Ellis Court on Benburb Street in Dublin’s north inner city was one of Ireland’s first social housing projects, delivered by Dublin City Corporation in the 1880s. It provided social housing until the early 2000s, when it was damaged by fire, and lay vacant until 2023, when Tuath Housing and Dublin City Council refurbished it for modern social housing.

This Culture Night, Tuath Housing in partnership with DCC, created an exhibition exploring the history of Ellis Court, hosted by the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks. Through photographs, archival records, oral histories and personal stories, the exhibition will bring to life the experiences of the generations of individuals and families who called Ellis Court home from the 1880s onwards.

The project aims to preserve and share an important chapter in Dublin’s social history, while highlighting the enduring importance of safe, secure housing in shaping communities. It will also celebrate the people of Ellis Court, past and present, ensuring their voices and experiences remain part of the historical record.

The exhibition is being developed through extensive historical research, collaboration with museum and heritage experts, and engagement with former residents and their descendants. New dedicated Instagram and Facebook accounts for the project will share additional stories, photographs and archival material uncovered during the research.

This drop-in session offers an opportunity to meet the exhibition’s co-curators, who will be available from 16:00 to 16:45 to discuss the exhibition and answer questions.