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Others museums
Dublin has a rich heritage, which is reflected in the diverse range of museums in the Dublin City area, including:
Chester Beatty Library
Situated in the heart of Ireland's capital city, the Chester Beatty Library is an art museum and library which houses the great collection of manuscripts, miniature paintings, prints, drawings, rare books and some decorative arts assembled by Sir Alfred Chester Beatty (1875-1968). The Library's exhibitions open a window on the artistic treasures of the great cultures and religions of the world. Its rich collection from countries across Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe offers visitors a visual feast. Chester Beatty Library was named Irish Museum of the year in 2000 and was awarded the title European Museum of the Year in 2002.
Egyptian papyrus texts, beautifully illuminated copies of the Qur'an, the Bible, European medieval and renaissance manuscripts are among the highlights of the collection. Turkish and Persian miniatures and striking Buddhist paintings are also on display, as are Chinese dragon robes and Japanese woodblock prints. In its diversity, the collection captures much of the richness of human creative expression from about 2700 BC to the present day.
Admission is free.
The Library is featured on the Virtual Collection of Masterpieces website. For futher details, please click here.
The development of this website was supported by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.
GAA Museum
The GAA Museum was established to commemorate, recognise and celebrate the GAA's enormous contribution to Irish sporting, cultural and social life since its foundation in 1884. Located in Croke Park, GAA headquarters, the museum is open daily throughout the year.
The GAA Museum, situated under the Cusack Stand in Croke Park, was first opened in September 1998 by An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. The GAA Museum looks at the birth and growth of the GAA at home and abroad, and its unique role in the national movement and cultural revival in Ireland.
Garda Siochana Museum
The Garda Síochána Museum is the museum of the Republic of Ireland's national police force. It is located in Dublin Castle. The archivist is Sergeant Patrick McGee, B.Sc.(Mgnt), MA, H.Dip.Arc.Studies
The museum contains a vast amount of both archival and artefactual material, relating not only to the Garda Síochána, but also to the Irish Constabulary, The Royal Irish Constabulary, The Dublin Police, and The Dublin Metropolitian Police.
http://www.esatclear.ie/~garda/museum.html
The James Joyce Centre
Welcome to the James Joyce Centre!
Open Tuesday to Saturday 10.00 to 17.00
Admission: Adults, euro 5; Senior/Student, euro 4; Tours and group rates available.
The James Joyce Centre is dedicated to promoting an understanding of the life and works of James Joyce. In doing so, the Centre strives to be an integral contributor to the network of institutions which celebrate Ireland’s rich cultural heritage. The James Joyce Centre provides the casual visitor, student and scholar alike with a rewarding and memorable experience.
The Centre's home is a restored 18th century Georgian townhouse in the north inner city of Dublin, the city of Joyce's birth and the setting for all his works. From this central location in Joyce's heartland the Centre aims - through a programme of exhibition, education, outreach and activities - to foster an appreciation of this most remarkable and significant literary figure of the 20th century.
Here on our website you will find all the most current details of our special events, lecture series, programmes, exhibitions and more.
We look forward to your visit.
Contact Information
Name: James Joyce Centre
Address: 35 North Great George’s Street, Dublin 1 , Ireland
Email: info@jamesjoyce.ie
Web: http://jamesjoyce.ie
Tel. +353 1 878 8547
Fax. +353 1 878 8488
Kilmainham Gaol
Built in 1792, it is Ireland's most famous disused prison. It held throughout the years many famous Nationalists and Republicans in members of the Society of United Irishmen (1798), Young Irelanders (c1840s), Fenians and Land agitators, Parnell, Davitt. The leaders of the 1916 Ester Rising were executed here. The prison was closed in 1924. This building gives a good insight into the history of Irish Republicanism.
http://www.dublintourist.com/details/kilmainham_gaol.shtml
The National Library of Ireland
The National Library of Ireland was designed in a classical style by the Cork-born architect, Thomas Deane. The purpose-built library building was opened in 1890.
The Library building is itself in many respects a national treasure. It is spacious in design and rich in texture, with fine craftsmanship in masonry, marble, hardwoods and glass. Please select an image below for a virtual tour of the Library.
