Special-Interest Museums in Ireland
From chocolate to toys: museums with unusual themes.
County Dublin (15)
National Wax Museum Plus
Jameson Distillery Bow St.
Book of Kells Experience
Explorium: National Sport and Science Centre
Freemasons’ Hall Museum
Garda Museum
Illusion Museum Dublin
International Centre for the Image
Irish Rock 'N' Roll Museum Experience
Irish Whiskey Museum
Marsh's Library
The Museum of Curiosities
World of Illusion
GAA Museum
Photo Museum Ireland
County Cork (3)
County Kildare (2)
County Tipperary (2)
County Carlow (1)
County Kerry (1)
County Laois (1)
County Limerick (1)
County Mayo (1)
County Roscommon (1)
County Sligo (1)
County Waterford (1)
Special-Interest Museums in Ireland: Overview & Tips
Our guide lists 30 special-interest museums in Ireland, spread across 12 counties and 16 towns and cities. Most of them are in County Dublin (15), County Cork (3), and County Kildare (2).
At the city level, Dublin (15), Attanagh (1), and Castlerea (1) lead the way – ideal if you want to see several special-interest museums in a single day.
5 museums are free to visit. For the others with a published price, a regular adult ticket costs €11 at the median, and the middle half charge between €8 and €19.
11 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, 13 offer dedicated programs for families, and 7 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 special-interest museums in Ireland
The best-known special-interest museums in Ireland
National Wax Museum PlusSpecial · Dublin
The Butter MuseumSpecial · Cork
Castlerea Railway MuseumTechnology · Castlerea
Jameson Distillery Bow St.Special · Dublin- Quiet Man MuseumSpecial · Cong
- Book of Kells ExperienceHistory · Dublin
- Coleman Irish Music CentreSpecial · Gurteen
- Explorium: National Sport and Science CentreTechnology · Dublin
- Fethard Horse Country ExperienceRegional · Fethard
- Freemasons’ Hall MuseumSpecial · Dublin
Special-interest museums in Ireland with free admission
Special-interest museums in Ireland with programs for families
- National Wax Museum PlusSpecial · Dublin
- The Butter MuseumSpecial · Cork
- Castlerea Railway MuseumTechnology · Castlerea
- Coleman Irish Music CentreSpecial · Gurteen
- Explorium: National Sport and Science CentreTechnology · Dublin
- Fethard Horse Country ExperienceRegional · Fethard
- Huntington Castle and GardensCastles & Palaces · Clonegal
- Illusion Museum DublinSpecial · Dublin
- Irish National Stud & GardensSpecial · Kildare
- Marsh's LibraryHistory · Dublin
Wheelchair-accessible special-interest museums in Ireland
- The Butter MuseumSpecial · Cork
- Quiet Man MuseumSpecial · Cong
- Book of Kells ExperienceHistory · Dublin
- Explorium: National Sport and Science CentreTechnology · Dublin
- Fethard Horse Country ExperienceRegional · Fethard
- International Centre for the ImageArt · Dublin
- Irish Whiskey MuseumHistory · Dublin
- Museum of Style IconsSpecial · Newbridge
- World of IllusionSpecial · Dublin
GAA MuseumSpecial · Dublin
By county
Cities with the most museums
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How many special-interest museums are there in Ireland?
Our directory currently lists 30 special-interest museums in Ireland across 16 towns and cities.
What are the best-known special-interest museums in Ireland?
Some of the best known are National Wax Museum Plus, The Butter Museum, Castlerea Railway Museum, Jameson Distillery Bow St., and Quiet Man Museum.
Which special-interest museums in Ireland offer free admission?
5 museums are free to visit – for example Freemasons’ Hall Museum, Garda Museum, International Centre for the Image, and Museum of Style Icons.
Which special-interest museums in Ireland are open on Mondays?
Many museums are closed on Mondays, but according to their regular hours 13 are open, such as National Wax Museum Plus, Jameson Distillery Bow St., and Book of Kells Experience.
Which special-interest museums in Ireland are wheelchair accessible?
11 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, including The Butter Museum, Quiet Man Museum, and Book of Kells Experience. Others are partially accessible – you’ll find the details on each museum’s page.
How much does it cost to visit special-interest museums in Ireland?
A regular adult ticket costs €11 at the median, with prices ranging from €5 to €26. Children, students and families usually pay less.
Other categories: Art & Design · History & Cultural History · Natural History · Science & Technology · Archaeology & Antiquity · Memorials · Castles, Palaces & Monasteries · Open-Air Museums · City & Regional Museums · World Cultures & Ethnology · People & Literature