On Merrion Square West in Dublin, the National Gallery of Ireland holds the country’s collection of Irish and European art. Its galleries span centuries, with paintings by Caravaggio, Vermeer, Monet and Picasso alongside Irish artists such as Jack B. Yeats. Look for Yeats’s The Liffey Swim and Caravaggio’s The Taking of Christ; the light-sensitive watercolour The Meeting on the Turret Stairs is displayed at set times each week. Admission to the permanent collection is free, and the gallery also has temporary exhibitions, a café and a gift shop.
Irish art and European masters
The National Gallery of Ireland is on Merrion Square West, with another entrance on Clare Street. Its collection brings Irish art together with European painting from the Middle Ages onward. The holdings include paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture, and works by Caravaggio, Vermeer, Monet, Rembrandt, Picasso and Van Gogh sit alongside Irish artists.
Give time to the Irish collection as well as the internationally known names. Jack B. Yeats has a dedicated room, including The Liffey Swim, which depicts spectators watching swimmers race on Dublin’s river. Other Irish artists represented include Paul Henry, James Barry, William Orpen and John Lavery. The National Portrait Collection adds portraits of Irish figures, and the gallery also holds stained glass by Harry Clarke.
Paintings to look for
Caravaggio’s The Taking of Christ is one of the gallery’s noted works. Its collection also includes landscape paintings, portraits and works from different European schools, so the visit moves between Irish subjects and art from further afield. The rooms display paintings as well as other forms, including prints, drawings and sculpture.
One watercolour has a particularly restricted display schedule. Frederic William Burton’s The Meeting on the Turret Stairs is sensitive to light and is shown only for short periods: Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Sundays from 2 to 3 p.m. Check the gallery’s current information before arranging your visit around it.
A gallery that has grown over time
The gallery opened to the public in 1864. Its collection expanded, and the building gained additional wings in 1903, 1968 and 2002. The rooms range from older interiors with decorative plasterwork to a modern, light-filled entrance. Several connected buildings make up the gallery, so it can take a little time to find your way between rooms.
The collection includes a notable group of Turner watercolours. They are shown each January, following a condition attached to their donation by Henry Vaughan. The gallery also presents temporary exhibitions and events; some exhibitions may have an admission charge even though the permanent collection is free.
Tours and practical details
Free guided tours are available at weekends, giving you a way to learn more about selected works. Audio guides provide another option, particularly for exhibitions with more complex themes. The gallery has a café and gift shop, along with a free cloakroom and lockers. Its entrances are on Merrion Square West and Clare Street, both in Dublin 2.
For a quieter walk through the rooms, plan to arrive early or visit on a weekday. If a particular painting or temporary exhibition is central to your plans, check the gallery website before setting out; display arrangements and exhibition charges can differ.
Häufige Fragen
Is the National Gallery of Ireland free to visit?
Admission to the permanent collection is free. Some special exhibitions may charge an admission fee.
When can I see The Meeting on the Turret Stairs?
It is displayed Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Sundays from 2 to 3 p.m. Check current details before visiting.
What are some highlights of the collection?
Look for Caravaggio’s The Taking of Christ, Jack B. Yeats’s The Liffey Swim, and works by Vermeer, Monet and Picasso.
Are guided tours available?
Free guided tours are available at weekends. Audio guides are another option for learning about the artworks.
