National Gallery of Ireland
Quick answer
National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin, Ireland — the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin was founded in 1854 and houses Ireland's national collection of Western European and Irish art from the 14th century to the 20th century. Open Monday–Saturday: 9:15 AM – 5:30 PM; Thursday until 8:30 PM; Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM. Admission: free admission to permanent collection; special exhibitions may require a ticket. Allow 2–3 hours.
Visitor information last reviewed 30 June 2026. Check the official museum site for current details.
National Gallery of Ireland at a glance: hours, tickets and time needed
| Opening hours | Monday–Saturday: 9:15 AM – 5:30 PM; Thursday until 8:30 PM; Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM |
|---|---|
| Admission | Free admission to permanent collection; special exhibitions may require a ticket |
| Booking | Tickets usually available on the day |
| Time needed | 2–3 hours |
| Best time to visit | Thursday evening until 8:30 PM for the quietest Caravaggio viewing. |
| Getting there | Luas: Green Line to Dawson — 5-minute walk via Merrion Square |
| Address | Merrion Square West, Dublin 2, D02 K303, Ireland |
| Official website | nationalgallery.ie |
Checked 2026-06-30 against the official website. Prices and hours change — confirm before you travel.
What is National Gallery of Ireland known for?
The National Gallery of Ireland on Merrion Square West was founded in 1854 and houses Ireland's national collection of Western European and Irish art from the 14th century to the 20th century. Admission to the permanent collection is entirely free.
The gallery's most celebrated work is Caravaggio's The Taking of Christ (1602) — identified in a Dublin Jesuit dining room in 1990 after centuries of misattribution. It hangs in a dedicated room and is one of the most visited works in the building.
The Irish collection includes the world's largest holdings of Jack B. Yeats — brother of the poet W.B. Yeats — whose expressive late paintings are among the most important works in 20th-century Irish art. Vermeer, Velázquez, and Poussin anchor the European galleries.
The Millennium Wing, opened in 2002, added modern gallery space. Thursday late opening until 8:30 PM is ideal for a quiet evening visit.
Best for: Art Lovers · First-timers · Rainy-day visits
How long do you need at National Gallery of Ireland?
Allow 2–3 hours. A focused route through 4 must-see highlights at National Gallery of Ireland without museum fatigue. Follow the stops in order:
- 1
The Taking of Christ
📍 Room 48, Millennium Wing
Caravaggio's nocturnal scene of Judas betraying Christ with a kiss — rediscovered in Dublin in 1990 after hanging misattributed in a Jesuit house for decades.
- 2
The Liffey Swim
📍 Irish art galleries
Yeats's expressionist view of spectators at a Dublin swimming race — bold colour and loose brushwork marking his late style.
- 3
Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid
📍 European Old Masters
A Vermeer interior of mistress and maid — part of the gallery's small but exceptional Dutch Golden Age holding.
- 4
The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife
📍 Main hall staircase
Maclise's vast historical canvas depicting the 12th-century Norman invasion of Ireland — a monumental Victorian history painting dominating the gallery's central stair.
What are the must-see works at National Gallery of Ireland?
4 highlights that define the collection: The Taking of Christ, The Liffey Swim, Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid and more.
The Taking of Christ
Caravaggio · 1602
📍 Room 48, Millennium Wing
Caravaggio's nocturnal scene of Judas betraying Christ with a kiss — rediscovered in Dublin in 1990 after hanging misattributed in a Jesuit house for decades. On indefinite loan from the Jesuit community.
The Liffey Swim
Jack B. Yeats · 1923
📍 Irish art galleries
Yeats's expressionist view of spectators at a Dublin swimming race — bold colour and loose brushwork marking his late style. The gallery holds the world's largest Yeats collection.
Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid
Johannes Vermeer · c. 1670
📍 European Old Masters
A Vermeer interior of mistress and maid — part of the gallery's small but exceptional Dutch Golden Age holding.
The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife
Daniel Maclise · 1854
📍 Main hall staircase
Maclise's vast historical canvas depicting the 12th-century Norman invasion of Ireland — a monumental Victorian history painting dominating the gallery's central stair.
