Dublin
Ireland
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.
