If you enjoy learning about the history, culture and arts of a country, a visit to the museum is a must. In Ireland, the museums are the attraction in itself and you will discover more with each museum you visit.
When in Ireland, it is hard to deny the rich culture and history embedded in its day to day life. With ruins, castles and other sacred sites at every corner, it is easy to appreciate the stories they had to tell. But if you want to immerse into the experience of learning about what had transpired in the land during the earlier times, you should book a visit to any one of several museums in Ireland. It is both a fun and educational experience for anyone who decides to visit.
If you cannot visit every single museum in Ireland, you can take your picks from the most notable museums for their size and for the amount of artifacts they hold.
National Museum of Ireland
If you can only visit one museum in Ireland, make it the National Museum of Ireland. The building in itself is an architectural landmark in Ireland. The building is made up of a domed rotunda, marble columns and mosaic tiled floor. The building instantly reminds you of the Pantheon in Rome. The government purposely built this landmark to house all of the archaeological finds in Ireland. The museum first opened to the public in 1890 wherein it contains objects dating back to 7,000 years ago! You can also find international archaeological objects from Egypt, Rome and Cyprus.
Titanic Belfast Museum
This is the next most popular museum in Ireland. The museum is located in Belfast in Northern Ireland. The Titanic Belfast Museum opened in 2012 during the 100th anniversary of the famous Titanic’s maiden voyage. The building is another display of architectural prowess; the building is designed to look like the hull from the ship. The building is six-storeys high with a tiered exhibition space and a massive atrium at the center. When you explore the inside of the museum, you will also enjoy a spectacular view of the nearby Lagan River.
National History Museum Dublin
This is the oldest museum in Ireland, which opened during 1857. It is known among the locals as the Dead Zoo. When you explore the inside of the museum, you will be treated to that classic museum experience. The artifacts are stored in cabinet-style storage for visitors to view. There are currently over 10,000 items on display at the museum so you will never run out of things to explore. Recently, there have been numerous workshops, tours and educational events held in the museum to encourage more visitors.
The Writer’s Museum
Ireland is known for many things but they are also well known for their poets and writers. Every literary students or enthusiast should not miss a visit to the Writer’s Museum in Dublin. The museum is located within a tall and elegant Georgian townhouse within Parnell Square. In this museum, you will discover more about the life and works of famous Irish writers like James Joyce, Yeats, Wilde, and Beckett, to name a few.
The list goes on when it comes to top museums worth exploring in Ireland. To add more to your options, you can also check out the Museum of Decorative Arts in Dublin, Museum of Style Icons in County Kildare, The Hunt Museum in Limerick and Glasnevin Cemetery Museum in Dublin.