Collins Barracks in Dublin City, named after famed Michael Collins, could be said to be the National Museum of Ireland's largest artefact, having had a unique history all of its own in another life. It housed both British Armed Forces and Irish army garrisons over three centuries. Built in 1702, the complex's main buildings are Neoclassical in style. Collins Barracks has been completely renovated and restored to become the National Museum of Decorative Arts and History, charting Ireland's economic, social, political and military progress through the ages.
Exhibits:
Irish Wars 1917 to 1923 and the 1916 Rising; Soldiers & Chiefs - Irish at war from 1550 to present day;
Photography of the revolutionary era in Ireland; 1000 years of Irish coin and currency; Irish country furniture and four centuries of furnishing;
The Way We Were - antique clothing and crafts; Sacred Art of Ireland 1600 to 1750; Irish silver exhibition; Eileen Gray exhibition;
A Dubliner's Collection of Asian Art - Albert Bender Collection; 21st century Irish Craft; Ib Jorgensen Fashion Retrospective; the Asgard, a restored sailboat with pivotal role in the 1914 Howth gun running story; and more.
Artefacts on display range from silver, ceramic and glassware pieces to weaponry, furniture, examples of folk life and costume. All of these are displayed with imagination in innovative and contemporary galleries, which entice you to go further, look harder and examine more closely.
- May Tours at Collins Barracks
Family funMay Tours at Collins Barracks As the weather warms, get your weekly dose of history at Collins Barracks this May! Discover something new on our diverse range of free public tours.
- LGBTQIA+ Tours of Collins Barracks
Family funLGBTQIA+ Tours of Collins Barracks Explore the National Museum through an LGBTQIA+ lens on our brand new tour. This new guided LGBTQIA+ tour views the exhibitions through alternative lenses, bringing some hidden histories and perspectives to the fore.
- Family Drop-ins at the Dead Zoo Lab
Family funFamily Drop-ins at the Dead Zoo Lab Drop into the Discovery Zone in the Dead Zoo Lab at Collins Barracks for a drop-in event. Bring the family along and join a short activity to learn more about nature.
- The Army No. 1 Band Performance at Collins Barracks
Family funThe Army No. 1 Band Performance at Collins Barracks Free Open Air Lunchtime Recital by the No.1 Army Band in Clarke Square, Collins Barracks, National Museum of Ireland.
- Late Evening Tours at Collins Barracks
Family funLate Evening Tours at Collins Barracks Join our guide for a special late evening tour of the ‘Changing Ireland’ galleries, focusing on highlights from the exhibition – the everyday and extraordinary objects which reveal stories of the transformation of Ireland over the past 150 years.
- Dublin by Dusk: Curator Gallery Talk - A New Form of Beauty
Free things to doDublin by Dusk: Curator Gallery Talk - A New Form of Beauty Join an evening tour with the curator of the exhibition 'A New Form of Beauty' at Collins Barracks and discover Dublin Street Fashion from the 1960's to the 1990's.
- Slow Looking Tour - An Introduction to Collins Barracks featuring Harry Clarke
Family funSlow Looking Tour - An Introduction to Collins Barracks featuring Harry Clarke Join us for a reflective and slow-looking tour of An Introduction to Collins Barracks featuring Harry Clarke. This interactive tour focuses on the story of Royal Barracks (now Collins) and the lives of soldiers who lived here between 1706 until 1993.
- QUIET HOUR: Sensory Friendly Time at the Museum
Family funQUIET HOUR: Sensory Friendly Time at the Museum Take some time to explore Collins Barracks during a dedicated Quiet Hour. We’re offering a quiet hour on the last Saturday of every month to create a calmer, more welcoming environment for visitors who may benefit from reduced sensory input.
