National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin

The National Gallery of Ireland hosts the Irish national collection of Irish and European art. It is located in the centre of Dublin on Merrion Square.

The National Gallery was founded in 1854 and opened its doors ten years later with a collection of 112 pictures. The Gallery has an extensive, representative collection of Irish painting and is also notable for its Italian Baroque and Dutch masters painting.

The Gallery building was designed by Francis Fowke, based on early plans by Charles Lanyon and was completed in 1864.

At around this time Henry Vaughan left a collection of watercolours by J.M.W. Turner with the requirement that they could only be exhibited in January in order to protect them from the ill-effects of sunlight. Modern lighting technology has made this unnecessary, but the National Gallery continues to restrict viewing of the Vaughan bequest to January.

Another substantial bequest came from Hugh Lane (1875–1915) who left a large collection of pictures, as well as part of his residual estate and the Lane Fund has continued to contribute to the purchase of art works to this day.

George Bernard Shaw also made a substantial bequest, he left the Gallery a third of royalties of his estate in gratitude for the time he spent there as a youth.

In 1978 the Gallery received from the government the paintings left to the nation by Chester Beatty and in 1987 the Sweeney bequest delivered 14 works of art including paintings by Picasso and Jack B. Yeats. That same year the Gallery was once again given some of the contents of Russborough House when Alfred Beit donated 17 masterpieces, including paintings by Velázquez, Murillo, Steen, Vermeer and Raeburn.

Opening Times

The Gallery is open 361 days of the year; it is closed 24 - 26 December, and on Good Friday.

Monday - Saturday 9.30am - 5.30pm
Thursday 9.30am - 8.30pm
Sunday 12pm - 5.30pm

Please note: Shutdown of the galleries begin 15 minutes before closing time.

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Ticket Prices

Entry to the Gallery is free, but there may be a charge for some of the special exhibitions.

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Disabled Facilities

There are disabled parking spaces located outside the Merrion Square entrance to the Gallery.
Both entrances, on Merrion Square West and Clare Street, are fully accessible.
All galleries and facilities are wheelchair and buggy accessible.
Wheelchairs are available at both entrances free of charge. Bathroom facilities are available for visitors with impaired mobility.
A special accessibility floorplan is available to visitors from the Information Desks.
The lecture theatre, AV Room and shop are all fitted with a loop system.
Tours for the deaf and hearing impaired are available.
Visitors with guide dogs are welcome in the Gallery.
Tours for the visually impaired and the blind are available.

The Gallery is committed to ensuring that all learning programmes and courses are accessible for people with special education needs.

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More Information

Telephone: 00 353 1 661 5133
Email: info@ngi.ie

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