National Gallery of Ireland

Ireland's National Gallery on Merrion Square holds around 15,000 works spanning the medieval period to the modern era – Caravaggio, Vermeer and Rembrandt, Goya, Monet and Picasso. It's also home to what is probably the country's most comprehensive collection of Irish art. Admission to the permanent collection is free, and whether you have a spare hour or a whole afternoon, a visit is almost always worthwhile.

What to expect

The collection is arranged by theme and school, and a free floor plan at the entrance helps with orientation. If you're short on time, head straight for the highlights:

• "The Taking of Christ" (1602) by Caravaggio is the gallery's most famous work. It was considered lost for centuries, until gallery restorer Sergio Benedetti recognised it in a Jesuit house on Leeson Street in 1990. The painting doesn't belong to the gallery itself – it hangs here on long-term loan from the Jesuit community, a gift from Dr Marie Lea-Wilson dating from 1992.
• The Dutch and Spanish masters include Vermeer, Rembrandt and Goya, among others.
• Jack B. Yeats (1871–1957), Ireland's foremost painter of the early 20th century, has a room of his own.
• The modern Millennium Wing shows 20th-century Irish art and has its own entrance on Clare Street.

Allow around an hour for a quick look at the main works; a thorough visit through all the wings is realistically three hours or more.

History and building

The National Gallery of Ireland was founded in 1854 and opened in 1864. It occupies a Renaissance-style building on the west side of Merrion Square, facing the Georgian townhouses and next to the park. Over the decades the historic wing has been extended and renovated several times; the Millennium Wing was added around the turn of the millennium and brought a second, step-free entrance on Clare Street. The café and museum shop are also located here.

Tours and programme

The gallery runs an ongoing programme of free guided tours – from highlights tours to family and sketching sessions, mindfulness sessions, tours in Irish (Gaeilge) and in Irish Sign Language. Current dates are listed in the "What's On" calendar on the website; public tours generally don't require booking. Private, booked tours last around 50 minutes. For a good overview of the city's museum and art scene, see the guide to Museums in Dublin.

Getting there

The gallery sits centrally on the west side of Merrion Square, a few minutes from Trinity College. Both entrances – Merrion Square West and Clare Street – are equally convenient.

• DART: Pearse station is around a 5-minute walk away.
• Luas: Green Line, Dawson Street stop around 6 minutes; Red Line, Abbey Street around 20 minutes.
• Bus: routes 4, 7 and 8 stop at Merrion Square North and Clare Street respectively, and the 39a at Merrion Row. See the Public Transport guide for more.
• Dublinbikes: docking stations on Clare Street and at Merrion Square West.
• Parking: the gallery has no dedicated car park, only paid on-street spaces around Merrion Square. Four accessible parking spaces are right at the Merrion Square entrance.

Visiting and practical tips

It's quietest on weekday mornings, when Tuesday to Friday opens as early as 09:15, and on Thursday evenings until 20:30. It gets busiest at weekends and during the summer holidays. Note that Monday opening only starts at 11:00 – the old rule of thumb of "Mon–Sat from 09:15" no longer applies.

• Admission: the permanent collection is free; individual temporary exhibitions may carry a charge. No officially recommended donation amount is stated.
• Café: the Gallery Café is on Level 0 of the Millennium Wing, most easily reached via the Clare Street entrance. It opens 11:00–17:00 on Mondays, from 09:30 Tuesday to Saturday (until 20:00 on Thursdays, otherwise 17:00), and 11:00–17:00 on Sundays.
• Accessibility: the building is fully accessible. All galleries are wheelchair- and pushchair-accessible, with wheelchairs available to borrow, accessible toilets including a Changing Places room, hearing loops, large-print labels, and AsIAm certification as an autism-friendly space. Assistance dogs are welcome.

Since admission is free, the gallery makes a good stop between other sights in the south city centre – such as Trinity College or a walk around Merrion Square. Nearby Dublin Castle also pairs well with a visit; for an overview of all the city's museums, see the guide to Museums in Dublin.