Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The big event is the Annual Exhibition, held in May, which shows the work of those
artists deemed worthy enough by the selection committee, made up of members of the
academy (easily identified amid the huge throng that attends the opening by the scholars'
gowns). The show is a mix of technically proficient artists, Sunday painters and the odd
outstanding talent.
NATIONAL LIBRARY
(
www.nli.ie
; Kildare St; 9.30am-9pm Mon-Wed, 10am-5pm Thu & Fri, 10am-1pm Sat; all city centre)
F
Suitably sedate and elegant, the National Library was built from 1884 to 1890 by Sir Tho-
mas Newenham Deane, at the same time and to a similar design as the National Museum.
Its extensive collection has many valuable early manuscripts, first editions and maps.
Parts of the library are open to the public, including the domed reading room where
Stephen Dedalus expounded his views on Shakespeare in
Ulysses
. For those prints that are
worth a thousand words, you'll have to head down to Temple Bar to the National Photo-
the 2nd floor, where you can obtain free information on how best to trace your Irish roots.
HISTORIC BUILDING
ST STEPHEN'S 'PEPPER CANISTER' CHURCH
( 01-288 0663;
www.peppercanister.ie
;
Upper Mount St; 10, 11, 13B or 51X from city centre)
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Built in
1825 in Greek Revival style and commonly known as the 'pepper canister' on account of
its appearance, St Stephen's is one of Dublin's most attractive and distinctive churches,
and looks particularly fetching at twilight when its exterior lights have just come on.
It occasionally hosts classical concerts, but don't go out of your way to see the interior.
It's only open during services, usually held at 11am Sunday and 11.30am Wednesday,
with an extra one at 11am on Friday in July and August.
CHURCH
