This well-known Georgian tour, originally developed by Dublin Decoded for the Irish Georgian Society, has been adapted for students sitting the Leaving Certificate and is available for school groups.  The tour package includes visits to major works by Edward Lovett Pearce, James Gandon, Francis Johnston, and Richard Cassels (also known as Ricard Castle) as well as views of works by Thomas Burgh and Hugh Darley, all with expert commentary, interpretation and analysis. Also included in the follow-up package for teachers are 3 pdfs, with a 5-page handout of notes covering key points, a “refresher quiz” and an answer sheet for the quiz for teachers. .  The tour takes one hour and 50 minutes.  It is available by appointment for groups of students, led by a teacher, on weekday afternoons and always starts  at 2.15pm.

Please share with Art teachers whose students might benefit. 

Fee is €10 per/student, based on groups over 9 and up to 29 students.  Money must be collected prior to tour.  Schools normally book the tour is as an extra- mural activity.   Very large groups, and DEIS schools may get in touch to negotiate a flat rate.  All other details on tour and worksheets, and the full tour spec. are below.

By concentrating on relatively small group of key buildings, terms, ideas and architects from the Georgian era, (approximately 1720 to 1830) it helps understanding and bring the era, concepts and creative personnel to life. It is designed to give teachers and students an edge in forthcoming exams.

The walk and talk takes place in and around the College Green and Trinity College area. Architects and designers include Thomas Burgh, Edward Lovett Pearce, James Gandon, Richard Cassels and Hugh Darley, among others.

The tour features the origins and underlying principles of the Georgian style, as well as notes on materials, and a glossary of terms and ideas.  Interpretation and discussion of buildings is by Arran Henderson, an art historian and writer who conducts tours for the Irish Georgian Society and many other leading cultural organizations (IGS, Open House, Culture Night, etc) .

Worksheets and extra materials included in follow up:   To assist teachers and help in classroom/exam performance, the tour includes with two useful study sheets.   One is handout for students, a summary of notes on key Georgian Dublin buildings, both those featured on the tour and other important examples of the style to visit and review.  The other is a “refresher” test. This is given to teachers/ group leaders at the end of the tour, for follow-up work later back in the classroom.  An answer sheet to the quiz is also provided for convenience of teachers.

Notes, fees, and how to book

To inquire about a date or to book a tour, please send an email to dublindecoded@gmail.com  with the words Leaving Cert Tour + (and)  your preferred date in the subject header please,  for a speedy response. Thank you.  Please note that all tours take place on Weekday afternoons, with start time of 2.15pm

Fees and notes:  Generally, schools offer this tour to students as an extra-mural activity. Fees are thus paid by parents and delivered by the teacher who accompanies the class-excursion.    For educational groups of 9-29 pupils, the fee is €10 per/student.   For smaller educational groups (15 pupils or less) a flat fee of €150 applies.  For DEIS schools Dublin Decoded offers a reduced rate of €5 per student (for groups over 15 students) and/or a flat rate of just €120.     Please note that in all cases,  fees are collected prior to tour by the teacher. Schools or groups who wish or prefer to pay in advance via electronic payment are welcome.  Please note that all tours take place on Weekday afternoons, and the start time is  2.15pm.  Weekend or morning-time tours are unfortunately not available, mornings due to my own teaching commitments and not weekends due to to the availability of buildings we wish to visit.   Again, to inquire about a date or to book a tour, please send an email to dublindecoded@gmail.com  and please include the words Leaving Cert Tour + your preferred date in the subject header please,  for a speedy response. Thank you.

Please share with Art teachers whose students might benefit. 

Leaving Certificate Art History Teachers may also be interested in another excursion, discussing religious (and secular) symbolism in historic paintings at the National Gallery, from Italian Quttrocento and Renaissance to 17th century Dutch Art.  Please see here.