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.
- Irish Sign Language Interpreted Tours of Collins Barracks
Family funIrish Sign Language Interpreted Tours of Collins Barracks Join us for an Irish Sign Language Interpreted tour of Collins Barracks on various dates throughout the year.
- Family Tours in the Dead Zoo Lab
Family funFamily Tours in the Dead Zoo Lab Join the Animal Lottery Tour, a fun 30 minute tour for families in the Dead Zoo Lab. The twist? Visitors decide the route! Pick an animal name from our lottery bag and join us as we journey to meet some of our favourite specimens in the Lab.
- Family Drop-in events in the Dead Zoo Lab
Family funFamily Drop-in events in the Dead Zoo Lab Join a free drop-in family event and a short activity exploring wildlife in Ireland with the Dead Zoo Lab Family Drop-Ins. No booking required.
- QUIET HOUR: Sensory Friendly Time at the Museum
Family funQUIET HOUR: Sensory Friendly Time at the Museum We’re offering a designated 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.
- Buail isteach ag Saotharlann an Zú Mhairbh
Family funBuail isteach ag Saotharlann an Zú Mhairbh Buail isteach ag an gCrios Fionnachtana i Saotharlann an Zú Mhairbh i nDún Uí Choileáin le haghaidh imeacht speisialta dátheangach. Tá fáilte roimh an gclann ar fad a bheith ag foghlaim faoi ainmhithe den trá trí Ghaeilge.
- Heritage Week Family Tours at the Dead Zoo Lab
Family funHeritage Week Family Tours at the Dead Zoo Lab Join the Animal Lottery Tour, a fast-paced 30 minute tour for families in the Dead Zoo Lab.Visitors decide the route! Pick an animal name from our lottery bag and join us as we journey to meet some of our favourite animals and fossils.
- Heritage Week Drop-ins at the Dead Zoo Lab
Family funHeritage Week Drop-ins at the Dead Zoo Lab Join a drop-in session in the Discovery Zone at the Dead Zoo Lab. Meet a Museum Educator, explore real and replica natural history objects, then take a self-guided activity sheet to draw your favourite animal.
- Wider Than Pictures 2026
Wider Than Pictures 2026 Wider Than Pictures is back for their annual summer series at National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks this summer!
