Dublin’s 14 Henrietta Street wins prestigious European heritage award
Dublin’s well-known 14 Henrietta Street museum in the north inner city has won a prestigious European heritage award.
The museum tells the story of the building’s history, as it transitioned from a grand residence in the 18th century to a tenement home where many families lived.
It won the European Heritage Award/Europa Nostra Award in the category of Citizen’s Engagement and Awareness-raising, recognising its unique approach to storytelling.
Owned and conserved by Dublin City Council (DCC) and opened in 2018, the social history museum takes people on a guided tour through the 300-year history of the Georgian building.
Visitors also listen and talk with former residents, the local community, historians and experts to understand the tale of the building and learn about the people that lived there.
Iseult Dunne, chief executive of the DCC Culture Company, which operates the attraction, said the recognition “is a tribute to the commitment of our team and the many people who continue to contribute to and enrich the work of the museum”.
“At 14 Henrietta Street, everything we do is shaped by listening to, engaging with and learning from the people who connect with the house and its history,” she added.
Dublin’s Lord Mayor, Ray McAdam, said it is a “great honour” for the city to receive “such a prestigious European award”.
“It reflects many years of dedication, care and imagination from the remarkable team behind the museum at 14 Henrietta Street,” he said.
"14 Henrietta Street is deeply loved by the people of Dublin and by visitors from across the world. That affection speaks to the care, respect and authenticity with which the museum tells the story of our city.”
“This award recognises the extraordinary work of the team who made this vision possible. But it also honours the thousands of lives that passed through the doors of this house over more than 300 years,” he said.
The museum has also been shortlisted for a second award, the Public Choice Award 2026, which is determined by a public vote.
Votes can be cast in this category on the Public Choice Award website.
The European Heritage Awards were launched by the European Commission in 2002 and have been run by Europa Nostra ever since.
There were 261 entries in this year’s awards, and the winners were chosen by a jury of ten heritage experts from across Europe.