Hugh Lane Gallery
At 4pm on 20th January 1908 Hugh Lane opened the first metropolitan gallery of contemporary art in the world. In doing so he accomplished what he set out to achieve, a gallery of modern art for Dublin, where the best international and Irish paintings hang side by side in what the French newspaper Le Figaro described as ‘an entire museum rich in beautiful works, a museum envied by the most prosperous states…”
Now Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane houses the foremost public collection of modern and contemporary art in Ireland. The original collection donated by Hugh Lane and his supporters, is celebrated for including some of the most famous Impressionist paintings in the world most notably Les Parapluies by Renoir.
20 January 2008 marks the centenary of the opening of the Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane and as such we have planned a comprehensive programme of exhibitions and events to mark this significant event in Dublin’s history.
Our centenary programme features a huge public art work in O’Connell Street by Julian Opie, a re-hanging of Hugh Lane’s original collection of 300 paintings from 1908 and two major exhibitions featuring the work of abstract artists and artists who have made significant contributions to contemporary art in spite of their early deaths. The gallery will also host two solo shows by established Irish artists Mark Francis and Fergus Martin.
For a more comprehensive listing of exhibitions and events that celebrate Hugh Lane’s extraordinary achievement please go to our exhibitions page.
The Douglas Hyde Gallery
http://www.douglashydegallery.com/
Gallery of Photography
Meeting House Square
Temple Bar
Dublin 2
Ireland
The Gallery, Bookshop & Darkrooms are open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 11am - 6pm Sundays, 1-6pm.
Tel: +353 1 671 4654
Tel: +353 1 677 9057
Tel + Fax: +353 1 670 9293
Email: info@galleryofphotography.ie
http://www.galleryofphotography.ie/
The Irish Museum of Modern Art - IMMA
The Irish Museum of Modern Art is Ireland's leading national institution for the collection and presentation of modern and contemporary art. The Museum presents a wide variety of art in a dynamic programme of exhibitions, which regularly includes bodies of work from its own Collection and its award-winning Education and Community Department. It also creates more widespread access to art and artists through its Studio and National programmes.
http://www.modernart.ie/en/index.htm
The Science Gallery
Old Library and the Book of Kells
Trintiy College, Dublin 2
Housing the famous Book of Kells and an exhibition about its history. The Book was written around 800 AD and is one of the most beautiful manuscripts in the world. It can be viewed in the library. Visit to the Old Library and the Long Room.
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 9.30am- 5pm, Sun (May-Sept) 9.30am-4.30 pm, Sun (Oct-April) 12pm-4.30pm, bank holidays: 9.30am-5pm
Admission: €8.00, conc €7.00, family €16.00
House Number 29
Lower Fitzwilliam Street
Georgian House Museum including original artefacts as they would have been in the years 1790 to 1820. The first occupant was Mrs Olivia Beatty, the widow of a well known Dublin wine merchant. Visiting the exhibition gives visitors a chance to experience what life was like for the fortunate who lived in such elegant townhouses, and the less fortunate who worked in them.
Opening Hours: Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12pm-5pm, closed Mondays and Bank Holidays
Admission: 6 Euro, conc 3 Euro, under 16s free
http://www.esb.ie/main/about_esb/numbertwentynine/default.htm
Imaginosity Children's Museum
Interactive children's museum where kids from 0 to 10 come to learn and play based on the most up to data knowledge of children's needs and learning processes. Family and friends can of course come, too.
Admission times: Sat 9.00, 11.00, 13.00 & 15.00, Sun and Bank Holidays 10.00, 12.00, 14.00 & 16.00, Mon-Fri 9.30, 11.30, 13.30 & 15.30
Admission: 8 Euro, Concession 7 Euro, Toddlers (1-2) 6 Euro, Babies 2 Euro
Timed bookings during busy times
Jeanie Johnston
The Jeanie Johnston is a replica of a 19th century sailing ship, one of the last of its kind before the steam ship era. Building the wooden tall ship involved a major undertaking, which began with research in 1993 and ended in the completion of the vessel in 2002.
The Jeanie Johnston is now used as a training vessel, a Famine History Museum and as an entertainment venue.
Regular sailings, from day trips to several nights on board.
Museum: Adults 5 Euro, Children, Students, OAPs 3 Euro
James Joyce Tower and Museum
Sandycove, Dun Laoghaire
Located in one of the Martello towers eight miles south of Dublin is this museum about the life and works of James Joyce. The tower was the setting for the first chapter of Ulysses. The collection includes letters, photographs, first editions and personal possessions of Joyce, as well as items associated with Dublin during his lifetime.
