b'auction lasted 18 seconds and we were the Q.Simon, what do you successful bidder. It was such a great story forpersonally find most exciting Dublin. And to have done it in the middle of a about The Little Museum recession was a boost because often people feel,of Dublin?especially in the cultural landscape, that thereA. The long term potential! Four years ago, Dublin is not much money and people cant really do was the only European Capital without a museum anything. It is amazing what you can achievededicated to its own history. In 2011, our small mu-when you ask and in turn, when people chooseseum of Dublin was created through public donation to show generosity and trust in your work.and the vision of our many patrons, including The Ironically, because were in a recession, thereIreland Funds. The Little Museum has since become werent many other bidders. So in a way, weon of Irelands most loved visitor attractions, receiv-got, the country got this archive for a steal. ing huge public support and over 100,000 annual Q. visitors. We want to create the full scale city museum What is it like to have thethat Dublin deserves by expanding into the adjacent responsibility for an archivebuilding and incorporating the stable mews build-of such a great Irish figure? ings to the rear of the museum at 15 St Stephens A. The National Library took the archive andGreen. We have grown dramatically from tiny begin-they did what they do best. They catalogued it,nings in 2011, and our success to date would not have they started digitizing it, and theyre makingbeen possible without the support from The Ireland the entire collection available for students and Funds.It is such an exciting moment in the life of anyone who wants to go in and request itemsthe museum - with the right resources, creating a big from that collection. And weve taken some of museum of Dublin is possible. We want it to happen, that archive and created, I suppose, a bio- the State wants it to happen, and the people of the graphical exhibition on Christy Browns life,city want it to happen.downstairs here in The Ireland Funds gallery. The Christy Brown Exhibition will travel to Q. NYC in the fall of 2015.Was there a challenge in curating this? Q. A. It was quite daunting but then it was also aSimon, how did this exhibition come about?pleasure, because you have so much to work A.Lastyear,averysmallclippingappearedwith. Daniel Day Lewis did this incredible job of inthenewspaperthatsaidChristyBrowns bringing Christy to life for people who, infamilyarchivewasgoingupforsaleinBon- reality, had probably never heard of him be-hams auction house in London. I went online tocause he had died before the movie came out. thearchiveandwasstruckimmediatelybytheSo, this was an opportunity for us to, not onlySimon OConnor, Co-Founder of The Little Museum of Dublincontents. It was basically a lot of letters, a lot of tell his full life story, but also to encourage an correspondencebetweenhimandotherpeopleinterest in his writing. And to draw peoples along with unpublished poetry, paintings, and per- attention to the fact that this great writer ex-sonal affects. I saw a whole biography in it. isted in the city. Q.Q.So the sale was quiteWhat has been the reaction an opportunity? to the Exhibition?A.There are some authors that you wouldnt get aA. People love it. Weve had lots of people rushing single signed letter for the amount of money thatin to say, Im just coming in to see the Christythis entire collection was going for. Here was thisexhibition, I just have to see it! His story incredible writer from Dublin, whose life story hasis such an important Dublin story. In his traveled all around the world, whose books wereday some people thought, Hes not going internationally famous and whod had Daniel Daytoamounttoanything.Theresnointel-Lewis play him in a movie (My Left Foot). ligencethere.ButhismotherBridget So we partnered on a bid with the Nationalknew, she could see it in his eyes. And then LibraryofIreland.Weweresittingatlunch hegoesontoproduceoneofthebiggestwaitingontheresultsofthebid.Ithinkthe masterpiecesinDublinhistory:thenovel Dawn of the Days. connect2015 | 21'