While spending a semester abroad in Dublin, Ireland, you get the amazing opportunity to explore and immerse yourself in a new place and culture. Some of my favorite ways of engaging with the city and country as a whole is through museums and galleries. These are a great way to learn and experience Ireland’s history and culture.
National Museums of Ireland
Ireland has four official national museums, three of which are based in Dublin and one in County Mayo in the western side of Ireland. These four museums are completely free to visit.
The National Museum of Archaeology is on Kildare Street in Dublin. This museum houses Irish antiquities from the Stone Age through the Middle Ages. The exhibits feature prehistoric tools, Viking excavations, and medieval artwork, as well as having three bog bodies from human sacrifice rituals.
There is also the National Museum of Natural History on Merrion Street. Unfortunately, this museum is currently closed for renovations, but would typically host the “Dead Zoo” and geological exhibits. The refurbishment will enhance accessibility and visitor engagement, so if you get a chance, you should definitely go when it reopens.
The other museum based in Dublin is the The National Museum of Ireland: Decorative Arts & History, located in former military barracks. This location has two exhibits, one exploring Irish culture in decorative art and the other featuring military history.
The Museum of Country Life is the only of the museums not based in Dublin. This museum is in Turlough Park, County Mayo, which is a three-hour car ride or a four-and-a-half-hour train journey. They have 35 acres of parkland. Their exhibits highlight the rich traditions and lifestyles of Ireland through the past and present. This might be too far for a day trip but could be an amazing experience for a weekend away.
Irish Art Galleries
Art galleries are another great way to go out and explore culture in Ireland. There are several free galleries to visit in Dublin. They all feature the work of famous artists both from Ireland and outside Ireland. I put a list of just a few of these places below that are a great stop to make.
National Gallery of Ireland
The Irish Museum of Modern Art
Hugh Lane Gallery
Douglas Hyde Gallery
Photo Museum Ireland
I got the chance to go to some of these locations with the Irish Culture Through Fine Arts course and they are all an amazing experience. If you are able to, I recommend going on school trips to these galleries and going with groups for tours. That way you can both explore a place with friends and in a tour you will get some information about artists and the art scene in Ireland you may miss otherwise.
