Part of Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business
Catherine Martin TD, Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sports and the Gaeltacht today (June 29) welcomed the reopening of Ireland’s treasured National Cultural Institutions for the first time since March 12, when they were declared closed under the national lockdown.
As part of the Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, six National Cultural Institutions are reopening either fully or partly to the public today, with a seventh following tomorrow (30 June).
The six that are reopening today are:
·The National Museum of Ireland
·Crawford Art Gallery Cork
·Chester Beatty Library
·National Library of Ireland
·National Archives
·National Gallery of Ireland
and tomorrow:
·Irish Museum of Modern Art
Since closing their doors to the public in March, Ireland’s National Cultural Institutions responded strongly to the Covid crisis by providing engaging and diverse online content on their websites and across social media. But now, people can visit in person, and see and enjoy our national treasures in safe surroundings, all guided by public health criteria.
Welcoming today’s reopenings, Minister Martin said:
Tá an-áthas orm go bhfuil sé cinn d'Institiúidí Náisiúnta Cultúir na tíre ag athoscailt ar fad nó go pointe áirithe don phobal ón lá inniu agus déanfar an seachtú ceann - Áras Nua-Ealaíne na hÉireann - a oscailt arís Dé Máirt. Seo céim mhór chun cinn don Náisiún. I am delighted that six of our National Cultural Institutions are now open to the public again today, with a seventh, the Irish Museum of Modern Art, reopening tomorrow. This is a hugely significant step in the nation’s Roadmap; culture, together with our sports and other leisure activities, capture the essence of what it means to us all to be Irish, to share a community with each other, and to take delight from life. Together, these contribute to the unique appeal that Ireland has to tourists and visitors worldwide, and which keeps them coming back, to visit us again.
And as we start to think about our own holidays for this year, I would encourage us all to “Make A Break For It” here in Ireland and enjoy our superb Tourism offering.
The Abbey Theatre and the National Concert Hall will reopen to audiences at a future date.
Reopening details for each Cultural Institution are available on their individual websites and links to the websites are set out below.