Schools Programmes

National Schools Programme - Jan-April Annually - Book Now!

Deilg Inis Living History Theatre Company portrays characters from early Christian through Viking to Medieval and Victorian times. The defensive features of a medieval Town House/Castle are illustrated. The Murder Hole is activated theatrically and participation by the students is encouraged. One of the Archers who defended the Castle from the notorious O’Byrnes and O’Tooles of Wicklow demonstrates the use of the longbow. The history of the area and social customs of the time are animated in a colourful, engaging and memorable manner.
The performance is concluded with the King of Dalkey presenting a personalised scroll to each student as a memento of his/her visit.

1. Early Christian

Students will be introduced to Saint Begnet, in the ruins of the tenth century Church that bears her name. She extols the virtues of holding firm to your beliefs in the face of life’s difficulties, and following a path that serves the greater good of the community.

2. Viking Era

(a) They will meet Olaf, The Peacock; Gulam, his brother, and an escaped Irish slave (or thrall). Students get to experience the plight of an escaped Irish slave from the notorious Viking slave trading station at Dalkey Island. Dalkey was centre of the world’s slave-trade at that time. He is hunted down by armed Vikings to Begnet’s Church. His life hangs on a thread while he pleads for his life.

(b): Sitric the Viking Coin-Minter (based on the Dalkey Hoard of Viking coins found in Dalkey from 900s now in the British Museum)

Students will see how coinage was first minted in Dublin, and may get an opportunity to mint their own silver pennies, if Sitric is in good humour.

3. Medieval Era: Master Cheevers

Students meet Master Cheevers, a medieval merchant, who is known to have traded out of Goat Castle while he lived in sumptuous splendour in nearby Monkstown Castle. He shows his guests around his Castle and allows them to experience the storage and defensive aspects of the fourteenth century fortified Town House.

4. Medieval Era: Rupert the Archer

Rupert, the Archer and Keeper of the Keys, will demonstrate his prowess as a defender of Goat Castle. The students will hear him using all the terminology from archery still used in English today: ‘another string to your bow’; ‘keep it under your hat’; ‘brace yourself’ etc. He will bring the Students up into the battlements where enemies are spied and put into the stocks if caught speaking Irish within the Pale..

5. Medieval Era: The Head Cook, Barnaby

Children get to meet Master Cheevers’ Head Cook and see all the preparations that are taking place for a feast that night to honour the local merchants.

6. Victorian Era: Áine, the Quarry-woman

Children meet Aine, a nineteenth century character, whose sad but inspiring story is bound up with the building of the pier in Dun Laoghaire and the coming of the first railway in 1834.

7. Victorian Era: The King Of Dalkey

Before s/he leaves Dalkey, each student is granted an audience with the King of Dalkey, who bestows a personalised parchment scroll on every visitor in a ceremony which dates back to the 1790s.

Secondary Schools - May, Sept & October Annually

The award-winning Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre is offering a programme of Guided Literary and Historical Tours for Secondary School Students during September and October and other times by request.

The Tour is comprised of two sections, a Living History Live Performance and a Literary Walking Tour. Your group will be split into two smaller groups, one group beginning with the Living History and the other beginning with the Walking Tour and then they will swap to complete both parts of the Tour.

The Living History Live Performance involves professional actors from Deilg Inis Theatre Company, in full period costume bringing the history of our 14th century fortified Town House and the wider area to colourful life. This will include a tour of an early Christian Church, Heritage Centre and Battlements.

An experienced guide will lead the Literary Walking Tour around the settings used in the work of famous Irish writers, explaining the history and stories behind the various locations. Writers include James Joyce, G B Shaw, Flann O’Brien, Hugh Leonard and Joseph O’Connor.

The tour brings our history and literary heritage alive in a colourful, engaging and memorable manner and is suitable for all secondary school age groups.

The sessions will be held on Monday to Friday. Each session lasts approximately two and a half hours.

The cost is €5 per student.

To book and to check the availability of your required date telephone +353 (0)1 285 8366.

Dalkey Castle Schools’ Programme is supported by DLR Heritage Office

Contact Dalkey Castle for more information on Schools Programmes