Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
www.leprechaunmuseum.ie
;
Twilfit House, Jervis St; adult/child €12/8; 9.30am-6.30pm Mon-Sat, from 10.30am
Sun; all city centre, Jervis)
Abandon all cynicism ye who enter here, otherwise you won't
get through the exhibits of this museum dedicated to the history of the 'little people'
without finding it all completely ridiculous. If you can suspend judgement, you'll discover
that there is a folklore element to the place, and that kids will find it a lot of fun.
In truth, you get little more than an introductory glimpse at the leprechaun story, from
the (largely American) image of a gold-burying, good-luck-bringing, lucky charms-type
figure to the creature associated with the mythical Tuatha dé Danann people that preceded
the Celts. There's the optical illusion tunnel (which makes you appear smaller to those at
the other end), the room full of oversized furniture, the wishing wells and, invariably, the
pot of gold; all of which is strictly for the kids. But if Walt Disney himself went on a lep-
rechaun hunt when visiting Ireland during the filming of
Darby O'Gill and the Little
People
in 1948, what the hell do we know?
FOUR COURTS
(Inns Quay; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri; 25, 66, 67 or 90 from city centre, Four Courts)
James Gandon's
(1743-1823) masterpiece is a mammoth complex stretching 130m along Inns Quay. It is
as fine an example of Georgian public architecture as there is in Dublin and - despite the
construction of a brand new criminal courts building further west along the Liffey - still
the enduring symbol of Irish law going about its daily business.
Construction on the Four Courts began in 1786, soon engulfing the Public Offices (built
a short time previously at the western end of the same site), and continued until 1802. By
then it included a Corinthian-columned central block connected to flanking wings with
enclosed quadrangles. The ensemble is topped by a diverse collection of statuary. The ori-
ginal four courts - Exchequer, Common Pleas, King's Bench and Chancery - branch off
the central rotunda.
The Four Courts played a brief role in the 1916 Easter Rising without suffering dam-
age, but it wasn't so lucky during the Civil War. When anti-Treaty forces seized the build-
ing and refused to leave, Free State forces led by Michael Collins shelled it from across
the river. As the occupiers retreated, the building was set on fire and many irreplaceable
early records were burned. These were the opening salvos in the Irish Civil War. The
building wasn't restored until 1932.
Visitors are allowed to wander through, but not to enter the courts or other restricted
areas. In the lobby of the central rotunda you'll see bewigged barristers conferring and po-
lice officers handcuffed to their charges waiting to enter court.
HISTORIC BUILDING
