National Museum of Ireland
Dublin City is home to many fine museums and galleries, including some sections of the National Museum of Ireland.
This museum is divided into four seperate categories and locations. 'Archaeology and History', 'Decorative Arts and History' and 'Natural History' are all situated in Dublin whilst 'Country Life' is located in Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
Archaeology and History
National Museum of Ireland
A photograph of the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin 2.
Courtesy of Hans-Peter-Harmsen.National Museum of Ireland
Courtesy of Hans-Peter-Harmsen.
Courtesy of Hans-Peter-Harmsen.
National Museum of Ireland
A photograph of the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin 2.
Courtesy of Hans-Peter-Harmsen.The National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology and History is located on Kildare Street in Dublin 2. The building used to house the Dublin Museum of Science and Art which opened in 1890.
The museum was given its current name in the early 20th century. Trinity College, the Royal Irish Academy and the Royal Dublin Society all helped the museum's collection to grow by donating items to it.
It is now home to such notable antiquities as the Tara Brooch and the Ardagh Chalice. Collections from the Geological Survey of Ireland are also housed there.
Decorative Arts and History
Collins Barracks
The Decorative Arts and History section of The National Museum of Ireland is located in Collins Barracks.
Image courtesy of National Museum of IrelandCollins Barracks
Image courtesy of National Museum of Ireland
Image courtesy of National Museum of Ireland
Collins Barracks
The Decorative Arts and History section of The National Museum of Ireland is located in Collins Barracks.
Image courtesy of National Museum of IrelandThe National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts and History is located in Collins Barracks, which was left vacant by the Irish Defence Forces in 1988. It reopened as a museum in 1997.
As well as housing decorative art collections of Irish, European and Oriental origin, its exhibits also give a picture of Ireland's political, economical and military life over the past 300 years.
Natural History Museum
Dodo
Dodos were unique to the island of Mauritius and had become extinct by the late 17th century. This example was acquired by the Royal Irish Academy following an excavation in 1865 in a marshy area of Mauritius which led to the recovery of a small number of Dodo skeletons. It is now located in the Natural Histroy Museum in Dublin.
Dodo
Dodo
Dodos were unique to the island of Mauritius and had become extinct by the late 17th century. This example was acquired by the Royal Irish Academy following an excavation in 1865 in a marshy area of Mauritius which led to the recovery of a small number of Dodo skeletons. It is now located in the Natural Histroy Museum in Dublin.
The exhibits in the the Natural History Museum were originally the property of the Royal Dublin Society (RDS). The museum opened to the public in 1857 at its premises in Leinster House.
When the RDS moved to Ballsbridge and The Dáil took over Leinster House in 1922, a new entrance was built leading onto Merrion Street.
Today, there are roughly 2 million specimens located in the Natural History Museum.