I nearly called this post “Before the Roads”. That’s because road widening schemes have been one of the biggest enemies of old Dublin. Literally hundreds, thousands, of old historic houses have been pulled down to allow for the huge road schemes. Of nowhere is that loss more acute, more extensive, or sadder than the very… Read More Tour old Dublin – High Street, Christ Church, Wine Tavern & the Irish House.
“A Year in the Life”: 2015 in pictures – photos from research for our historical and architectural walking tours and of course, from the tours themselves. Thank you to everyone who came on 2015 Dublin Decoded tours and/or who supported us in 2015. Here’s our year, looking around churches, old factories, the former sites of… Read More “The Things We Saw” Dublin Decoded: 2015 pictures.
John Rocque’s famed map of Dublin (detail above) is a genuine work of genius, and one of the best maps made of any city in 18th century Europe. Today it forms a superb and indispensable resource for anyone interested in Dublin, its streets, buildings its religious, cultural, social or political history. Just one example of… Read More Rocque’s map, that endless treasure trove.
We’re delighted to invite you on a rare Sunday edition and a very special version, of our favourite walk, the Medieval Walls tour. It’s a tour, it’s a treasure hunt of sorts, and it’s a window into another world. It includes access into a least one site you’d perhaps never normally see. And it… Read More Sunday 17th May: a very special Dublin walking tour.
Old maps of Dublin: Viking & Medieval Dublin to the early modern era. 1,200 years of change. The image below is the first known image of Ireland. It was drawn as part of a larger map, around 200AD, by the legendary Ptolemy, often called the Father of Geography. Culturally speaking, Ptolemy was Greek, but he… Read More Maps of Dublin, old Speed’s map reveals history of Dublin.
Two quick but key items. 1- The Dublin Decoded mailing list. People on mail-out list receive our monthly newsletter where we reveal the details each month of our unique, sociable, historic and architectural city walks. Joining to receive newsletter list is quick and easy, and the link to sign up is here. Item 2:- the… Read More Easy sign up to mailing list & Dublin Art & buildings Picture Quiz!
the Dublin Decoded Walk “Medieval Mass” tour takes places on occasional dates, often often a Saturday or Sunday. Dates are announced on our monthly newsletter and elsewhere. (You can subscribe to newsletter here) Medieval Mass works a little differently from other Dublin Decoded tours. It’s a sort of treasure hunt, walked together with our “treasure… Read More Dublin Decoded medieval gates, walls and towers walk (available private pre-booked groups).
Suddenly Dublin Decoded looks and feels, all grown up. For the front I used a detail from my favourite map of medieval Dublin. It’s a beautiful little map of the former walled city, showing the line of medieval walls, with all its gates and towers. This particular tiny detail shows part of Dublin Castle,… Read More Have card, must be business. Dublin Decoded tours.
As regular readers know I’ve starting offering occasional walking tours of Dublin’s art, architecture and history the last few months. Details and a menu of tours can be found on the home page of Dublin Decoded, That will bring you to home page, but just press on any Tour title there to read the individual… Read More New self-guided tour, walking route, Scallops and Vikings.
North by North West, is the newest of Dublin Decoded’s walking & talking tour of Dublin city centre. As always with Dublin Decoded, we’ll look at and discuss the rich, varied; often surprising historic past, and explore how aspects of that past shape our present and our city today. There is an upcoming date on… Read More North by North West, a walking & talking tour of Dublin, 18th century to medievel, history, architecture, revolution & social history.
Arran Q Henderson 