Opening hours: March-Oct 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm, Sun and Bank Holidays 2pm-6pm. Rest of year: contact museum.
www.dun-laoghaire.com/dir/jjtower.html
Dublinia and the Viking World
Housed in a Victorian building, the heritage centre shows life in the medieval city and the world of the Vikings. It contains reconstructions of the city and includes a market place, a merchant's house, a Viking ship and much more. Materials are presented in an interactive way and commentaries in French, German, Spanish and Italian are available.
Casino Marino
Malahide Road, Marino
Designed as a pleasure house for the Earl of Charlemont the Casino (meaning 'small house') is one of the finest 18th century neo-classical buildings in Europe, contining 16 beautiful rooms. Guided tours lasting about one hour available.
Opening hours:
March and November: Sat, Sun and Bank Holidays 12pm-4pm
April: Sat, Sun and Bank Holidays 12.00-17.00
May and October :Daily 10.00-17.00
June-September :Daily 10.00-18.00
National Transport Museum
Heritage Depot, Howth
Ireland's only comprehensive assembly of public service and commercial road transport. Several others are very rare and some are unique. Portraying the Golden Age of commercials, the collection includes some 30 marques, more than half of them now demised. All four Irish commercial vehicle builders are represented.
Opening Hours: Sept-May: Sat, Sun and Bank Holidays, 2pm-5pm, June-Aug: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm
www.nationaltransportmuseum.org
National Maritime Museum
Dun Laoghaire
The National Maritime Museum of Ireland is located in the former Mariners’ Church built in 1837. The Church was designed to meet the needs of the seafarers whose vessels sought shelter in the asylum harbour of Kingstown. Exhibits include the Baily Optic, which comes from the Baily lighthouse in Howth and the Great Eatern, which was the largest ship in the world when it was built in 1857. It contains a naval display with models, photos, documents, and uniforms connected with the history of the Naval Force.
http://www.dun-laoghaire.com/dir/maritime.html
Revenue Museum
Dublin Castle, Dublin 2
History of revenue collection and taxation
The Bram Stoker Dracula Experience
Clontarf, Dublin 3 (on the DART line, Clontarf Road Station)
Based on the life of Bram Stoker, the museum takes you on an entertaining, entertaining and of course very scary adventure. Bram Stoker born in Clontarf, Dublin in 1847. He spent most of his life in London and wrote the masterpiece of Drecula, which was first published in 1897. The book has since never been out of print and has been translated into many of the world's languages. Many films have been inspired by the novel.
Opening hours: Fri 4pm-10pm, Sat 12pm-10pm, Sun 12pm-10pm
Combined DART and admission tickets available.
www.thebramstokerdraculaexperience.com
Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, Ashtown Castle
Exhibition of the history and wildlife in the park including an audio-visual presentation. The visitor centre is next to the restored Ashtown castle, a medieval house from the 17th century.
Opening Hours: Mid March-October: 10am-6pm, October 10am-5.30pm, Nov-Mid March Sat-Wed 10am-6pm
Admission Free
Guided tours lasting about one hour available.
Pearse Museum
St. Enda's Park, Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16
Located in a former school run by Patrick Pearse, the museum includes exhbitions with displays of Irish flora and fauna as well as an audio-visual show. The park that surrounds it offers the opportunity for walks along the river and even includes a waterfall.
Opening Hours: Museum closed until Mid 2008; access to park Nov-Jan 10am-4.30, Feb-March 10am-5.30pm, April and Sept 10am-7pm, May-Aug 10am-1pm and 2pm-5.30
Rathfarnham Castle
Rathfarnham, Dublin 16 (Bus 16, 17 and 75)
Built in the 16th century, this caslte has a vivid history that is still being uncovered in major restoration and conservation work.
Opening Hours: May-Oct: 9.30am-5.30pm, rest of year: 10am-4pm
Dublin Civic Museum
Fitzwilliam Street
The museum exhibits items and displays relating to the city's history including the stone head of the Nelson statue in an 18th century Georgian building. Includes private collections in addition to its own collections.
Irish Jewish Museum
Walworth Street, Portobello, Dublin 8
Located in a former Synagogue, the museum exhibits artefacts, paintings, photographs and books related to the history and heritage of the Irish Jewry. It also includes the work of Jewish artists from Ireland. The museum was opened in 1985 by Chaim Herzog, the Irish born president of Israel.
