The National Museum of Ireland puts the truth to the adage that big things come in small packages.
It’s a splendid museum of archaeology that’s filled with Ireland’s most ancient and valuable treasures. You can catch up on 5,000 years of history in a couple hours, and do it all in the heart of Dublin.
The museum itself is a treasure. Purpose-built, it opened in 1890 and its entrance and rotunda were modeled after the Pantheon in Rome.
The interior features ornate ironwork and mosaic floors depicting classical mythology. But you might not even notice if you’re too entranced by the ancient collections.
Many of these ancient treasures were discovered in peat bogs, hinting at their spiritual significance to early cultures. Others were unearthed by treasure hunters with metal detectors.
Believe it or not, in July 2024, two Bronze Age axe heads were anonymously mailed to the museum—quite the surprise delivery!
The best part? The museum is completely free to visit!
With so much to explore, it’s impossible to see everything in one go. To help you make the most of your visit, I’ll guide you through the must-see highlights so you can gawk at the best of the best.
Guide To The National Museum Of Ireland: What To See
Prehistoric Ireland
Prehistoric Ireland covers the period from the first human settlers, around 10,000 years ago, to the start of recorded history.
One of the first exhibitions you’ll see is the recreation of a passage tomb, an ancient burial structure.
It consists of a narrow passage leading to one or more burial chambers, covered by a large earthen mound or cairn of stones.
You’ll see weapons, stone axes, tools, and utensils from the Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages.You can’t miss the Lurgan log boat.
It’s 52 feet long. You can barely get a photo of it!
The boat was fashioned from a tree trunk 4,000 years ago.
You’ll also see some of the earliest known musical instruments, horns, and shields.
Treasury
The Treasury exhibit showcases some of the museum’s most priceless artifacts. Five key pieces to see are the Tara Brooch, the Ardagh Chalice, the Broighter Hoard, the Cross of Cong, and the Derrynaflan Silver Paten.
The Tara Brooch, dating back to the 7th century, is a stunning example of early medieval Irish craftsmanship. Made of silver and decorated with gold, amber, and glass, it likely symbolized power and status in ancient Ireland.
The Ardagh Chalice, crafted in the 8th century, is considered the finest example of Celtic art.
This wide, two-handled cup, is made of silver and copper with intricate gold filigree. It was discovered by accident in 1868, possibly because it was hidden from Vikings.
The Broighter Hoard represents pre-Christian gold work at its best. It includes delicate, hollow necklaces, discs with hammered patterns, and crescent-shaped lunulae.
There’s even a miniature gold boat, complete with tiny oars and a rudder. it looks so fragile, like it could break with a touch.
The purpose of the hoard remains a mystery, with some believing it was an offering to the gods. After a long legal battle, Ireland won the rights to this treasure from the British Museum. Yay Ireland!
The Cross of Cong, made for a High King of Ireland, was designed as a processional piece. Decorated with gold and silver, it was believed to once hold a relic of the True Cross.
Though the relic is lost, the cross was so valuable it was hidden for centuries to keep it safe from British invaders.
The Derrynaflan Silver Paten, found with the Derrynaflan Chalice, is part of a remarkable hoard discovered in County Tipperary.
It was used during Mass to hold the Eucharist. Patens were common in the Roman world. But few examples from early medieval Ireland have survived.
That’s what makes this piece such a rare and special find.
Ireland’s Gold
This is one of the most important collections of Bronze Age gold objects in Europe. The earliest objects were produced between 2200 and 1800 BC.
It’s mostly jewelry and attachments for clothing worn on special occasions — rings, bracelets, and large collars known as gorgets.
In particular, the Gleninsheen Gorget is a heavy, many stranded gold collar with circular should pads. It was found near the Gleninsheen wedge tomb in County Clare.
Kingship and Sacrifice: The Bog Bodies
The Bog Bodies exhibit is one of the museum’s most fascinating and eerie attractions.
Dating back to around 200 to 400 AD, these bodies are believed to be victims of human sacrifice. They were likely tied to rituals marking the death or coronation of Iron Age kings.
The bodies were discovered over time. The most well-known bodies, like Clonycavan Man and Oldcroghan Man, were discovered in the early 2000s.
These discoveries were often accidental, with workers stumbling upon the remains while harvesting peat from the bogs.
What makes them so remarkable is how well the peat bogs preserved them.
The low oxygen and high acidity in the bogs kept the bodies in shockingly good condition. Skin, hair, and even facial features have survived the centuries.
The bodies themselves are haunting. Some might even find them unsettling, with a horror-movie feel.
The exhibit also showcases artifacts found with the bodies, including weapons, regalia, utensils, and clothing.
You’ll also see 1,000-year-old bog butter, which was buried in the peat bogs and preserved for centuries. Stored in wooden containers or wrapped in animal hides, it was likely hidden or preserved for future use.
Viking Ireland
Head upstairs and you’ll come to the Viking exhibit.
The Viking invasions had a profound impact on Ireland. The first recorded attack was in 795.
Initially, the Vikings were just raiders, targeting monasteries to steal their wealth and slaves.
Over time, their influence expanded beyond pure theft. They began to settle in Ireland, establishing key trading ports in Dublin, Waterford, Limerick, and possibly Cork.
Ireland was plagued by this lot for a few centuries until High King Brian Boru finally defeated them for good in 1014.
In Dublin, extensive excavations were carried out by the National Museum between 1962 and 1981. And many of these items are on display.
You can see the skeleton of one of the bad guys.
There are loads of weapons, jewelry, silver brooches, decorated leaded weights, a wooden gaming board, and a replica of a Viking long boat.
Medieval Ireland
After the Vikings came the English, who also wanted Ireland for itself. This exhibition charts the early centuries of those times, when two cultures existed on the island.
You’ll see another vat of weapons, armor, clothing, and religious objects. You’ll get a sense of of life in medieval towns.
One of the most unusual objects is the priceless 8th century Faddan More Psalter. It’s a beautiful and intricately illustrated book of psalms.
It was discovered in a peat bog in Tipperary in 2006, the first ever find of this kind. The book was painstakingly restored, and finally put on display in 2011.
Ancient Egypt
This Egypt exhibition consists of about 3,000 objects ranging in date from the Stone Ages to the Middle Ages. The majority were nicked during excavations between the 1890s and 1920s.
It has everything you might expect from painted mummy cases to dog-headed gods.
Practical Guide & Tips For The National Museum of Ireland
Address: 7–9 Merrion Row, Dublin 2, Ireland
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm & Sunday and Monday: 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Tickets: The museum is completely free to visit!
Pro Tips:
I would plan to spend at least 2 hours there.
If you’re an art lover, the National Gallery of Art is right next door.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to the National Museum of Ireland. You may find these other Ireland travel guides useful:
- Dublin bucket list
- 2 days in Dublin itinerary
- 3 days in Dublin itinerary
- beautiful places to visit in Ireland
- what not to do in Ireland
- guide to Trinity College & Book of Kells
- guide to St. Patrick’s Cathedral
- guide to the Guinness Storehouse
- guide to the Rock of Cashel
- guide to Blarney Castle
Pin it for later.
