Fáilte! Welcome to the Sound of Ireland Centre news page. A strategic priority of Na Píobairí Uilleann’s 2022-2024 Organisational Strategy is the development of a visitor centre, theatre performance space and instrument making training facility. The Sound of Ireland Centre will serve as a community hub with year round performance programming and education activities for Irish and international visitors. The new Centre reflects the growing international interest in uilleann piping and the work of NPU. It will present opportunities for visitors to experience uilleann piping and pipemaking, as a UNESCO recognised artform through the museum, theatre and exhibition spaces. The Sound of Ireland Centre will also serve as a landmark high value tourism asset in Dublin’s north Inner city district. We’re looking forward to sharing the latest news and updates about this exciting project!
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Latest Updates
Monday 25th November 2024
Please see below for the most up to date details on the Sound of Ireland Centre Project timeline:
- Project Concept Design: On going
- Outline Design – Completion date: mid-January 2025
- Fire Safety Cert Application: January – March 2025
- Detailed design development – Completion: mid-June 2025
- Development of pre-tender estimate: late July 2025
- Seek Approval to proceed to Tender Stage: mid-August 2025
- Tender Action: September – October 2025
- Appoint Builder: December 2025
- Commence Construction: January 2026
- Date of Substantial Completion: July 2027
Location
Since 1982 NPU has operated from No.15 Henrietta Street, leased from Dublin City Council. However, this fine Georgian building, though central to the present-day strength and health of uilleann piping, has several distinct limitations – in both space and design – which constrain further development. The construction of the Sound of Ireland Centre on the adjacent vacant site where No.16 Henrietta Street once stood, will in effect double the space currently available to NPU. This will provide a number of significant benefits to the area and to NPU’s headquarters, in particular:
- improving access to facilities and resources throughout No.15 and No.16
- a dedicated museum and exhibition spaces
- the relocation of NPU’s PipeCraft Training Centre
- the expansion of performance and tailored tuition spaces
By reinstating No.16, the Sound of Ireland Centre will be consistent with Dublin City Council’s Conservation Plan for Henrietta Street, completing one of the final pieces in their plan for one of the city’s most important Georgian sites as well as their plans to promote and support the growth of the Parnell Square and North Inner City cultural cluster. The new centre will will expand NPU’s reach and, in conjunction with the 14 Henrietta Street Museum, help to make Henrietta Street an essential stop on every tourist’s visit to Dublin.
What will the Sound of Ireland Centre be used for?
The Sound of Ireland Centre, a new community and cultural hub, will welcome a diverse community of artists and arts audiences, enabling improved access to facilities. Within the centre, visitors will have an opportunity to see and experience an expertly curated insight into uilleann piping, charting the history and development of this uniquely Irish instrument. As part of the centre, a dedicated space will bring tuition and mentoring in uilleann pipe making into the heart of Dublin for the first time. The new theatre will form part of the centre and feature astute acoustic design, seat 200 people and provide an purpose built performance venue for artists from Ireland and abroad across the traditional arts and other performance art forms. It has been designed to be flexible to accommodate a range of different performance types and audience arrangements.
What will the Sound of Ireland Centre look like?
