Tours of Tailor's Hall with An Taisce
Saturday 10 - Sunday 11 May
From Weavers To Quiltmakers: Culture Club Tour of Kilmainham Mill and IMMA
Join us for a Culture Club presented in partnership with IMMA as part of Culture Date with Dublin 8. Culture Club is a series of hosted talks and tours that introduce and encourage people to connect with the cultural spaces of the city. This event is a joint tour introducing you to Kilmainham Mill and the ‘Kith & Kin’ exhibition in IMMA.
Kilmainham Mill dates from 1800 and fell into dereliction after its closure in 2000. Dublin City Council purchased the Mill and has completed a programme of stabilisation works and essential repairs which included repairs to the roofs, removal of asbestos and propping of the floor. Dublin City Council Culture Company is working on activating the Mill for meanwhile uses. During this tour the Culture Company will provide limited access to a small area of the interior and to the courtyard.
Then we'll walk around the corner to the Irish Museum of Modern Art (situated in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham) and explore the exhibition 'Kith & Kin: The Quilts of Gee's Bend'. This exhibition features the magnificent quilts of the Gee's Bend quiltmakers, a group of African American women from Alabama. The quilts are artistically bold but were also borne out of necessity in the economically deprived locality. The quilts reflect the political and historical journeys of enslaved peoples on the cotton plantation, to the effects of the Civil Rights movement and becoming symbols of Black empowerment and cultural pride.
Duration: 1 hour 30 mins
More Info
Accessibility
At Kilmainham Mill: Due to the fact that the Mill is undeveloped the tour is not fully accessible and the group will be limited in number. There is very limited access to the interior (no access for people using wheelchairs or with additional mobility requirements at present). The tour will include access into one floor of the complex, which is not ramped and with limited head room at times. The tour will also include a visit to the courtyard of the complex which is outdoor and uncovered. There are no toilet or washing facilities on site.
Access to Kilmainham Mill is via Rowserstown Lane which has a steep incline and uneven surfaces. The group will walk from Kilmainham Mill to IMMA which is a leisurely 20 minute walk.
At IMMA: IMMA is a fully wheelchair accessible museum. Manual wheelchairs are also available on a first-come first served basis. The Museum buildings and shop are all served by lifts and are fully accessible. Parking is available for blue badge holders close to the Main entrance of the Museum. There is ample on-site parking which is just €3 for the first three hours. Parking machines take both coins and chip and pin cards.
More info on accessibility at IMMA here
Age Suitability
This Culture Club is suitable for adults, and for children over 10 when accompanied by an adult.
Meeting Point
Kilmainham Mills double gates. Located on Rowserstown Lane, Dublin 8
