The Pearse Museum

The Pearse Museum is a Dublin museum dedicated entirely to the memory of Patrick Pearse (a 20th-century Irish nationalist who proclaimed the Republic of Ireland and was executed in 1916 following the Easter Rising). The museum traces his life and that of his brother William Pearse. An edifying place with a strong history!

Visit the Pearse Museum

A school converted into a museum

The museum is located in the south Dublin suburb of Rathfarnham. The imposing edifice was built around 1840 in the heart of a wooded park. It was once owned by Richard Moore, an influential local judge and attorney-general, before being converted by Patrick Pearse into a school specializing in Gaelic language learning (circa 1910, before closing in 1935).

The execution of Patrick Pearse in 1916 led to the building being converted into a museum dedicated to his memory a few decades later.

You’ll discover the school’s bedrooms, dormitories and art gallery, as well as the building’s living rooms, such as the main lounge. An exhibition is dedicated to the life of Patrick Pearse, from his political commitment to his summary execution in Kilmainham Gaol, for having been one of the leaders of the Easter Rising.

The exhibition is interesting but requires a good knowledge of English. There’s a lot to read, but the museum will give you an insight into the country’s eventful history.