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Dublin's Museums - As Good As Any in Europe

© Irene Togher

When we think of European museums we immediately think of the Louvre in Paris, the Prado in Madrid or perhaps the Vatican Museums. The museums in Dublin would not exactly be on the top of our list. Yet Dublin houses many fine museums and this city can compete well with its European counterparts in this arena. Here's some of the best:

National Museum of Ireland

The National Museum of Ireland is home to the country's treasures and is most famous for exhibiting the Tara Brooch, an 8th Century magnificent piece of jewelry found in Co. Meath. Also notable are The Ardagh Chalice (8th Century silver bowl) and The Broighter Hoard, a collection of fine gold from the 1st century, including a beautiful gold collar, unsurpassed anywhere else in Europe

National Gallery

The National Gallery exhibits a fine selection of paintings, spanning from the 14th to the 20th Centuries and includes all the major Continental Schools. Irish paintings date from the 17th Century to Jack B. Yeats, Ireland's most important 20th Century artist. There is also an important collection of sculptures ranging from 17th to 19th Centuries

Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum was opened in 1857 and has changed little since then - it looks old and is still cluttered but this adds a distinctive charm absent in most museums. On the ground floor are specimens of Irish wildlife and fauna, while upstairs, there is a fine collection of preserved beasts. Of particular interest are two whales' skeletons suspended from the roof and the museum can boast a collection of about 500,000 insects!

Dublin Castle - State Apartments

Little remains of the original Castle - only one tower, in fact. The State Apartments, in which the viceroy, or representative of the British crown, resided, were rebuilt in 1688. These rooms exude comfort, with beautiful antique furnishings and decorations and the apartments are often used for formal State occasions.

Joyce Museum

The Joyce Museum is housed in Mortello Tower, where Joyce lived for a brief period and where the beginning of Ulysses is set. The museum is the focal point of Bloomsday for anyone celebrating Joyce's achievements and is home to a collection of Joyce memorabilia, including his guitar, waistcoat, traveling trunk and his poignant death mask. Unfortunately, the museum is closed during the winter months but it is still worth visiting the tower and the environs for their scenic value alone.

Irish Museum of Modern Art