Wonderful museum. It is in the smaller side and a bit dark but it feels cozy somehow…read more The exhibitions tell a story of the history of Ireland. I wanted to visit to view the big bodies and I was not disappointed. They also had hordes of gold in display which were surrounded by beautiful jewelry. The museum is free.

My sons and I loved this museum. The building itself is gorgeous inside with hand carved wooden…read moredoors and amazing inlayed mosaic floors. The Bog bodies was my favorite exhibit. I didn't include images of the bodies on display since some people might find them too disturbing, but I did include one of the descriptions on what was found at a site. Lots of beautiful gold jewelry and iron weaponry as well. Admission is free, and we spent about 2 hours here.

This isn't the most glamorous museum in Dublin, but it's worth a visit. If you really like seeing…read moreanimals from around the world, you can easily spend a couple hours here. It's several stories and a good way to pass the time between dining reservations, movie times, or just a rainy afternoon. The exhibits, of which there are over 10,000, are very old. The pelts on a lot of the animals are faded. A good portion of the animals were hunted, killed in a time when hunting wasn't as much of a hot button item (the museum was opened in 1857). I'm supremely creeped out by taxidermy, and there is an added level of creepiness and existentialism in viewing creatures that died up to 200 years ago. Still, it's a museum. The interest lies in seeing creatures native to Ireland, ones you haven't seen before, and ones you may never see again. It's not the happiest of museums to walk around in if you're sensitive to the plight of wild animals; however, you might just learn something, which I believe is the whole point of a museum.

Dublin has its fair share of museums that cater to many eclectic interests, but I have to say that…read morethe National Museum of Natural History really takes the cake for being one of the best. Not only is it free (thank you Irish tax payers!) but the sites inside are sort of incredible. Natural history buffs are going to enjoy all the different exhibits on both floors- some of which showcase species that have gone extinct like the giant Irish deer. You learn about the various creatures that once roamed this land and get a glimpse at how much evolution has changed the world. Mind you that it could feel a bit eerie inside given the amount of animals staring down at you, but it really places you in the heart of "Night at the Museum," which is totally what they were going for. Bring your family and stop by. It's certainly worth the half hour to at least roam the world inside!

We were overwhelmed with the quality of the exhibits and the depth and breadth of the collection…read morehere at the barracks. We passed on the Guinness tour, which is across the street, in favor of this museum. We are glad that we spent our time in this museum. The collection on the history of the Irish rebellion is just a part of this excellent museum collection. There are coins, military uniforms, more history than you can absorb in a brief visit. This museum is free, and, worth everything for an entertaining, informative visit.

This was walking distance from Temple Bar where we were staying. It's also easily accessible by…read moretransport. The barracks themselves are an artefact on their own, and you might wish to look up their history. The place is huge- and I came for the Irish silver, a decorative ware and furniture. My husband enjoyed the military side. There's just so much here- it's truly amazing. What's in Store- gives you even more of the 16 thousand pieces they have here, and show you the "working" museum. Some of the exhibits- Irish Silver, The Way We Wore, Soldiers and Chiefs, the Asgard (a ship used in the struggle against English rule) and Proclaiming a Republic:the 1916 Rising. It is a free museum. It's got a lovely cafe and a great gift shop. It's handicapped accessible- and so are the toilets. I really recommend this place.

The Book of Kells is one of Ireland's beloved treasures. It's an illuminated manuscript from the…read moreninth century, a collection of the four gospels. That the Book is so well preserved given its age--approximately 1200 years old--and that the illustrations are so vibrant are amongst the reasons it's so extraordinary. Beyond simply being a work of art, its history is fascinating; it even survived a raid in which dozens of monks were killed! Maybe it does have a bit of divine luck. Its origins are quite mysterious, though it's suspected to have been at least partially created in Scotland before the aforementioned raid led the surviving monks to Kells. It's made of vellum, so quite delicate, hence the reason it's under such careful care. In fact it has been in the care of Trinity College since the 17th century in order to protect it. To view the Book of Kells, you will need to visit Trinity College Dublin. I can't recall if we bought tickets ahead of time or upon arrival, but you can buy them online. There's an exhibit about the book as you make your way toward the pages on display to provide context to what you'll see. There are only two pages from the Book open at any given time; they change every six weeks or so. And you get to leave through the Long Room on the way out, which IMO is itself worth the price of admission.

