Taking the opportunity to be a ‘Tourist in my City’ is one of my favourite ways to continuously explore the city I was born in, the city I call home, Dublin. There is an abundance of things to do here including some fantastic tours and I have been digging around looking for some speciality gems to bring to you!
The Tour:
The last weeknd of July saw me seize the opportunity to finally indulge in a gem of a tour that has long been on my “to do” list! The ‘Lost Fashion History Tour of Dublin’ run by Fashion Historian Ruth Griffin takes visitors through you guessed it, Dublin’s Lost Fashion History delving into and celebrating Dublin’s stylish past. Ruth sets about highlighting Dublin as a ‘Fashion Destination’ from the get-go, introducing attendees to the rich heritage and Irish fashion influence of the day from Georgian times through to present day.
{Pictured: in the National Gallery of Ireland – painting of Lady Lavery wearing a head scarf thus starting a fashion trend in Ireland.}
Fashion Moments on Merrion Square:
The tours typically take place on Saturday afternoons at various times throughout the year. They take in several areas of Dublin city uncovering their lost fashion signifigance. I opted for the Merrion Square tour. Our first fashion encounter on the tour was the National Gallery of Ireland. Here we learned of Lady Lavery’s influence on fashion trends in Georgian Dublin.
Who is Lady Lavery you ask?
The wife of renowned Irish portrait painter Sir John Lavery, Lady Lavery saw her image grace the £50 note of the Irish Free State established in 1922 when her husband was commissioned to produce an image of the female personification of Ireland. Her image remaine on notes in ciirculation until the 1970’s and she remained as a watermark until 2002 when the Euro currency became legal tender in Ireland.
A stop at Dublin treasure Swenys Pharmacy is included on the tour. Featured in James Joyce’s Ulysess and described in great detail, (a description that stands to this day) this historical hub is now run by volunteers who preserve the shop as it was in Joyce’s time. Expect second hand books and daily readings of Joyce’s works. You can also pick up some lemony soap which made the shop famous, all proceeds from items sold go towards the preservation of this literary landmark. Here we enjoyed a back story to the store and a tune courtesy of PJ (left of picture below in white pharmacist coat) that was popular in Joycean times. This stop proved a popular spot on the tour!
{Pictured: Ruth reading an excerpt from James Joyce‘s famed book Ulysses. The excerpt focused on Joyce’s detailed description of ladies fashion at the time Edwardian in style.}
{Pictured: PJ of Sweny’s Pharmacy Dublin giving us a rendition of a Joycean tune which was sung at the time of James Joyce.}
{Pictured: infamous Leopold Bloom‘s ‘Lemony soap‘ still sold in Sweny’s to this day.}
{Pictured: Statue of Oscar Wilde, overlooking his former home in Dublin.}
{Pictured: Ruth regaled us with tales of Jackie Kennedy embracing and indeed wearing, Irish Fashion – on the doorsteps of the former home of renowned Irish Fashion designer Sybil Connolly.}
{Pictured: Renowned Irish designer Sybil Connolly sporting a green felt ‘leprechaun’ hat (now seen as offensive terminology) upon her arrival in New York just days before St. Patrick’s Day – nevertheless her wearing of this style of hat started a fashion trend in the U.S.}
{Pictured: a Sybil Connolly dress – 1950’s Dublin. FUN FACT: Jackie Kennedy wore a Sybil Connolly piece for her White House portrait.}
{Pictured: ‘The Three Lives of Irish Linen’ by Sybil Connolly.}
Giving it Welly:
We rounded off the tour with exclusive access to the Duke of Wellington‘s House, located in the stunning 5* Merrion Hotel, Dublin. The Merrion Hotel consists of 4 townhouses combined to house hotel accommodation, one of these town houses formerly home to the Duke.
{Pictured: Bust of the Duke of Wellington located in the Merrion Hotel, Dublin.}
The Duke of Wellington, a military man tired of tasselled military boots, redesigned the boots in leather and streamlined the look of them with a tighter cut to the calf. Later this streamlined version became the rubberised version we are familiar with today.
{Pictured: Delicious Fish & chip supper done ‘The 5* Merrion way’. Good sized portions, reasonably priced for a 5* location.}
The tour wrapped up in the majestic 5* Merrion Hotel where most of the group said their goodbyes and disbanded. A few of us remained and enjoyed after tour drinks (not included in tour price) with Ruth and relived the tour whilst having the craic!
The tour gets a big two thumbs up from me, I cannot recommend it enough. Packed full of historical knowledge and fashionable facts, the tour takes about 2 hours to complete and is a lovely way to while away an afternoon in Dublin. I thoroughly enjoyed it as did my Mom who accompanied me and we’re already looking forward to the next one! With tours priced at just €15 p/p visitors and locals alike will no doubt enjoy! You can visit Ruth’s website for more information and if you book a tour remember to tell Ruth I sent ya!
Until next time…
Gail. x
Photography: © Gail O’Connor.
GlamForce - Gail O'Connor 