The National Museum Of Ireland
The National Museum Of Ireland was built in the 1880s to the design of Sir Thomas Deane. The treasury houses priceless items such as the Broighter gold boat, while Ór- Ireland's Gold, an exhibition focusing on Ireland's Bronze Age gold, contains beautiful jewellery such as the Gleninsheen Gorget. Other permanent displays include Irish Silver and glassware, the Viking exhibition, the War of Independence exhibition and more.
Location: Kildare Street, beside Dáil Éireann.
How to get there: Bus:7, 7a, 10, 11. DART: Pearse or Tara.
Opening hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 2-5pm.
Admission: Free.
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National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts and History
Located in the beautifully restored Collins Barracks, the National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts and History houses the National collection of artefacts from the Arts and Crafts throughout the ages.
This imposing military complex is of the early Neo-Classical style and was designed by the architect, Col. Thomas Burgh. Formally known as Dublin Barracks and the Royal Barracks, Collins Barracks is sited in one of Dublin's early historical centres and has a fascinating history of its own.
Time: 10am-5pm Tuesday to Saturday
2pm-5pm Sunday
Closed Mondays (including Bank Holidays)
Admission is free.
National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History
Collins Barracks
Benburb Street
Dublin 7.
Tel: + 353 (0) 1 6777444
Website: www.museum.ie
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Natural History Museum
This museum is crammed with antique glass cabinets containing stuffed animals from around the world. The Irish room on the ground floor holds exhibits on Irish wildlife. Inside the front door are three huge skeletons of the extinct giant deer, better known as the "Irish elk". Also on this floor are shelves stacked with jars of bizarre creatures such as octopuses, leeches and worms preserved in embalming fluid. The upper gallery houses the noted Blaschka Collection of glass models of marine life, and a display of Buffalo and Deer trophies. Suspended from the ceiling are the skeletons of a fin whale, found at Bantry Bay in 1862, and a Humpback whale, which was found stranded at Inishcrone in County Sligo in 1893.
Location: Merrion Square West, beside the National Gallery.
Opening hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 2-5pm.
Admission: Free.
Telephone: (01)-6777444
Fax: (01)-6777828
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Dublin Civic Museum
This small museum, set in the former City Assembly House, depicts Dublin from Viking times to the 21st Century through paintings, photographs, old newspaper cuttings and an assortment of objects including from a 40 metre (134ft) high pillar with a statue of Nelson on top.
Location: William Street South.
Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 11am - 2pm. Closed at Christmas and public holidays.
Admission: Free.
Telephone: (01)-6794620
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National Gallery
This purpose-built gallery was opened to the public in 1864. It houses many excellent exhibits, with more than 2,000 works on display. Although there is much emphasis on Irish Landscape art and portraits, every major school of European painting is well represented.
Location: Merrion Square West
Admission: Free.
Opening Hours: Monday - Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 10am-5:30pm, Thursday 10am-8:30pm, Sunday 2-5pm.
Admission: Free.
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Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery of Modern Art Top Attraction
Housed in a finely restored 18th century building known as Charlemont House, this gallery is situated next to the Dublin Writers Museum and across the street from the Garden of Remembrance. It is named after Hugh Lane, an Irish art connoisseur who was killed in the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 and who willed his collection (including works by Courbet, Manet, Monet, and Corot) to be shared between the government of Ireland and the National Gallery of London. With the Lane collection as its nucleus, this gallery also contains paintings from the impressionist and postimpressionist traditions, sculptures by Rodin, stained glass, and works by modern Irish Artists, with emphasis on the first half of the 20th century. In April through June, a summer concert series takes place, free of charge, at the gallery, on Sundays at noon.
Location: Parnell Square., Dublin 1.
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 9;30am-6pm; Saturday, 9:30am-5pm; Sunday, 11am-5pm.
Admission: Free; donations accepted.
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Chester Beatty Library and Gallery of Oriental Art
Formerly, until recently located in Ballsbridge, the library was bequeathed to the Irish nation in 1956. This collection of books contains approximately 22,000 manuscripts, rare books, miniature paintings, and objects from Western, Middle Eastern, and Far Eastern cultures. Highlights include copies of the Koran, Islamic manuscripts and biblical papyrus dating from the early 2nd and 4th centuries A.D.
Location: Stable Yard, Dublin Castle (off Dame Street)
Opening hours: 10am-5pm Tues-Fri; 2pm-5pm Sat; tours on Wednesday and Saturday at 2.30pm.
Admission: Free
