Chicken a là King, curry chips and sausage rolls, the canteen staples we all remember fondly in NCAD. To say a transformation has taken place in the heart of the college is an understatement. Past pupil & visual artist Jennie Moran considered her toughest challenge to be altering students tastes when establishing her newly opened Luncheonette, but, “it turns out there is no love lost for sausage rolls OR chicken curry”.

Luncheonette offers customers colourful, seasonal and comforting food at affordable prices which changes daily. Expect such delights as: Flatbread and thyme braised mushrooms, sumac barley, lemon ricotta for €3, lemon and almond cake for €2, and tea or coffee for one and two euro. Captivated by the food and atmosphere of Luncheonette, we asked Jennie to tell us a little about her project:

“Last year I got wind that NCAD had lost its canteen. This was a bad scene – like taking a kitchen out of a house. I know how tough days can be in those studios and how vital it is to be able to wander over, covered in plaster and be fed or handed tea. So - irate, I decided to operate a Wednesday soup stand in the college. One such lunchtime, I was handing soup to the director of the college and heard the words "I should reopen that canteen" come out of my mouth. And, remarkably, here I am.”

A homely atmosphere is achieved in Luncheonette’s basement space with communal wooden tables, quirky lampshades which incorporate recycled plastic containers and china tea cups. Fresh vegetables are visible from the counter where tempting baked goods are on display along with the days specials.                          

Questioned on the most popular dishes, Jennie explains: “The most popular additions to the menu are those that come from students. Today we served Inam from textiles Iraqi Biryani with lamb and peas.” 

Hungry members of the public are welcome in Luncheonette, it is not just an eatery for NCAD staff and students. Hours of trading are 8.30am-3.45pm, Monday to Friday. Plans are afoot for some special weekend hospitality around the NCAD Degree exhibition in June. But don't leave it till then to sample the culinary delights Luncheonette has to offer. We’re looking forward to a second visit and checking out their new drinking glasses made from beer bottles, cut and finished by Andy in glass. 

Follow Luncheonette on facebook or twitter.

Finally, thanks so much to Kaethe Burt-O'Dea for allowing us to use her beautiful photos of Luncheonette. Check out Kaethe's website for information on the many collaborative projects she is involved in.

To celebrate our national holiday, a beautiful video made up of shots of Dublin taken over one full year........

Dublin’s Creative Quarter has fast become one of the most fashionable and frequented areas of Dublin city. Nestled among the independent cafes, boutiques and restaurants, in the shadows of Powerscourt Townhouse, sits the City Assembly House. Located on the corner of South William Street and Coppinger Row, the City Assembly House boasts an exciting and dynamic history. Now the headquarters for the Irish Georgian Society, we met up with the society's Executive Director, Donough Cahill to learn some more about this fascinating building.

Unoccupied since 2010, the Georgian Society took over the building in 2013 and with the help of Dublin City Council have been busy restoring the building to its original state. The ground floor, stairwell and first floor reception rooms were all completed in the first phase. Period fireplaces were installed and intricate cornicing have been lovingly restored. Donough's tour offers a wealth of knowledge on Georgian Dublin as well as providing us with a few entertaining tidbits. He told us how on first acquiring the building the entrance hall was still fitted with an ill-matched 1950's linoleum floor from when the building functioned as the Civic Museum. Beneath the lino they found an original Portland stone floor. Unfortunately the stone floor was in disrepair and had to be replaced. However, some good came of the retro lino floor and it can be now seen in the Damson Diner on South William Street... something to watch out for the next time you pop in for a cocktail!

The real highlight in this building is the exhibition room. As a result of the Georgian Society stripping back the plaster work in preparation for their next stage of renovations layers of stone work, pebble-dashed plaster and even slapdash cement rendering lie exposed. Each layer appears to tell a story and we were a little disappointed to hear this shabby chic gem will soon be covered up.

We visited the City Assembly Building during the exhibition of Susan Wood's remarkable photographs from the film sets of 1960's iconic movies Leo the Last, Easy Rider and Modesty Blaise. The exhibition in association with the Jameson Film Festival runs until February 22nd. Very aware of the City Assembly's prime location in the heart of creative Dublin, the Georgian Society are opening up the building for a variety of exhibitions, talks and tours. We highly recommend you pop-in for a look for yourself. The building can also be viewed by appointment when there aren't any exhibitions running.  

A full listing of future events can be found on the Irish Georgian Society website www.igs.ie

Post compiled by Anne-Marie Neligan & Katie Gilligan

With Christmas fast approaching the team at Irish Design Shop, in conjunction with the Merrion Square Network are busy organising another year of Christmas on the Square. The event now in its second year will showcase some Ireland's top designers, makers and artisan food producers along with a variety of other treats in three of the Merrion Square most prestigious buildings. As myself and Katie are new to the IDS team so we set off to investigate these beautiful buildings in the heart of Georgian Dublin for ourselves. Here's a taster of some of the delights we found.

Our first stop was 45 Merrion Square, the headquarters of The Architectural Archive of Ireland. Built in 1795 and the largest terraced house on the square it makes quite an impression. The Archive collect and preserve material of every kind relating to the architecture of the entire island of Ireland, and make it available to the public. Through the massive front door and into a impressive foyer displaying architectural models . Beyond the foyer and onto the Archive Reading Rooms and Architecture Gallery, which will host cocktail making by our sponsors at Hennessy. Up the stairs to the piana nobile, a trio of connecting rooms with high ceilings, panelled walls, cornicing and grand fireplaces. These rooms will house our 22 craft stalls for the day and will be festively decorated by our neighbours, Appassionata.

Next stop was 22 Merrion Square, The College of Anaesthetists Ireland. Today the building is regraded as a leading training body in the field of anaesthesia, intensive care and pain medicine, but we have something else in mind for the day. Denise Johnston, guided us to the first floor Gilamartin Room, a room of old-school grandeur and where the ICA will perform cake decorating demonstrations on the day. Down the stylish wooden staircase, lit with florescent lights, lies a stylish marble floored basement room in stark juxtaposition to the grandeur of above. This airy contemporary space will be home to our 10 artisan food producers. Tasty treats will be available for the likes of Cocoa Atelier, Hansel and Gretel bakery and The Scullery.

Our last stop was across the park to 63 Merrion Square, The Royal Society of Antiquaries and I really felt we left the best for last. This building hasn't been restored to the level of the others and this added to it's charm. Mounted in the entrance hall is a massive stags head. From the intricate moulding ceiling hangs a simple Georgian lantern. The meeting rooms situated on the first floor, overlook Merrion Square to the front and a restored Georgian garden to the rear. Their marble fireplaces, elaborate ceiling decorations and tall, shuttered windows all reflect their former status as the main reception spaces of the house. We plan to house a pop-up café from our friends and neighbours Coppa, from the R.H.A Gallery, in these rooms lined with books and journals on Irish history, antiquities and archaeological published in Ireland, Great Britain and beyond.

Join us on November 30th for a day of festive fun. Whether you are looking to get all those Christmas gifts out of the way early or a chance to explore Georgian Dublin's hidden gems, Christmas on the Square has it all.

Blog post by: Anne-Marie Nelligan and Katie Gilligan