I've read about and admired the artwork of the Book of Kells since I was small, so to be able to…read moresee a small scrap of the real thing was exciting...but. The museum was small and crowded, and navigating from exhibit to exhibit was confusing -- I was attempting to listen to the audio guide, and kept ending up pausing to search around for the correct exhibit. (Maybe put arrows on the floor to guide visitors?) The enlarged illuminations, with discussions of all the symbolism, were likely the best part, as I learned a lot about the Book... but I'd almost prefer to buy a book *about* the Book of Kells, with high-quality close-up photographs. I'd be able to see more detail, suffer less crowding and frustration with the navigation, and sit down occasionally and use the restroom when needed. (There is nowhere to sit and rest, and no restrooms in the building.) So! If you love history, come see the single illuminated page on display (if you're patient enough to wait for a chance to get close enough), learn a bit about the creation and the history of the Book, then move upstairs to marvel at the Long Library, with its beautiful arched ceiling and weight of history. In the Long Library, there is ongoing work to restore and catalog the thousands of historical works on the shelves -- plus the shelves themselves. It's a glorious space, with a few benches where one can sit and admire without getting dizzy. The Harp of Brian Boru (the actual harp that is the symbol of Ireland, centuries old) is on display here, and was a real wonder: warm dark wood with delicate carving, worn through years of use, and inlaid gemstones (some missing). The final part of the tour is in a different building, where many of the most famous works from the Long Library are featured in a really creative interactive exhibit: images of busts of the authors talk to you, and to each other. There are representations of the digital archives as well, allowing you to appreciate how many important works are stored in the Long Library, and what a Herculean task is underway in restoring and cataloging them all. The exit is through the gift shop, which had a diverse and high-quality collection of souvenirs of the college and the museums (not just cheap tchotchkes and tshirts).

Dublin Tourist Guide: Trinity College - the Long Room…read more If you're traveling to Dublin you must make a few hours to walk Trinity College. I'll share more about the college itself on that yelp page but this review is strictly for the library at Trinity college with an emphasis on the Long Room (one of the most famous views on the campus). Built in the 1700s this library has been used in reference in so many movies and many people will recognize these photos from social media, as it's a highly photographed spot from the college. I was extremely lucky that despite coming in the summer we came on a weekday and it wasn't as packed as most people's own pictures seem to reflect. So my pro tip of course would be to come off season, but if you can't - even us coming in peak tourist season a weekday mid afternoon was a great time to come. The library is literally stunning. I'll honestly never forget it and for as simple as a library may seem, it was one of my favorite historical spots (indoors) that I had seen. The library is roped off on the sides so you don't have full access which makes sense as they don't want people touching the books. Being in the center though you still got great views and I was also lucky to come when they weren't doing maintenance on the library. Something to keep in mind as I've seen they sometimes remove the books for cleaning and maintenance, so something to look up before coming. 5/5 would recommend coming to the long room at the library, a great spot to check out.

Must-visit part of Trinity College in Dublin - we stopped by after The Book of Kells…read more The long room is a library with tens of thousands of books and busts of famous men and women (like Socrates and Shakespeare) lining both sides. It also houses the Brian Boru Harp, which is the oldest surviving Irish harp and a symbol of Ireland. Other notable artifacts include The Irish Proclamation of 1916, and various books and letters of scientific and cultural significance - from botanical drawings to world maps to metal coins. Wish I had taken more time to browse - will be back!

The Famous Guided Tour at the Little Museum of Dublin is perfectly named. In just 30-ish minutes,…read moreGeorge delivered an awe-inspiring blend of storytelling, humor, and song that left me with a deeper appreciation for Ireland's rich history. I was completely intrigued by the number of stories packed into such a short tour, all made possible through the generosity by the people of Ireand who donated the museum's artifacts. The passion and pride of the staff shine through in every moment. This is an absolute cute, educational must-do experience in Dublin!

An old house from 1777 turned into a museum. Saul was an…read moreamazing tour guide. He had great energy w/ his storytelling & even danced a jig. Lots to see in this Little museum of history & pop culture. Prices were inexpensive as well. Guides can take tips too. Not a great place young kids.

