'Dead zoo' finds a new haunt as beloved museum is brought back to life
The much-loved Natural History Museum is closed for 'conservation and refurbishment works', so a new Dead Zoo Lab is moving from its home on Merrion Street and opening in the National Museum at Collins Barracks today.
The new exhibition space will feature favourite artefacts and exhibits such as Spoticus the Giraffe, the infamous eel choking on a frog, a giant Irish elk and a dodo skeleton. Dublin's 'Dead Zoo' is being brought back to life with a temporary new home until 'extensive' repairs to the site are completed. Pic: BOULENGER Xavier/Shutterstock
The museum closed in September last year but no date has been given for when it will reopen as engineers are still assessing the work needed.
However, it is expected the repairs could take several years because of the age of the building and the specialist structural work required.
A spokesman for the museum explained: 'We estimate it will be several years before the displays are back open. During this time we will have the Dead Zoo Lab at our museum in Collins Barracks and visitors can sign up to our museum newsletter to receive regular updates.' The much-loved Natural History Museum is closed for 'conservation and refurbishment works', so a new Dead Zoo Lab is moving from its home on Merrion Street and opening in the National Museum at Collins Barracks today. Pic: BOULENGER Xavier/Shutterstock
The closure is a double blow to visitors to the city as the Hugh Lane Gallery on Parnell Square is also to close for refurbishment at the end of next month, for at least three years.
The Dead Zoo replacement has been created 'to ensure the public continues to have an opportunity to see some of the most popular specimens from the natural history collection, as well as some specimens that haven't been on display for many years', the spokesman said.
They added: 'The nature of the display of the natural history collection at the Natural History Museum on Merrion Street has been largely unchanged since Victorian times, and the Dead Zoo Lab at Collins Barracks will be used by the National Museum to experiment with and test new methods of engaging the public. The new exhibition space will feature favourite artefacts and exhibits such as Spoticus the Giraffe, the infamous eel choking on a frog, a giant Irish elk and a dodo skeleton. Pic: BOULENGER Xavier/Shutterstock
'At any one time approximately 1,300 objects will be on display, spanning entomology, geology, mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles, and a wide variety of marine life.'
Paolo Viscardi, natural history keeper at the Dead Zoo, said: 'Lots of firm favourites will be on display… such as the dodo skeleton and hundreds of examples of animal species from around the world.'
The museum is open seven days a week and admission is free. See www.museum.ie.
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