The national museum in Dublin is packed with antique glass cabinets, which contain artificial animals from all around the world. It also exhibits Irish wildlife. Three huge skeletons are also kept inside, which represent the extinct giant deer, which is known as ‘Irish elk’. There are other shelves that are stocked with all other forms of creatures such as worms, leeches and octopuses that are preserved in an embalming fluid. The gallery houses are also stuffed with models of marine life with a display of Deer and Buffalo trophies. This museum is located in Collins Barracks, which is easily accessible through Luas, a highly dependable means of transport for reaching there. The museum will take you on a journey of decorative arts, archaeology and natural history.
There is also a Dublin Civic Museum, which holds items from 21st century such as old newspaper cuttings, photographs, paintings and a wide collection of historical objects. There is also National Gallery, which was opened in 1864, exhibiting a wide range of Irish arts and portraits, representing every painting school in Europe. Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery of Modern Art is a fine building of the 18th century that is also known as Charlemont House. It is located next to the Dublin Writers Museum, opposite the Garden of Remembrance. As it name suggests, it is named after Hug Lane who was an art connoisseur and was killed when Lusitania sunk. He willed his some of his work to the National Gallery of London and some to the Irish government. In addition to Lane’s collection, this gallery also displays paintings of the most traditional artists and impressionists, stained glass, sculptures by Rodin and works of modern artists.
There is a famous Chester Beatty Library and Gallery of Oriental Art, which is located in Ballsbridge. It was willed to the Irish nation in 1956, thus, created a history in the books of Dublin. This library is a collection of books containing around 21,000 books, manuscripts, paintings and objects from Middle Eastern, Western and Far Eastern cultures. Each place in Dublin has something hidden behind its walls with each corner telling you the history of this beautiful city.
Have you been to any museums in Dublin? Feel free to share your tips and recommendations.
Photo Credits (Flickr Creative Commons): national Museum by dusi_bbg/ Collin Barracks by Brood_wich/ Dublin Writers Museum by bonnieann1815
