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.
- Changing Ireland Guided Tours
AutumnChanging Ireland Guided Tours Visitors will explore the new Changing Ireland Galleries and encounter the everyday or extraordinary objects that witnessed or contributed to the transformation of Ireland over the last 150 years.
- Dublin by Dusk - 100 Breaths with Clodagh Emoe
AutumnDublin by Dusk - 100 Breaths with Clodagh Emoe Dr Clodagh Emoe is a lecturer and artist, known for collaborative art projects exploring connections between the natural world and contemporary arts. 100 Breaths is a site-specific temporary artwork developed for Clarke Square by artist Clodagh Emoe.
- Dublin by Dusk - Houses of the Barracks Talk with Angela Monks McDonagh and Orla Fitzpatrick
AutumnDublin by Dusk - Houses of the Barracks Talk with Angela Monks McDonagh and Orla Fitzpatrick Join librarian, curator, and writer Orla Fitzpatrick and artist Angela Monks McDonagh as they re-visit their research into the houses on Arbour Hill and the impact of the First World War on local families.
- Dublin by Dusk - Introduction to Collins Barracks Tour
AutumnDublin by Dusk - Introduction to Collins Barracks Tour Discover history at Collins Barracks on this free guided tour. No booking required, just come along and enjoy.
- Dublin by Dusk A Fair Exchange Writing Workshop
Free things to doDublin by Dusk A Fair Exchange Writing Workshop 'A Fair Exchange' offers a series of free, drop-in writing workshops at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks. On the last Thursday of each month from September 2026 – March 2027, part of Dubin by Dusk.
- Relaxed Sensory Friendly Children’s Workshop: Clarke’s Colourful Creations
AutumnRelaxed Sensory Friendly Children’s Workshop: Clarke’s Colourful Creations After our Sensory Friendly Time at the Museum, visit the Creativity Hub at Collins Barracks for this sensory friendly workshop: Clarke’s Colourful Creations. Explore light & colour through activities designed to engage your child’s senses.
- Irish Sign Language Interpreted Tours of Collins Barracks
AutumnIrish Sign Language Interpreted Tours of Collins Barracks Join us for a range of regular guided tours in Collins Barracks, interpreted in Irish Sign Language. These tours are for all visitors, creating a more inclusive and accessible experience for our Deaf and hard of hearing visitors.
- Dublin by Dusk: Crafted Encounters - Embroidery Workshop: Make a Celtic Bat
AutumnDublin by Dusk: Crafted Encounters - Embroidery Workshop: Make a Celtic Bat Join us for a hands-on embroidery class where you’ll learn how to stitch a Celtic bat design with BeAlice. You’ll learn traditional and modern embroidery techniques while creating a Celtic bat to celebrate Halloween.
