Dublinia News

When we hear the word Viking, it often brings to mind huge burly vicious men who brought havoc to the foreign lands they plundered, some did, but mostly Vikings were actually just pretty ordinary people who lived their lives just like us, although without our modern-day comforts.

We have been hibernating you could say, over the Winter, so how do we prepare our exhibitions, and our staff for opening again, how do we get used to our new normal.

Before and while we’ve been closed, like all other museums, we’ve been doing a bit of re-arranging. Have a read and see what we’ve been up to.

What do you think of when you think of Dublinia? A stuffy Museum? Just for kids? Boring?? Well this blog is here to prove that we are none of the above and are in fact a lot more than that!

As we get ready for a slightly different Christmas this year we investigate whether or not any of our typical Christmas traditions originate from the Vikings, and believe it or not, some do!

It’s that time of year again, and while we can’t bring you our usual Halloween performances, we still have some scary medieval stories to tell, like that of Drunken Thomas! Also, do you want to hear some creepy cures and ridiculous remedies that were used in Medieval Dublin?

It may come as a shock to learn that Viking Dublin had one of the largest slave markets in Europe! It may shock you even more to learn that the trading of slaves existed in Ireland long before the time of the Vikings!! Saint Patrick anyone?

In today’s modern world of gamers, social media, and endless television, we’re taking a look at some old style games, and seeing what kind were played by the children of Viking and medieval Dublin. 

From battles in 1916 to nightclubs, the history behind where Dublinia is housed, one of the most important, beautiful and photographed buildings in our city, might just surprise you!

The 13th century was the time of great medieval fairs all around Europe and in Dublin, merchants from different lands gathered at Dublin’s Fairgreen annually for 15 days each July to trade their goods!