Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2026
212. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the current status of the nature room connected to the Pearse Museum in St. Enda's Park; the opening hours for the room; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27408/26]
View answerSt Enda’s Park in Rathfarnham, managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW), is the location of the Pearse Museum, where the leader of the 1916 Rising, Patrick Pearse, lived and operated his pioneering Irish-speaking school from 1910 to 1916.
The Museum is part of a complex of buildings located at the centre of St. Enda’s Park that includes the museum building itself and the Nature Room in the Walled Courtyard. The Museum and Nature Room together facilitate and encourage visitor engagement and experience at the site. The Museum’s primary educational role is to communicate the historic and cultural significance of the site, while the Nature Room is focused on making visitors aware of the Park’s biodiversity and raising awareness of the natural world, an important consideration in Pearse’s educational philosophy.
The Nature Room operates reduced hours during the winter time as demand is lower. From 1st May to end of September 2026, the Nature Room will open daily between 10:00 and 17:00. From now until the end of April the Nature Room is open every weekend, with booked groups accommodated on weekdays. Other weekday opening is facilitated from time to time subject to guide availability.
