#OPEN HOUSE- The National Maritime Museum of Ireland is to participate in the Open House Dublin weekend in early October, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The former Old Mariners Church was built between the years 1838-1867 for the Church of Ireland, though the architect is unknown. Its construction involved granite rock quarried from Dalkey Hill.

In June of this year the museum was reopened following several years of extensive renovations and a subtle refurbishment which was carried out to ensure its impressive collection can be showcased.

Among the exhibits is a model of the RMS Leinster which was torpedoed off the Kish during WWI with the loss of 500 people. A notable display is an optic from the Baily Lighthouse on Howth Peninsula. It was installed in 1902 and removed in 1972 when the lighthouse was modernised. Also on view is a uniform of Captain Robert Halpin, who was master of the Great Eastern which laid the first successful telegraph cable across the Atlantic from Ireland to the US.

The museum is located on Haigh Terrace, off George's St. Upper, the main street in Dun Laoghaire. Facilities include a coffee dock, a Wi-Fi hotspot and museum shop. Most of the museum is wheelchair accessible.

No booking is required and opening times on Sunday 7th October are 12noon-4.30pm. For information and links to other buildings in the Open House Dublin programme click HERE

#MUSEUM AGM - The Maritime Institute of Ireland's AGM is to take place on Saturday 6 October in the National Maritime Museum of Ireland, in Dun Laoghaire, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The museum which is housed in the former Old Mariners Church was re-opened in April after several years of closure so to carry out an extensive renovation and modernisation programme.

The M.I.I. fosters an appreciation of Irish maritime heritage and through operating the museum, they also host lectures, issue newsletters, host and support commemorations, conduct research and publish papers. In addition they intend to re-instate a library which includes an impressive collection of Lloyds Register of Shipping volumes.

The institute is a totally voluntary body, without regular finance from any quarter. New members are welcome as are volunteers. For information including how to make a voluntary donation visit: www.mariner.ie

#MUSEUM MONDAYS – Another national museum in Ireland has opened it doors to the public on Mondays, as is the case of the National Maritime Museum of Ireland in Dun Laoghaire, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The inaugural Monday opening took place at the end of last month and the extension of opening days continues at least throughout the summer months.

Only in June the museum was officially re-opened by President Michael D. Higgins. The musuem had been closed for several years due to essential renovation works costing €4m. A development programme was also implemented with funding from volunteers and government grants.

The premises of the museum are housed in the former Mariners Church on Haigh Terrace, which leads off Dun Laoghaire's main shopping thoroughfare on Georges Street. The museum is operated by the Maritime Institute of Ireland (M.I.I.) and has the invaluable support of a Community Employment Scheme of the Department of Social Protection.

With the new opening hours the museum is open seven days a week from 11am to 5pm. For further information on the M.I.I.'s museum and events visit: www.mariner.ie

#MARITIME LECTURES – Next weekend sees the annual National Heritage Week (18-26 August) take place. As part of the week-long event, the Maritime Institute of Ireland is organising a programme of maritime themed lectures on the final day (Sunday 26th).

The line-up of five lectures is timed between 12 noon and the final lecture is scheduled at 6pm. The wide-ranging topics and speakers of the lecture programme will be held at the Dun Laoghaire Club, 3 Eblana Avenue, off Marine Road, noting the nearby landmark of the St. Michaels Church spire.

There is an entrance free and a recommended donation €10. For further information contact Barney Yourell 087-9007466 and www.mariner.ie/maritime-lectures-national-heritage-week-2012

For information on the rest of the diverse programme during the heritage week visit www.heritageweek.ie

#EXHIBITION TO LOST SAILORS– The exhibition 'Lost Sailors' is to tell an intriguing story told through sculpture, prose and portraits by Agnes Conway which is to run between 6-31 July (11am-5pm Tuesday-Sunday) in the National Maritime Museum of Ireland in Dun Laoghaire.

The exhibition is a display of physical elements and consists of monuments with that tell the stories of the Lost Sailors with prints of their portraits, and through the diary of the monument maker. The diary describes the finding of the sailors' relics and the making of the work associated with them.

A soundtrack was specially written for the exhibition by Cathy Davey and Neil Hannon of the 'Divine Comedy' who is to officially open 'Lost Sailors'. The exhibition is sponsored by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and for further information about the sculpture and writer visit www.agnesconway.com

As previously reported a Summer BBQ Party fundraiser in aid of the maritime museum is to be held on 14 July in the Dun Laoghaire Club, Eblana Avenue off Marine Road. The evening event starting at 8pm will be accompanied by live jazz band and where a full bar will be open. Tickets cost €12.00 and are available from the museum or the club door, for inquires call 01-2143964

Proceeds will go towards the refurbishment of the stairs leading to the spire where the bells would of rung-out across Kingstown /Dun Laoghaire from the building that was the former Old Mariners Church built in 1837 to serve the seafaring community until its closure in 1971. The Maritime Institute of Ireland which runs the museum moved in to the building four years later.

The spire with elevated views overlooking the harbour and Dublin Bay would certainly present an added visitor attraction to the venue which in April reopened its doors after several years of closure due to essential and extensive renovation work.

#MARITIME MUSEUM BBQ – Live music and a full bar are to accompany a Summer BBQ party to be held on Saturday 14 June (8pm) in the Dún Laoghaire Club, in aid of the town's National Maritime Museum of Ireland (NMMI).

