National Museum of Ireland

Attribution:

Informatique

Dublin

Ireland

Key Dates

The Museum of Science and Art, Dublin was founded on 14 August 1877. It became The National Museum of Ireland in 1921. The Kildare Street building, which houses the museum's archaeology collection, was opened in 1890.

Key People

The current Director of the National Museum is Dr Pat Wallace. The Kildare Street building was designed by Thomas Newenham Deane and his son Thomas Manly Deane.

The National Museum of Ireland is Ireland's state museum. It holds a large collection of artefacts, divided under the areas of archaeology, decorative arts and history, country life and natural history, with a strong Irish focus. The museum has three sites in Dublin and one in County Mayo.

Ownership and control has changed hands multiple times since the museum was founded in 1877, in a past that reflects Ireland's turbulent history during the last century and a half. Since 2005, it has been established as a semi-state autonomous agency under its own board.

The archaeology section features artefacts relevant to prehistoric Ireland and the Viking and medieval periods, as well as special displays of items from Egypt, Cyprus and the Roman world.

Admission Fee

Admission Free

Related Websites

National Museum of Ireland

Images