All of them are interactive and life-like, and you learn not only the history, but also get to experience the professions of a historian, scientists and archeologist.

The first exhibition shows that Vikings weren’t only the bad guys who came to plunder: in fact, many of them were tradespeople and farmers. They were the ones responsible for the development of Dublin. They arrived in the begginig of the eighth century, and at the exhibition you can see a lot of objects and remains of these people.

The Medieval Dublin exhibition shows the city during Medieval times. Dublin used to be one of the most important cities under the British Monarchy, and we see clothes, games, markets that were common in those times. Like many other European cities in the Middle Ages, Dublin suffered from the Black Death and other disease epidemics, and you can see various exhibits relating to medieval medicine and even toothache remedies from 700 years ago!

In the final part, History Hunters, you learn how archaeology works with history and science to piece together the jigsaws of our ancestors’ lives and lifestyles. It takes the visitor through interactive digs and discoveries. In the lab we learn how bugs and dirt can be the history hunters’ gold, leading them to understand habits and culture of a whole population.

The whole visit takes around an hour and the tour is self-guided. You can also take a small guide in your own language for free!

SEDA News’ guide to Dublinia was the museum’s curator and archaeologist Sheila Dooley (Sheila has a Master’s degree in Early Medieval Irish History), who has been working there for 6 years. She invites all students and tourists to pay Dublinia a visit.

Sheila told me: “We know who we are by knowing our past, and there is so much to learn about ourselves. Finding out more information and learning is part of discovering who you are. Looking at objects first hand is a way of branding yourself and really trying to understand what life was like before us”.

“Our exhibitions are very interactive and multisense and one of the main things we really appreciate is that the public have fun when they are here because, let’s be honest, we all learn something when we have a bit of fun. So I encourage everyone to try on the slave chains downstairs and try on the helmets and things like that!”

So, after leaving Dublinia I can say that Dublin is much more multiethnic and multicultural than one could imagine!

Dublinia is open from 10am to 5.30pm (last entrey 4.30pm) everyday. For more information visit the Dublinia’s website.
http://www.dublinia.ie/

By Semy MONASTIER

—

O Grupo SEDA conta com a SEDA Intercâmbios, SEDA College, SEDA MBA, SEDA Hub, SEDA Live e  SEDA College Online, clique e conheça!