Tickets for the barbecue cost €12.00 and are available from the NMMI located in the former Old Mariners Church on Haigh Terrace or at the door of the Dún Laoghaire Club on Eblana Avenue off Marine Road.

For further information of the mid-July evening event contact: 01-2143964 and in general for opening times and activities of the museum which is run by the Maritime Institute of Ireland visit www.mariner.ie

#PRESIDENT REOPENS MARITIME MUSEUM- President Michael D. Higgins officially performed the reopening ceremony of the €4m restored National Maritime Museum of Ireland in Dun Laoghaire today, reports Jehan Ashmore.

An ecumenical service was held by Canon Victor Stacey, Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral Dublin, who up until recently was Minister at Christ Church & Mariners in Dun Laoghaire. The Dean was also joined by the town's Rev. Christopher Kennedy from the York Road Presbyterian Church and Mons. Dan O'Connor, Parish Priest of St. Michaels Church.

Follwing the blessing, the President spoke of his admiration for the beautiful building and of those many people over the years that helped to establish the Maritime Institute of Ireland (M.I.I.) and its museum through it many functions and role in the coastal town.

In particular the President paid tribute to the late Dr. John de Courcy Ireland, who was a prominent member of the M.I.I. and was made honorary research officer of the institute which was formed in 1941. It was in that same year that the President remarked was the year of his birth.

Following his speech a plaque to mark the occasion was unveiled by the President on the steps leading up to the altar of the apt venue of the former Old Mariners Church where more than 200 people witnessed the historic occasion. Those in attendance from the diplomatic corps included ambassadors from Argentina, Britain and France.

Among the other dignitaries where the Lord Mayor of Holyhead, local T.D's including Brian Hayes, Minister of State at the OPW which was ultimately responsible in the museum's renovation project. Funding came mostly from the Government, nationwide donations and volunteer-led collections.

The building project included major electrical and fire safety improvements, repairing stain-glass windows, and re-roofing. In addition repointing of the granite-cut building hewn from Dalkey granite which was built in 1836 for the Church of Ireland for mariners. The building is one of the last such structures still intact in the world.

Several years after the church closed in the early 1970' the Maritime Institute of Ireland moved into the building where the museum remained open until 2004.

Since then the building had undergone extensive renovation and modernisation. The museum which has been open to the public since April has exhibits from throughout Ireland and more will be added too in the future according to Peadar Ward, president of the M.I.I.. He added that they look forward to also displaying marine paintings and to hosting lecture programmes in the premises.

Also in attendance where crew members of the Naval Service L.E. Roisin (P51) which made a special port of call to Dun Laoghaire Harbour, berthing along the East Pier.

In addition members of the Irish Naval Association, the local RNLI lifeboat and sea scouts welcomed the President, where the day's events included a planting of an oak tree in the grounds of the building located close to the towns harbour waterfront.

#TITANIC IN SONG – A musical evening 'Titanic in Song' by Dara MacMahon and Gerry Noonan accompanied by Pauline Cooper will be held in the National Maritime Museum of Ireland, Dun Laoghaire on Friday 15th June. Tickets cost €10 each and the event starts at 8 o'clock.

Explore the Titanic story through the songs heard and played by the passengers on the ship. From the light classical and musical comedy numbers familiar to the 1st and 2nd class passengers to the music hall, vaudeville and Irish songs popular in steerage. The evening will present a unique look at the music played on that fateful journey.

The museum which is run by volunteers and members of the Maritime Institute of Ireland was re-opened last month after years of renovation work was carried out at the former Old Mariners Church. For further information and on the museum and its activities visit www.mariner.ie

#CHOIRAL CONCERT - The Luther College Nordic Choir from Iowa in the US is to perform a concert in aid of the Maritime Institute of Ireland's National Maritime Museum.

The choir conducted by Dr Allen Hightower, will be held in Monkstown Church of Ireland at 8pm next Wednesday 23 May. Tickets cost €10.

In early June the refurbished National Maritime Museum of Ireland in Dun Laoghaire is to be officially re-opened by President Michael D. Higgins. For information about the institute and museum which has been open to visitors since Easter visit www.mariner.ie

#DUBLIN BAY NEWS-Tom Connolly, a survivor from R.M.S. Leinster which was torpedoed off the Kish Bank in 1918, will be remembered when his portrait is unveiled on 31 December.

The unveiling is to take place in the Dun Laoghaire Club, 1 Eblana Avenue, where live music will be the order of the night, starting at 8.30pm. Tickets costs €10 each and can be purchased from the club bar or Costello Jewellers on Cumberland Avenue. Proceeds will be used to provide wheel-chair access to the club.

R.M.S. Leinster was operated by City of Dublin Steam Packet Company (CDSPCo) and on the day of the incident she had 771 passengers (mostly military personnel) and crew on board. Of those 22 were postal sorters from the Dublin Post Office, working in the ships on postal sorting room. The prefix of the vessel, R.M.S. stood for Royal Mail Steamer.

Officially 501 people died, making it both the greatest ever loss of life in the Irish Sea and the highest ever casualty rate on an Irish-owned vessel, though research to date has revealed the names of 529 casualties. To read more click HERE.

Connolly was also a member of the Dun Laoghaire Club and he founded Ireland's first supermarket in Patrick Street, Dun Laoghaire. A model of R.M.S. Leinster was displayed in his supermarket over many years. The model is now in the town's National Maritime Museum of Ireland which is due to re-open in Easter next year, for further information www.mariner.ie