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heritage · Thursday 20 August 2026 · 4:00pm 
See Inside the Freemasons Lodge Arklow
At Abercorn Masonic Hall · Ferrybank, Arklow, Co. Wicklow
At Abercorn Masonic Hall · Ferrybank, Arklow, Co. Wicklow
For generations, people walking along Ferrybank in Arklow have glanced up at the pointed arches and wrought-iron railings of the Abercorn Masonic Hall and wondered what goes on inside. During National Heritage Week 2026, Wicklow Militia Lodge No. 877 is opening those doors to the public for one evening - no membership required, no prior knowledge expected, just genuine curiosity welcome. It is free and unusually candid: members will guide visitors through the lodge room, explain symbols that have been in use here since 1903, and take questions honestly. If you have ever been puzzled by Freemasonry and never had a way to ask, this is a straightforward chance to do exactly that.
The Abercorn Masonic Hall dates to 1903 and is listed on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage as a regionally significant building. The facade is modest but distinctive - roughcast render, stone panels with the date and Masonic symbols carved above the door, lattice-paned windows set into pointed arch openings, and decorative timber bargeboards along the roofline. It has been largely unchanged since it was built, and that original condition is part of its appeal.
Inside, members will guide visitors through the lodge room, explain the symbolism of the craft, and talk about the history of Freemasonry in Arklow. The evening is designed to “separate fact from fiction” - the organisers welcome history enthusiasts, curious neighbours, and anyone interested in the lodge’s charitable work. Families are welcome, and the event is autism-friendly.
Arklow is on the N11 between Dublin and Wexford, roughly an hour south of the capital. The Abercorn Masonic Hall is on Ferrybank, close to the town centre - the organisers note it sits between Centra and Ronnie Delany. Bus Eireann services run to Arklow from Dublin and Gorey, and parking is available near the hall.
Arklow is one of the larger towns on the Wicklow coast, with a harbour, a maritime museum, and a long history as a boatbuilding centre. There is more to see in Arklow and across Co. Wicklow.
Heading to Abercorn Masonic Hall in Arklow? Wicklow has plenty more to see. Read the Arklow area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.