National Gallery of Ireland
Dublin · Ireland · Founded 1854
Good for: Art Lovers · First-timers · Rainy-day visits
1854
Founded
16,500
Works in Collection
2–3 hours
Recommended Visit
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. World Museum Guide covers the highlights, getting there, and how long to allow (2–3 hours).
Verified 2026-06-30 against official sources.
About National Gallery of Ireland
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.
2–3 hours highlights route
A focused route through 4 must-see highlights at National Gallery of Ireland without museum fatigue. · 2–3 hours
- 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.
Masterworks & must-see highlights
The works that define National Gallery of Ireland — and why they matter.
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 & 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
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. Add time for temporary exhibitions, the museum shop, and 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 Tickets are usually available on the day, but booking online saves queue time in peak season. 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.
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