Museum of Ireland

The National Museum of Ireland is situated at two main sites in the city of Dublin, one at Kildare Street and the other at Collins Barracks at Arbour Hill. Both are in the centre of Dublin. There is a third location at Castlebar.

The museum is open every day except Monday and admission to the permanent displays is free.

The museum's main site at Kildare Street is a purpose built museum and it has been in use since its initiation in1890. Both the interior and exterior of this building hold great interest, in their own right, as an architectural example of late nineteenth century building and design in Dublin.

What to see

The museum has exhibits dating back over 9,000 years and nearly all of the display zones focus on Irish history and antiquity. The themes that run through the museums displays and exhibits include country life, archaeology, natural history, conservation and decorative arts. Throughout the museum, the emphasis is always on Ireland and its evolutionary path through time.

Visiting the main Kildare Street building opens up a picture of Ireland's archaeology and history dating back to prehistoric times. In this building there are examples of metal work and pottery and many of the displays are unique to this museum. One of the more recent exhibits is the Irish Bog Psalter.

There are also a number of short term displays from other parts of the world including Europe and the Middle East and timetables for these events are always published in advance. Special events may have an exhibition charge.

The Collins Barracks building looks at arts and history and houses the Great Seal of the Irish Free State. Although small and comparatively modern, this artefact has great significance to an Independent Ireland. It is composed of the harp, a graphical feature of Irish culture that dates back, in documented form, to the twelfth century. The seal has a Gaelic inscription and was used up until the enactment of the constitution of Ireland.

There is an annex to the National Museum of Ireland's two main buildings at Castlebar and this location features country life and covers a period from the middle of the eighteenth to the middle of the nineteenth centuries. It is the most recent expansion of this excellent museum complex.