RCSI marked National Heritage Week with ‘People and Place' tours

More than 300 people visited RCSI during National Heritage Week 2016. This annual celebration of Irish history and heritage saw RCSI open its doors to the public from 22nd-24th August, for a total of nine tours of the College at 123 St. Stephens Green. The tours ran at 11am, 2pm and 6pm on each of the three days and were completely free of charge to the public.

Fitting in with this years National Heritage Week theme, ‘People and Place and on the year that marks the centenary of the Colleges occupation by insurgents under the command of Michael Mallin and Countess Markievicz during the 1916 the Easter Rising, guests took a tour of the College and walked in the rooms occupied by the rebels which are virtually unchanged since 100 years ago.

As well as RCSIs role in the Easter Rising, visitors learned about the history of the College, one of Dublins iconic buildings, and how it came to be built at its historic landmark location on St Stephens Green. Visitors found out about some of the individuals, such as former President Sir Charles Cameron and legendary porter Felix Cooper, and events which have shaped, not just the Colleges history, but the local and national history over the past 230 years.
Some of the exhibits that were on show included a scale model of St Stephens Green in 1916 with visual and sound-effects, showing the firing-lines across the Green; the famous College mace; and a live bombs table, which is a replica of that found at RCSI during the Rising.

The tours were guided by Bryan Sheils (Front of House Manger, RCSI), Frank Donegan (Head Porter, RCSI) and Joseph Byrne (Deputy Head Porter, RCSI). Meadhbh Murphy the Colleges Archivist was also on hand to answer any questions guests may have on any aspect of RCSI history.