The epic museum was another one of my favorite tourist attractions while in Dublin. For anyone…read morewho's interested in learning more about Irish history and culture this museum is definitely for you. What I really appreciated about the stop is that it's modernized and on the newer side (for a museum) so it does feel much more updated with the technology/exhibits so that it meets modern times. We purchased our tickets in advance, but they also allow you same-day/in person purchases. I don't know if we got lucky the day we came or if they have a cap on how many tickets they sell, but it did feel like the group/people allowed in was buffered, which kept the experience feeling more intimate/less crowded. There is plenty to see and multiple floors to explore so we were easily here three hours walking all about and taking in the different exhibits. My favorite exhibit was where they paid homage to the musical influences and artists of Ireland. I found this section to be the most interesting for me personally and it was well done. Honestly, there was so much to see, you could easily come back a few times to really take it all in. For the price it is worth it and a great way to spend a few hours in Dublin. I would highly recommend stopping here.

I am at the museum as a person who has no idea of Irish history or culture. Everything was new to…read moreme as an Asian-American. If you love history, you will love the epic museum. I accompanied my team for a group social event here that we got to learn so much about Ireland and the people and how much they went through. Also learned about how many Irish people are in the world. Since I am East Asian I am not very familiar with a lot of this in fact, I am probably the first in my family to ever visit Ireland. The museum is set up to be and walk-through at your own pace and you get a little passport that you can stamp to make sure you didn't miss any exhibits and take home as a keepsake for your visit Ireland.

What is not to love about art?…read more They have some of the greats like Picasso and and Renoir. Some of the exhibits were closed but this was still worth a visit. Free entry.

The Gallery is centrally located, right on Merrion Square just to the east of Trinity College…read more Located in the city centre of Dublin, the gallery first opened its doors to the public in January 1864. It hosts around 2,500 paintings and about 10,000 other works in different media including water-colours, drawings, prints, and sculptures. It also houses a prestigious collection of Irish art and is also notable for its Dutch masters and Italian Baroque painting. Inside the gallery there are 15,000 works of art! Amongst the paintings and other art works to look out for, there's the Taking of Christ by Caravaggio, For The Road by Jack Yeats and the Sick Call by Mathew James which depicts the suffering of the Irish population following the famine. Amongst them is 'A woman writing a letter with her maidservant' by Johannes Vermeer Free guided tours at weekends are performed, it is a good way to learn the story behind the paintings. Otherwise, the entry to the permanent collection is free, and children can have a special audio guide to explore the gallery. From paintings to modern art, sculptures to a giant wooden carving, we easily spent a few hours there. The museum has a good cafe offering food and beverages, and you can enter off of Merrion Square or on the street

I've been able to visit lots of castles across Europe, but very few have been preserved in such a…read moreway that the interior decor and furniture remain and continue to tell the story of their inhabitants. It's extra cool to be able to see things just the way someone would have back so long ago. The rooms are staged with artifacts and replicas and they are pretty true to life. The ornate designs in the wood are original and each one tells a different story. Be sure to ask your tour guide about the term "being plastered" and where that originated. This is one castle you don't want to miss out on.

Wish I had more time to do more! We had a wonderful guide…read moreon the day trip! She was so knowledgeable and fun! What amazing history! SO glad the government kept this gem as it was in its hay day! Please always keep this protected! The gardens are outstanding! Kudos to the grounds keepers! The butterfly garden is a MUST see! I had a great time shopping in the deli and shoppes....I regret not having time for the cafe...the food smelled yummy!

This was quite the delightful museum in one of the main churches in downtown Kilkenny. We made an…read moreappointment for a tour, a couple weeks ahead of time, it had a very nice time seeing the grounds. As with most places in Ireland, there is an incredible amount of history that had occurred just in the immediate vicinity. We learned about the history of the church, the area, the people who had built it, and the people who have kept it running. There were some pretty amazing artifacts that had come from the grounds, primarily during renovations, and some incredibly ornate headstones. The whole tour lasted about an hour, was contained within the church and the courtyard, and there were also some fun Legos that were hidden throughout the place that kept our kids entertained. Don't forget to go in the upper room. It has a beautiful view out to the city! All in all, this is a great spot and well worth your time.

My sister and I popped into the museum and were greeted by two of the kindest gentlemen working…read morethere, Joe and John. They took over 30 minutes out of their day to tell us the history of Kilkenny and about the architectural features of the city. The museum itself was incredible and did a great job modernizing the facility while respecting and honoring the history. Joe and John made the museum the highlight of our Kilkenny day trip!