More than 250 members of the public are expected to take part in Historic Tours of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) this week. The tours are free of charge to the public and mark the 2013 National Heritage Week.

The tours will be led by RCSI Head Porter, Frank Donegan and will last approximately one hour. During the tour, attendees will learn the history of the College and the part it has played in both local and national history, including when the building was seized by rebels led by Constance Markievicz during the 1916 Easter Rising.

Tours of the building will take place at 11am and 2pm on Wednesday, 21 August and Thursday, 22 August, departing from the Concourse. Demand for places on these tours has been huge as all six tours of the College are now booked up.

National Heritage Week 2013, which takes place nationwide from 17-25 August 2013, looks set to reach a record total of 1,700 events this year, the majority of which will be free to attend.