Pearse Museum

Scholar, linguist, educator, patriot, rebel, poet. All of these words describe Patrick Pearse, and this museum, set up in the school that he ran, is a fitting homage to the man and his works. Featuring fully furnished rooms to wander around in, a headsman’s block, art by his father and his brother William, a visitor can get a feel for both the day to day life of a student and the vision of one of the shining lights of the 1916 rebellion. I particularly liked the various interpretive panels using the memories of people associated with the school, either as visitors, staff, or students.
As a long-​term visitor to Dublin, I feel surrounded by oblique and overt stories of the various battles, rebellions, executions and betrayals that are representative of Ireland’s history. At times, it can be overwhelming and a little puzzling. The Pearse Museum helps to both humanize and explain how that history directly and personally affected the art, language and life of some of the instigators of the 1916 rebellion and, ultimately, of Irish Independance.
The museum itself sits in a beautiful park with several larger-​than-​life sculpture installations, so it’s a good place to pack a lunch and spend a few hours inside and outside. As of this writing, the museum features free admission and a visiting exhibition space, currently displaying a static and slightly unsettling exhibit on the history of slavery, past and present. I highly recommend it, especially to American visitors as there are some interesting angles on slavery in America as well as around the world.
Bottom Line: Go, learn, enjoy. Think about what it means to be a nationalist.

The Pearse Museum, St Enda’s, is located in a lovely demesne variously called ‘The Grange’ or ‘The Hermitage, where St Enda’s boys school was located. This museum is dedicated to the memory of Ireland’s renowned revolutionary poet, teacher and Gaelgeoir, who lead the 1916 rebellion and was executed for his role in this. The exhibition tells in a very interactive and friendly way, his life, his work, the famous boys school that he established here. It also allows you to see a number of rooms of the old school, which gives you more appreciation for the man, his dreams and works.