Art & Design Museums in Ireland
Painting galleries, sculpture collections, design and contemporary art – from the Old Masters to the present day.
County Dublin (15)
National Gallery of Ireland
Chester Beatty
Irish Museum of Modern Art
Hugh Lane Gallery
Royal Hibernian Academy
Little Museum of Dublin
National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History
Douglas Hyde Gallery
Book of Kells Experience
Christ Church Cathedral
Farmleigh House and Estate
International Centre for the Image
Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again
Temple Bar Gallery + Studios
Photo Museum Ireland
County Cork (4)
County Waterford (4)
County Kilkenny (2)
County Limerick (2)
County Sligo (2)
County Wexford (2)
County Donegal (1)
County Kildare (1)
County Louth (1)
County Monaghan (1)
County Wicklow (1)
Art & Design Museums in Ireland: Overview & Tips
Our guide lists 36 art and design museums in Ireland, spread across 12 counties and 17 towns and cities. Most of them are in County Dublin (15), County Cork (4), and County Waterford (4).
At the city level, Dublin (15), Waterford (3), and Cork (2) lead the way – ideal if you want to see several art and design museums in a single day.
19 museums are free to visit. For the others with a published price, a regular adult ticket costs €12 at the median, and the middle half charge between €6 and €16.
20 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, 16 offer dedicated programs for families, and 20 have a café or restaurant. These figures come from our ongoing research – museums whose details we haven’t verified yet aren’t included in the counts.
Top 10 art and design museums in Ireland
The best-known art and design museums in Ireland
National Gallery of IrelandArt · Dublin
Chester BeattyArt · Dublin
Irish Museum of Modern ArtArt · Dublin
Hugh Lane GalleryArt · Dublin
Lismore Castle ArtsArt · Lismore
Russborough HouseCastles & Palaces · Blessington
Hunt MuseumArt · Limerick
Royal Hibernian AcademyArt · Dublin
Limerick City Gallery of ArtArt · Limerick
Crawford Art GalleryArt · Cork
Art and design museums in Ireland with free admission
- National Gallery of IrelandArt · Dublin
- Chester BeattyArt · Dublin
- Irish Museum of Modern ArtArt · Dublin
- Royal Hibernian AcademyArt · Dublin
- Limerick City Gallery of ArtArt · Limerick
- Crawford Art GalleryArt · Cork
National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & HistoryHistory · Dublin
The GlucksmanArt · Cork
Douglas Hyde GalleryArt · Dublin- The ModelArt · Sligo
Art and design museums in Ireland with programs for families
- National Gallery of IrelandArt · Dublin
- Irish Museum of Modern ArtArt · Dublin
- Hugh Lane GalleryArt · Dublin
- Lismore Castle ArtsArt · Lismore
- Russborough HouseCastles & Palaces · Blessington
- Hunt MuseumArt · Limerick
- Royal Hibernian AcademyArt · Dublin
- Limerick City Gallery of ArtArt · Limerick
Little Museum of DublinHistory · Dublin- National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & HistoryHistory · Dublin
Wheelchair-accessible art and design museums in Ireland
- National Gallery of IrelandArt · Dublin
- Chester BeattyArt · Dublin
- Irish Museum of Modern ArtArt · Dublin
- Hugh Lane GalleryArt · Dublin
- Royal Hibernian AcademyArt · Dublin
- Little Museum of DublinHistory · Dublin
- National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & HistoryHistory · Dublin
- The GlucksmanArt · Cork
- Bishop's PalaceHistory · Waterford
- Book of Kells ExperienceHistory · Dublin
By county
Cities with the most museums
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How many art and design museums are there in Ireland?
Our directory currently lists 36 art and design museums in Ireland across 17 towns and cities.
What are the best-known art and design museums in Ireland?
Some of the best known are National Gallery of Ireland, Chester Beatty, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Hugh Lane Gallery, and Lismore Castle Arts.
Which art and design museums in Ireland offer free admission?
19 museums are free to visit – for example National Gallery of Ireland, Chester Beatty, Irish Museum of Modern Art, and Royal Hibernian Academy.
Which art and design museums in Ireland are open on Mondays?
Many museums are closed on Mondays, but according to their regular hours 17 are open, such as National Gallery of Ireland, Lismore Castle Arts, and Russborough House.
Which art and design museums in Ireland are wheelchair accessible?
20 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, including National Gallery of Ireland, Chester Beatty, and Irish Museum of Modern Art. Others are partially accessible – you’ll find the details on each museum’s page.
How much does it cost to visit art and design museums in Ireland?
A regular adult ticket costs €12 at the median, with prices ranging from €5 to €19. Children, students and families usually pay less.
Other categories: History & Cultural History · Natural History · Science & Technology · Archaeology & Antiquity · Memorials · Castles, Palaces & Monasteries · Open-Air Museums · City & Regional Museums · World Cultures & Ethnology · People & Literature · Special-Interest Museums