Irish Architectural Archive

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Irish Architectural Archive Collecting, preserving, and making accessible the archives of Ireland's architecture

As a cumulative body of material the holdings of the Archive represent the greatest single source of information on Ireland's buildings and those who designed them.

27/09/2026

Workhouses became a defining feature of towns and cities across Ireland in the 1830s, and many of these buildings still stand today.

The drawing of Mallow Workhouse in our exhibition Pivot Points is one example of this important part of Ireland’s architectural history. As this video explores, workhouses were built according to a standard plan, creating a recognisable pattern across the country.

Architectural history can sometimes tell difficult stories. The workhouse is one such building type, a manifestation of a system that had a profound impact on the lives of many people across Ireland.

Visit Pivot Points at 45 Merrion Square to explore more of the buildings and moments that shaped our built heritage.

25/09/2026

We got such a great response to our last mystery photograph that we thought we’d bring you another puzzle to solve.

This is a very early photograph, which we think dates from the 1860s or 1870s, but unfortunately we have no identifying details to tell us where it was taken.

Do you recognise the place? Could it be a seaside town, a riverside scene, or somewhere else entirely?

We’d love to hear what you think. Have a close look and see if you can help us solve the mystery!

23/09/2026

What might Shannon have looked like if a different plan had been built?

When it was conceived, Shannon was the first new town to be developed in Ireland in nearly two centuries. Frederick Rogerson’s drawing for a planned central plaza, which was never built, offers a fascinating glimpse of an alternative vision for the town.

Discover this drawing and explore more pivotal moments in Ireland’s built heritage at our exhibition, Pivot Points.

21/09/2026

Are you restoring a home or trying to date a chimney piece?

The Irish Architectural Archive holds catalogues showing the wide range of chimney piece designs available to homeowners and builders.

Discover more fascinating stories from the Archive’s collections.

18/09/2026

The Ploughing Championships may be over for another year, but what can an old architectural plan tell us about the farmers of the past?

These lovely details from a plan in our exhibition Pivot Points offer a glimpse of how farmers from long ago might have dressed, captured in the small details of an architectural drawing.

Discover more stories from the Irish Architectural Archive’s collections and explore Pivot Points to uncover more fascinating details from Ireland’s architectural past.

14/09/2026

With the National Ploughing Championships just around the corner, we’re taking a look back at how farmers once chose beautifully crafted fittings from Musgraves’ Catalogue.

Discover more stories from the Irish Architectural Archive’s collections and explore the catalogues, drawings and photographs that help tell the story of Ireland’s architectural and agricultural heritage

Paddy Healy’s photograph captures numbers 103 and 104 Capel Street before they disappeared.The two buildings were later ...
11/09/2026

Paddy Healy’s photograph captures numbers 103 and 104 Capel Street before they disappeared.

The two buildings were later demolished, but their neighbours have survived. Numbers 102 and 105 still stand today, giving us a glimpse of the streetscape that Paddy Healy photographed.

Paddy Healy’s exhibition may now be over, but his photographs continue to tell the story of Dublin’s changing streets. Explore more of his collection through the Irish Architectural Archive’s online catalogue.

In Paddy Healy’s day, these old shops on Church Street were already beginning to disappear. One of the buildings was boa...
08/09/2026

In Paddy Healy’s day, these old shops on Church Street were already beginning to disappear. One of the buildings was boarded up, with its windows and roof already gone.

Today, the site looks very different. The Distillery Building, designed by Brian O’Halloran & Associates in 1998, now stands where these shops once stood.

Paddy Healy’s exhibition may now be over, but his photographs continue to offer a fascinating record of Dublin’s changing streetscapes. You can explore more of his photographs through the Irish Architectural Archive’s online catalogue.

06/09/2026

As Dublin Castle welcomes dignitaries from across Europe during Ireland’s year of the European Presidency, take a closer look at the carpets designed for the occasion by Principal Architect of the OPW, Raymond McGrath.

Using the finest Irish wool and made by Donegal Carpets in Killybegs, these carpets bring together Irish craftsmanship, design and architecture in one of Dublin’s most historic buildings.

Discover more stories from the Irish Architectural Archive’s collections and explore the people, places and designs that have shaped Ireland’s architectural heritage.

The view from beside what is now the Smithfield Luas stop, looking east along Hammond Lane, has changed quite a bit sinc...
04/09/2026

The view from beside what is now the Smithfield Luas stop, looking east along Hammond Lane, has changed quite a bit since Paddy Healy took this photograph.

Back then, the Maguire and Paterson match factory stood on the right, while Hammond Lane Foundry could be seen on the left. One familiar landmark remains, though. The dome of the Four Courts can still be seen in the distance in both views.

Paddy Healy’s exhibition may now be over, but you can continue exploring his photographs and discover more of Dublin’s changing streetscapes through the Irish Architectural Archive’s online catalogue.

Address

45 Merrion Square
Dublin
2

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

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+35316633040

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