Art, culture, history and more.
If you are interested in exploring Ireland’s past and getting a better understanding of the culture, two branches of Ireland’s National Museum (01-6777444) are a short distance from all the city centre DART stops.
The Archaeology & Ethnography Museum in Kildare Street is next door to Government Buildings. Various eras are illustrated here including Prehistoric, Early Christian, Viking, Medieval and more.
It has over two million objects in its collections. Notable items include treasures such as the Ardagh Chalice, the Tara Brooch and the Derrynaflan hoard.
The Natural History Museum at Merrion Street contains over two million specimens from insects to amphibians, mammals to reptiles. Visitors can feast their eyes on the skeleton of the giant Irish elk among other artefacts.
Admission is free to both museums, and its other Dublin location which is not too far away.
Boasting its own stop on the Luas red line, the National Museum of Ireland Decorative Arts & History is located in the historic Collins Barracks.
The museum, also close to Heuston Station, is home to almost four million objects and specimens that relate primarily to the history of Ireland.
These collections are beautifully displayed in an interactive setting that allows visitors to learn about relevance in the history of Ireland.
Please note that all the national musuems mentioned close on Mondays.
In continuous occupation since its establishment in 1204 AD, Dublin Castle (01-6458800) houses various museums including the Garda Museum as well as the eminent, Chester Beatty Library.
A former winner of the ‘European Museum of the Year,’ the library has a fantastic collection of manuscripts, miniature paintings, prints, drawings, rare books and decorative arts from across the globe.
The castle’s State Apartments are among the most prominent State rooms in the country and are open for guided tours too. It has conference and dining facilities.
Located on the first floor of a Georgian building on 15 St. Stephen’s Green near the corner of Dawson Street, the Little Museum of Dublin (01-6611000) aims to tell ‘the remarkable story of Dublin in the 20th century.’
It was launched in 2011 with a public appeal for historic objects. Over 5,000 items were submitted and the result is a unique museum, which was named as ‘Dublin’s best museum experience’ by the Irish Times.
Guided tours begin on the hour, every hour.
While these are some of the best known, there are several other smaller museums in the city such as the Irish Jewish Museum, the Pearse Museum, the National Wax Museum Dublin, the National Leprechaun Museum and more.
To explore more in the city centre click here.