Collins Barracks 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 now completes the picture for the National Museum in Dublin and joins the two already famous buildings in the possession of the Museum.

Collins Barracks has been completely renovated and restored to become the National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts and History - charting Ireland's economic, social, political and military progress through the ages.

Artefacts on display range from silver, ceramic and glassware pieces to weaponry, furniture, examples of folk life and costume.

The new Military History exhibition called 'Soldiers and Chiefs: The Irish at War at Home and Abroad, 1550-2001' uses original artefacts, letters, replicas and audio accounts, showing how soldiering and war have affected the lives of Irish people. All of these piecess are displayed with imagination in innovative and contemporary galleries, which entice you to go further, look harder and examine more closely.

The Dead Zoo At Large – Treasures of the Natural History Museum

Step back in time and savour the atmosphere of this temporary exhibition reconstructed at a new venue. This temporary exhibition fills the gap left by the closure of the 1857 building on Merrion Street. A wide selection of the 10,000 exhibits from the Merrion Street museum has been brought back into the light. Old favourites include the giant deer, the giraffe and the families of badgers, foxes and otters.

Also on display are items from the geological collection including Ireland's Moon Rock, which was collected in 1972 as part of an Apollo mission.

This temporary exhibition is housed at the Riding School in Collins Barracks.

Opening Times:
Tuesday-Saturday: 10am-5pm.
Sunday: 2pm-5pm.
Closed Monday including Bank Holidays.

Admission Prices:
Free

Group Admission Prices
Groups that are charged €2 per person for a tour are: Language Schools, Retirement Groups, Interest Groups, Tour Operator Groups.
Groups that are free are: all primary, secondary, and third level colleges, national and international, special needs groups, community groups, diplomats/delegates, tourism delegates.

Facilities:
Museum café, museum gift shop, free car parking, education resource room, fully wheelchair accessible.

How to Get There:
Buses: 90 (Aston Quay); 25, 25A, 66, 67 (Middle Abbey Street).
LUAS Red line to Museum stop.

The National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History is included on The Dublin Pass! Find out more about the current special offers here!