Collections and highlights
- • Caravaggio — The Taking of Christ
- • Jack B. Yeats — world's largest collection
- • Vermeer, Velázquez, Poussin, and Dutch Golden Age
- • Irish art from the 17th century to the present
- • Italian Renaissance and Baroque painting
- • Watercolours and drawings including Michelangelo studies
- • Free admission, open seven days a week
Tips for visiting National Gallery of Ireland
- 1.
Best time to visit
Thursday evening until 8:30 PM for the quietest Caravaggio viewing. Weekday mornings before 11 AM otherwise.
- 2.
Crowds & busy periods
The Caravaggio room is the busiest space. Free admission means steady flow — special exhibitions are ticketed separately.
- 3.
Tickets & booking
Free permanent collection. Special exhibitions at nationalgallery.ie. No booking needed for permanent galleries.
- 4.
Food & cafés nearby
Gallery café; Merrion Square and Baggot Street restaurants; Bewley's on Grafton Street 10 minutes away.
- 5.
Accessibility
Millennium Wing fully accessible. Older Dargan and Milltown wings have improved access — check current routes.
How do you get to National Gallery of Ireland?
- Luas Green Line to Dawson — 5-minute walk via Merrion Square
- bus Multiple Dublin Bus routes along Merrion Square and Nassau Street
- walk 10 minutes from Trinity College; adjacent to Natural History Museum and Leinster House
Address: Merrion Square West, Dublin 2, D02 K303, Ireland
National Gallery of Ireland: frequently asked questions
How was the Caravaggio rediscovered?
The Taking of Christ (1602) hung for decades as a 'copy after Honthorst' in the dining room of the Leeson Street Jesuit community in Dublin. In 1990, art historian Sergio Benedetti identified it as the lost original Caravaggio — recognised through X-ray analysis, technical examination, and comparison with a 17th-century Roman inventory. It was subsequently loaned to the National Gallery, where it has been since 1993.
What is special about Jack B. Yeats?
Jack B. Yeats (1871–1957) is widely considered Ireland's greatest painter. His later works use bold, impasto brushwork and luminous colour to evoke landscapes, horses, circus scenes, and the Irish west. The National Gallery holds the largest collection of his work.
How long should I spend at National Gallery of Ireland?
Plan 2–3 hours for the highlights of National Gallery of Ireland. Our 4-stop route — The Taking of Christ, The Liffey Swim, Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid and more — is designed to fit that time. Add extra time for temporary exhibitions, the shop and the café.
What is National Gallery of Ireland best known for?
The National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin was founded in 1854 and houses Ireland's national collection of Western European and Irish art from the 14th century to the 20th century. Admission is entirely free. The permanent collection of approximately 16,500 works spans Italian Renaissance, Dutch and Flemish Golden Age, Spanish Baroque, French Impressionism, and an unparalleled survey of Irish art. Key highlights include Caravaggio's The Taking of Christ — rediscovered in a Dublin dining room in 1990, Jack B. Yeats — the world's largest collection of this major Irish modernist, Vermeer, Velázquez, Poussin, and Dutch Golden Age masters.
How do I get tickets for National Gallery of Ireland?
Free admission to permanent collection; special exhibitions may require a ticket. You can walk in without a ticket; paid exhibitions are booked separately. Official site: https://www.nationalgallery.ie/
Where is the Yeats collection?
Jack B. Yeats paintings are displayed in the dedicated Irish art galleries — the world's largest collection of his work, spanning his early illustrative style to the bold late paintings.
Is the Natural History Museum next door?
Yes — the Natural History Museum (the "Dead Zoo") is adjacent on Merrion Street. Both are free. Combine on a rainy Dublin afternoon.
What are National Gallery of Ireland's opening hours?
National Gallery of Ireland is open Monday–Saturday: 9:15 AM – 5:30 PM; Thursday until 8:30 PM; Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM. Hours can change for holidays and events, so check the official website before you go.
Is National Gallery of Ireland free to visit?
Yes — free admission to permanent collection; special exhibitions may require a ticket.
