Take a self-guided tour of 18 Ormond Quay Upper, an 1840s merchant house and shop recently saved and restored over a three-year period by Dublin Civic Trust .
Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the restoration in the ground floor shop exhibition, before exploring the historic upper floor rooms.

The project involved many traditional conservation techniques and materials, including Irish brick ‘wigging’, architectural joinery repair, lime plastering and decorative finishes. The second phase of the project is now underway, involving an older 1750s building to the rear, on Arran Street East. This has involved conservation of the Georgian brickwork, previously coated in cement pebbledash, and complex restoration of the 1840s Roman cement shopfront and associated door and windows.

The upper floor interiors offer sweeping views of the River Liffey and are decorated in handmade Irish wallpapers typical of mid-19th century, with traditional mahogany furniture.

The quality of the project, and its demonstrative value, secured the Europa Nostra Award/European Heritage Award 2021, where the judges noted: “Meticulous research was carried out with significant efforts made to ensure a conservation-restoration that was consistent with the original values of the building and to conserve as much of the remaining details as possible.”

Occasional tours will take place during the open day as visitor numbers permit. Otherwise, visits are self-guided.

Drop-in

Not wheelchair accessible except for ground floor. No lift. The upper floors of the building are accessed via stairs. Visitors are welcome to sit on chairs at all 4 floor levels.