National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Dublin

The National Museum of Ireland (Ard-Mhúsaem na hÉireann - Seandálaíocht" in Irish) is housed over 4 sites as follows:

• Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2


• Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7


• Natural History, Merrion Street, Dublin 2


• Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo

The Archaeology department features displays on prehistoric Ireland, including early work in gold, church treasures and the Viking and medieval periods. Special exhibitions are regularly mounted.

The Archaeology section of the National Museum of Ireland houses such famous pieces as the 8th century Ardagh Chalice (pictured), the shrine of St Patrick's Bell from the 11th century (pictured) and the Tara Brooch, as well as the Broighter Gold Hoard and the Derrynaflan Hoard, all beautiful examples of early medieval metalwork in Ireland, as well as prehistoric ornaments from the Bronze Age in Ireland. Many of these pieces were found in the 19th century by peasants or agricultural labourers, when population expansion led to cultivation of land which had not been touched since the Middle Ages. Indeed, only for the intervention of George Petrie of the Royal Irish Academy, and other individuals from the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, most of the metalwork would have been melted down for the intrinsic value of its materials, and these priceless, historic items lost forever.

Opening Times

Tuesday - Saturday: 10am - 5pm
Sunday: 2pm - 5pm
Closed Mondays, Christmas Day and Good Friday

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Ticket Prices

Admission to the Museum is free

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Disabled Facilities

There is wheelchair access to the ground floor only.

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More Information

Telephone: 00 353 (0) 1 6777444
Email: marketing@museum.ie

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