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.
- September Tours at Collins Barracks
AutumnSeptember Tours at Collins Barracks Dive into Irish history at Collins Barracks this September with our range of free public tours! Uncover hidden histories and perspectives in our LGBTQIA+ Tour.
- Game On! A Day of Play at Collins Barracks
AutumnGame On! A Day of Play at Collins Barracks Join us for a free family fun day out at Collins Barracks! Jump into giant games, hands-on object handling and activities for all ages. Booking required.
- Azure Tour Dementia-Inclusive Tours
AutumnAzure Tour Dementia-Inclusive Tours Azure tours are a free gallery led experience specifically designed to support people living with dementia and their family, friends or carers, to engage with our exhibitions and enjoy a social museum experience.
- Hands on History: Gloves, Games & Gallons of Fun
AutumnHands on History: Gloves, Games & Gallons of Fun This Culture Night, the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks invites visitors to take part in an engaging, hands-on session exploring the age-old question of how to spend your evening – going out or staying in?
- Culture Night 2025 at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks
AutumnCulture Night 2025 at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks Drop into Collins Barracks this Culture Night for an evening of guided tours, trails and tactile sessions.
- Culture Night Drop-in: My Favourite Animal at the Dead Zoo Lab
AutumnCulture Night Drop-in: My Favourite Animal at the Dead Zoo Lab Drop into the Discovery Zone this Culture Night and choose your favourite animal on display in the new Dead Zoo Lab. Grab a pencil and a copy of the newly designed activity sheet, ‘My Favourite Animal’, and get exploring!
- Culture Night: LGBTQIA+ Tour of Collins Barracks
AutumnCulture Night: LGBTQIA+ Tour of Collins Barracks Come along on Culture Night for a rich and informative historical tour of the National Museum of Ireland – Collins Barracks exploring LGBTQIA+ history in the Museum’s collections.