Irish Museums

museumAny historic destination worth its salt is going to have its fair share of museums, and Ireland is no exception. Just about every city and town will have at least one museum showcasing the local history, but some museums are interesting to more than just the locals. These are some of the museums which you should definitely consider visiting if you are in these cities:

  • National Museum of Ireland, Dublin – showcasing artifacts dating back to 7000 B.C.E.

  • Hunt Museum, Limerick – one of Ireland’s best private collections of art

  • National Museum of Natural History, Dublin – contains more than two million pieces from Ireland and all over the world

  • Cobh Heritage Centre, Cobh – contains exhibits of Irish history and also one on the RMS Titanic, which stopped last in Cobh (then called Queenstown) before its ill-fated final journey

  • Dublin Writers Museum, Dublin – set in an 18th century house and celebrating Irish literature

  • Lewis Glucksman Gallery, Cork – new modern and contemporary art museum on the University College campus

  • Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin – the country’s top modern and contemporary art gallery

  • National Museum of Ireland County Life, Castlebar – part of the National Museum of Ireland, focusing on what life was like in Ireland from 1850-1950

  • National Maritime Museum of Ireland, Dun Laoghaire – an island like Ireland is bound to have a strong relationship with the sea, which is documented here

More museums in Ireland are listed here, on the Irish Museums Association website.