The National Print Museum opened to the public in April 1996. The former
soldiers' chapel now houses a unique collection of implements, artefacts
and machines from all sectors of the printing industry in Ireland. Many of
them are still in full working order.
The visitor can view cases of type, recalling the days when each letter was
assembled by hand. Also on display are examples of the ingenious
'Linotype' machines. At the end of the last century these transformed the
industry. Operated by keyboard, they used molten lead to cast type that
could be melted down and recycled.
Also on view are some ornate and highly efficient printing presses, such as
the Wharfedale, for many years the 'work-horse' of printing houses. The
implements of book-binding and stitching are on show, as well as a
fascinating pen-ruling machine, used to produce account books and
children's ruled copybooks for schools all over the country.
On the walls of the gallery is a collection of newspaper pages,
demonstrating changing styles of presentation and recalling historic
events. The gallery is also home to an array of early computers, used for
photo-setting and responsible for the loss of so many unique hand skills.
The old military buildings surrounding the Museum create a unique
historical backdrop for the exhibition. The barracks was the first to be
handed over by the British to the new Irish State in February 1922. It was
here also that one of Ireland's famous revolutionaries, Erskine Childers
was executed in 1922, during Ireland's Civil War.
OPENING HOURS:
May to September
Guided Tours & Audio-Visual Show Mon-Fri: 10.00am-12.30pm 2.30pm-5.00pm Sat, Sun & bank holidays: 12.00-5.00pm
October to April
Guided Tours & Audio-Visual Show Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun: 2.00pm-5.00pm
Coffee Shop open daily
ADMISSION:
Adults:
£2.50
Child/Students/OAP
£1.50
Family(2 adults + 2 children)
£5.00
Group rates available on request
Derval O'Carroll
Manager
National Print Museum
Garrison Chapel
Beggars Bush Dublin 4
Tel + 353 1 6603770
Fax + 353 1 6673545
npmuseum@iol.ie