Dublin Decoded

If you've been fortunate enough to study the history of art, you may already have the tools to look at Art, with focus and insight, following the intentions of the artist, grasping meaning, convention and symbols. Otherwise, without such training and focus, simply wandering around the great art museums of the world can be a very beautiful, but slightly shapeless experience. Would you like to look with more practiced, educated eyes? Here's the alternative we offer: small-group tours, open to all, including occasional evening tours, of the National Gallery of Ireland, with highly focused, yet accessible, expert interpretation of the artworks. These tours are a compliment to our annual on-line winter art appreciation courses, and also to our real world, in-person, luxury art tours abroad. But these NGI are a real luxury almost everyone can afford. This month we offer our much loved, veteran tour How to Read a Painting, am enjoyable workshop on recognising saints, symbols and stories, and we offer it on two separate dates, including a rare opportunity for a quiet evening tour, perhaps after-work or before a dinner date. Our other tour in the NGI this May is a return of our Introduction to French Art. Gain insights into over 450 years of French painting, from a beautiful, early Renaissance altarpiece, through the giants of the French revolutionary era, right up to the works of late 19C Impressionists like Renoir, Berthe Morisot and Claude Monet. Places for any of the se 3 tours should be booked in advance via our dublin decoded website link in bio And please remember that nearly all Dublin Decoded tours of the National Gallary of Ireland meet, and commence, from just inside the older, historic entrance foyer on Merrion Square. (NOT the new Millennium Wing) Don't miss these tours. You'll never look at art the same way again. #arttourdublin #nationalgalleryofireland #nationalgalleryofirelandtour #tournationalgalleryofireland #privatetournationalgalleryofireland #howtoreadapainting

. With my guests today, on this small- group Art tour at the Nat Gallery of Ireland today, for our workshop, on recognising saints & symbols, and stories. A workshop we call “How to Read a Painting” It runs again the evening of Thurs 28 May. Our workshop on French Art at the NGI is earlier in the afternoon of the same day 🇫🇷 All welcome, no prior knowledge required. Join us? More details, tickets etc, on my website dublindecoded.com

. even with today’s mix of sunshine & two sudden, crazy rain squalls, it’s always a very great pleasure leading these walks for the wonderful Irish Georgian Society. Today’s excursion, exploring history and literature along this second stretch of the Grand Canal, was no exception. Thanks to my fantastic guests, always so good-humoured. And to Claire from the IGS for the company, the back-up, and the photo! 📷 I’m thrilled to say Dublin Decoded will be leading a new series of walks for the Irish Georgian Society again this summer, with 4 walks taking place across June (2) July and then a last one in late August. Details on the IGS website soon. Join us! @irishgeorgiansociety @dublindecoded #dublinarchitecturewalkingtour

My proposal for an A-Z residential estate of housing, with each house built in the shape of a letter of the alphabet. It remains unbuilt, inexplicably ©Arran Henderson The drawing now in a private collection.

the Saint Mary’s (formerly Pro-) Cathedral; the old Irish Parliament and House of Lords; Grace Weir’s beautiful artwork Viking Wall, to explain Norse / Viking Dublin, and then, after several other twists and turns, and almost 3 hours walking and discussion- eventually journey’s-end, after Christ Church cathedral outside Saint Werburghs church. A pretty standard route, as my fellow guides will testify. Certainly much of the material we frequently cover, in our @dublindecoded tours And yet, a pretty immersive experience for these great American students and myself today. Gawd, I love my job. #dublintours #dublintourguide #dublintourguides #dublindecoded

. First picture is the brilliant David Caron @irishstainedglass sharing some wonderful insights about the fantastic stained glass windows, we looked at today, in both Saint Nicholas of Myra Francis Street, and in Johns Lane Church (SS Augustine & John church) And yes, thats me, in the second picture, disco dancing my way into the start of the same tour, our Three Churches of the Liberties walk of art and architecture. This was the second of my 2 @dublindecoded tours this week, for the fab @culturedatewithdublin8 Festival It’s one of my busiest but also my favourite times of the year. We began the walk today outside our first church: the venerable St Audoens, the oldest continuously operating parish church in Ireland. Thanks for to the Culture Date with Dublin 8 for having us again this year. Thanks to the great David Caron, the expert on Irish & Dublin Stained Glass, for sharing his vast knowledge of the subject. If you haven’t btw, got a copy of either his Gazetteer on Irish, or on Dublin Glass, they’re both highly recommended. My thanks to the PP of S. Nicholas of Myra, Monsignor Tyne, and to the Augustinian brothers and caretakers of the beautiful Johns Lane Church too. And finally thank you to my guests for joining us. You were brilliant! 🤩 See you all on the next tour! #dublinarttour #dublinarchitecturetour #dublinliberties #culturedatewithdublin8 #dublindecoded

. Really enjoyed this walk today by ourselves, @dublindecoded for the always- brilliant members of the @irishgeorgiansociety . We walked from the Harold’s Cross bridge to Wilton Park, exploring the architecture & history of Dublin’s Grand Canal. It was fun! Join me next week if you like? next Wed 13th, is Part II, of this lovely route, Meeting Wilton Park next time and exploring all the way down to the Grand Canal Docks and Basin. They - the IGS - still have 7 or 8 tickets left. Those will be easy to find on the Events page, of the IGS website. Non-members are also welcome. So come join us if you’re free. 😊 #dublinwalks #grandcanal #grandcanaldublin #irishgeorgiansociety #dublindecoded

One for our very occasional, “Where in Dublin?” series… I’ve always had a soft spot for this eccentric old glass and timber structure. As unlikely as it seems, I’m right in #Dublin city centre here. But what / where is it? And for an extra half-point, where did I snap this?

Spot the difference? Spot the tour-guide! Almost the penultimate stop on our walking tour of #Ranelagh today, here on Old Mountpleasant Terrace, outside the home of renowned Georgian architect Thomas Ivory. Huge thanks as always to my brilliant guests. Dublin Decoded tours are the only tours of the city that regularly draw more Dubliners, as opposed to overseas visitors. We consider it a great honour! Great to see so many regulars and stalwarts today. And a nice smattering of first timers too. Thank you for finding us! If you haven’t been on a Dublin Decoded tour yet, have a look at the website, and come see what you’ve been missing! 😊 #dublinwalkingtour #dublindecoded

Please don’t ask what possessed me to post 14 seconds of an almost entirely stationary chameleon, threatening to, but never quite really moving. I have no valid excuse! Here with two small and highly animated children. My thanks to the lovely Reptiles and Exotics shop on Fishamble Street, for putting up with us! @reptiles_and_exotics_dublin #chameleons #chameleonsofinstagram

Brought the kids today to the Dead Zoo Lab. It’s a small temporary outpost, at @nationalmuseumofireland Collins Barracks, while the beautiful old Natural History Museum building on Merrion Sq is repaired and refurbished. Like most of us, I’ve always loved the Dead Zoo. Nice to see this guy! #dublinmuseums #deadzoo #deadzoodublin

. barely 48 hours to grab a spot on this unique tour, Meeting 11.20AM, this SAT, 02 May, an expert guided history walk of Ranelagh. from the Canal, via Dartmouth Sq, Northbrook Rd, Mountpleasant Sq to Ranelagh Pk. Expect architecture, history & more. Tour 1 hr 40 approx Tickets €22.50 pp Available exclusively on dublindecoded.com (Link in bio)