On Haddington Road in Dublin 4, the National Print Museum traces Ireland’s printing history through historic presses, typesetting tools and printed materials. Its galleries follow the stages of a traditional print shop, from setting type to printing and finishing. Some machines still work, and demonstrations and hands-on activities show how printed pages were made before digital tools. You can also see an original 1916 Proclamation and make a print of your own. The museum is in a former chapel at Beggars Bush Barracks, with a café for a break after exploring.
A print shop inside a former chapel
The National Print Museum is housed in the former Garrison Chapel at Beggars Bush Barracks, on Haddington Road in Dublin 4. Its setting connects the museum to the barracks’ history, while the displays focus on the craft and influence of printing in Ireland.
The permanent exhibition is arranged like a traditional print shop. Its Composing, Printing and Finishing areas take you through the successive stages of producing printed material, from arranging type to completing the finished work. This layout gives the machines and tools a clear context: each belongs to a part of the process.
Presses, type and the 1916 Proclamation
The collection includes historic presses, typesetting equipment, printing blocks, pamphlets, books and photographs. Some of the machinery is operational, so demonstrations can show how the equipment worked rather than leaving it as an object behind glass. Thursday demonstrations cover the printing process using old machines.
One notable item is an original 1916 Proclamation of the Republic. The museum also has a Wharfedale press associated with the secret printing of the revolutionary declaration before the Easter Rising. The exhibits trace changes in printing from Gutenberg’s innovations to the arrival of computers and laptops, while showing the manual skill involved in earlier methods.
The collection also includes a replica of a Gutenberg press used in the television series The Tudors. Displays and temporary exhibitions connect printmaking with historical movements and events, including the suffrage movement and the struggle for Irish independence.
Tours and hands-on activities
Guided tours explain the machinery and the stages of printing, and the museum runs workshops and educational activities for young people. The tour format can help make technical processes easier to follow, particularly for children. Ask the museum about current tours and workshops when planning your visit.
Hands-on activities give you a chance to handle tools, set type by hand and print a small piece to take away. Families can also use the education area, which includes activities such as ink stamping, stencilling, drawing, alphabet games and a junior library. These self-guided options let children engage with printmaking at their own pace.
Entry to the museum is free. Guided tours may have a separate charge, so check the museum’s website for current details before setting out. A café at the back provides a place to sit after the galleries.
Perguntas frequentes
Is entry to the National Print Museum free?
Yes, entry is free. Guided tours may have a separate charge, so check the museum’s website for current details.
What can you see at the National Print Museum?
The collection includes historic printing presses, typesetting equipment, printed materials and an original 1916 Proclamation of the Republic.
Can you make a print at the museum?
Yes. Hands-on activities include setting type and printing your own piece, and there are family activities such as ink stamping and stencilling.
When can you see a printing demonstration?
Live demonstrations of the printing process on old machines are held on Thursdays.
