanna ab Thosaigh an obair chaomhantais ar an Asgard i dtús ea 2007 in Ard-Mhúsaem na hÉireann. Lena linn na bliana, obair mór le rá. D’éirigh go héachtach le a d’éirigh leis an Músaem don chéad uair riamh taispeántas Stail na Mara i mí Lúnasa. Moladh an milliún cuairteoirí a fháil, údar iontais. Comóradh ócáid tábhachtach seo go hard agus go forleathan. 150 bliain Ard-Mhúsaem na hÉireann – Stair an Chuir an Príomh-Aoi, Séamus Heaney file, le Dúlra i Sráid Mhuirfean. saibhreas cultúrtha na hócáide nuair a ghlac sé páirt sa searmanas i gCearnóg Uí Chléirigh, Dún Uí Is trua gur tharla timpist i mí Iúil i hArd-Mhúsaem Choileáin ar an 17 Lúnasa. Sárléiriú ar bhunábhar na hÉireann – Stair an Dúlra agus gur gortaíodh an taispeántais ab ea an ócáid rathúil seo. Cuireadh cúig duine déag nuair a thit cuid den staighre Ard-Chrosa na hÉireann ar taispeáint, rud eile a anuas. Rinne na Seirbhísí Éigeandála, an Garda spreag spéis agus moladh go forleathan. Síochána agus foireann an Mhúsaeim de réir a ndualgais go cuimsitheach agus go héifeachtach. Tá Ard-Mhúsaem na hÉireann – Saol na Gabhann an Bord buíochas leo dá bharr. Tuaithe i gCaisleán an Bharraigh ag dul i neart i gcónaí.

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