Opening Hours: May-September : Sun, Tue, Thu 11am-3.30pm, October-April : Sun 10.30am-2.30pm
Admission is free.
Dalkey Castle
Dalkey (on the DART line)
On the southern ond of Dublin Bay lies Dalkey, where you can visit the heritage center including a 15th century town house, an early medieval church and graveyard and an art gallery. Museums includes models and displays to illustrate the history of the town and surroundings. It also pays hommage to the several authors that lived and still live in the town in a Writer's Gallery. From May to October a Living History exhbition brings history to life.
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm, Sat, Sun and Bank Holidays: 11am-5pm
Adult €6, Concession €5, Child €4, Family €16
Ye Olde Hurdy-Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio
Howth (on the DART line)
Located in the Martello Tower, this museum exhibits the hisotry of telecommunications from the 1840s onwards. The collection includes radios, Morse equipment, gramophones and crystal sets. Many of the items still work and can be demonstrated by the curator.
Opening hours: April to October 11am-4pm, rest of the year: weekends only, 11am-4pm.
Malahide Castle
Malahide, Co. Dublin (DART line)
Set in a large park in the seaside town is Malahide Castle, that was occupied by the Talbot family until 1973. Furnished with period furnishings and a beautiful collection of paintings, telling the story of the family and the country's history.
Audio tours available in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch and Japanese. Written materials available also in Finnish.
Opening hours: January-December, Mon-Sat: 10am-5pm, April-September, Sun & Public Holidays: 10am-6pm, October-March, Sun& Public Holidays: 11am-5pm, closed for tours 12.45pm-2pm.
Admission: €7.25, concession: €6.10, children (under 12): €4.55, family: €21.00
Combined tickets available for Dublin Writers Museum, James Joyce Museum, Shaw Birthplace, Fry Model Railway
Tara's Place - Childhood Museum and Dolls House
Malahide Castle, Co. Dublin (near DART)
Tara's Palace is one of the world's most important Dolls Houses. Built on a one-twelfth scale it is a replica of great 18th century houses including paintings and miniature furnishings. The exhibition also includes a collection of toys, dolls and other dolls houses.
Opening Hours: April-Sept, Mon-Sat 10am-1pm and 2-5pm, Sun 2pm-6pm
Trinity College Weingreen Museum
School of Religions and Theology, Trinity College, Dublin 2
Museum of biblical anitiquities that was named after Professor Weingreen who contributed to the creation of the museum. The collection includes pottery and artefacts from the Ancient Near East.
Opening Hours: by appointment only during term time
Trinity College Geology Museum
Department of Geology, Trinity College, Dublin 2
Including about 80,000 specimens, the museum's collections date from 1777, although most of the mineral collection dates from 1820. The 'Story of the Earth' exhibition contains the complete range of geological topics.
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-5pm.
http://www.tcd.ie/Religions_Theology/weingreenmuseum/
UCD Classical Museum
John Henry Newman Building, UCD, Dublin
Collection of classical artefacts in the UCD School of Classics
Opening hours: term time Tue and Fri 10am-1pm and Thu 2.15pm-5pm or by appointment
Science Museum Maynooth
St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, Co. Kildare
Includes many religious artefacts, some of them presented to the College by the Empress of Austria. The scientific artefacts range from the apparatus of Nicholas Callan to telegraphy and research instruments.
Opening Hours: May-Sept: Tue and Thu 2pm-4pm, Sun 2pm-6pm, rest of year: by appointment only
National Print Museum
Garrison Chapel, Beggars Bush, Dublin 4
The National Print Museum collects, documents, preserves, exhibits, interprets and makes accessible the material evidence and fosters the skills associated with the history, present state and future development of the printing craft in Ireland.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat/Sun 2pm-5pm
Admission: 3.50 Euro, child 2 Euro, family 7 Euro
Irish Traditional Music Archive
Merrion Square
Reference archive for traditional song, instrumental music and dance of Ireland. Free of charge and open from 10am to 5pm Monday to Friday. No appointment needed. Largest multi-media collection covering Ireland, areas of Irish settlement and non-Irish performers.
www.itma.ie/English/Introduction.html
National Photographic Archive
Meetinghouse Square
Houses the photographic collection of the National Library of Ireland. Mostly historical but also contemporary photographs. Changing exhibitions throughout th year.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-2pm (Exhibition only)
Admission free.