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at the heart of it

A Guide to Ireland’s National Institutions

Welcome to a comprehensive listing of Ireland’s National

Cultural Institutions, with invaluable information on where

to find, see and soak-up our cultural heritage. Use the map

enclosed to devise your own cultural experience of Ireland.

www.cnci.ie

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Abbey Theatre

The Abbey Theatre was founded by W.B. Yeats andLady Gregory in 1903. It has contributed some ofthe world’s greatest theatrical works from writerssuch as J M Synge and Sean O’Casey through tocontemporary classics from Brian Friel, Tom Murphy,Frank McGuinness, Mark O’Rowe, Tom Mac Intyreand Sebastian Barry. The Abbey Theatre along withthe its more intimate studio theatre, the Peacock,continues to nurture new writing as well as presentingthe best of Irish and international drama. An icon ofworld theatre, the Abbey welcomes many overseasvisitors every year.

Abbey Theatre | 26 Lower Abbey Street | Dublin 1 | IrelandBox Office: +353 1 878 7222 Administration: +353 1 887 2200 Fax: +353 1 872 9177Email: [email protected] Website: www.abbeytheatre.ie

General Information

FacilitiesTwo theatres. A programme oflectures, discussions, workshopsand outreach activities. Bar openfrom 7pm nightly.

Opening HoursBox Office Monday to Saturday10.30am – 7pm

Performance TimesAbbey: Monday – Saturday8pm, Saturday Matinee 2.30pm.Peacock: Monday – Saturday8.15pm, Saturday Matinee 2.45pm.

AdmissionAbbey: tickets from €15Peacock: tickets from €14

Guided ToursThursday 11am [subject totheatre schedule]. Contact theOutreach/Education Dept.tel: +353 1 887 2200

Access for Less AbledSign language interpretedperformances. Wheelchairaccessible in the Abbey. Guidedogs permitted. Headsets andinfrared loop system available[please request when booking].

How to get HereBus: all routes to city centre.Dart: Tara St & Connolly Stations.Luas: Red line to Abbey Street.

Image: Marion O’Dwyer in TheSchool for Scandal by RichardBrinsley Sheridan, Abbey Theatre2006. Photographer Ros Kavanagh.

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Chester Beatty Library

Situated in the heart of the city centre, the ChesterBeatty Library is an art museum and library whichhouses the great collection of manuscripts, miniaturepaintings, prints, drawings, rare books and somedecorative arts assembled by Sir Alfred Chester Beatty[1875-1968]. The Library’s exhibitions open a windowon the artistic treasures of the great cultures andreligions of the world. Its rich collection from countriesacross Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Europeoffers visitors a visual feast. The Library was namedIrish Museum of the Year in 2000 and was awardedthe title European Museum of the Year in 2002.

Chester Beatty Library | Dublin Castle | Dublin 2 | IrelandTelephone: +353 1 407 0750 Fax: +353 1 407 0760 Email: [email protected] Website: www.cbl.ie

General Information

FacilitiesSilk Road Café, Gift and BookShop, audio-visual presentations,roof garden, baby-changing,reference library [admission byappointment]. The Library alsomounts special temporaryexhibitions and runs an event-filled public programme whichincludes lectures, workshopsand family events.

Opening HoursTuesday to Friday 10am – 5pm.Open Mondays from May to September. Saturday 11am – 5pm.Sunday 1 – 5pm. Closed PublicHoliday Mondays, Good Friday, 24th – 26th December, 1st January

Admission Free

Guided ToursFree public tours are availableon Wednesday at 1pm and onSunday at 3pm and 4pm. Toursoutside these hours may bebooked on tel: +353 1 407 0775email: [email protected]

Access for Less AbledFully wheelchair accessible;general information leafletavailable in Braille.

How to get HereBus: all routes to city centre.Dart: Tara Street. Luas: Green line to St. StephensGreen.

Image: The Festival of the CockProcession across the Asakusa RiceFields from: One Hundred FamousViews of Edo, Designed by AndoHiroshige 1857, Japan.

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Irish Museum of Modern Art

The Irish Museum of Modern Art is Ireland’sleading national institution for the presentationand collection of modern and contemporary art.IMMA presents a wide variety of art in a dynamicprogramme of exhibitions, which regularly includesbodies of work from its own Collection and its award-winning Education and Community programme. Italso creates more widespread access to art andartists through its Artist’s Studios and NationalProgramme. IMMA is housed in the magnificent17th-century Royal Hospital building, whosegrounds include a formal garden, meadow andmedieval burial grounds.

General Information

FacilitiesCafé, bookshop, locker room, baby changing, reading room and response room. Also runs aprogramme of talks, lectures andfamily activities.

Opening HoursTuesday to Saturday 10am – 5.30pm.Wednesday 10.30am – 5.30pm.Sunday and Bank Holidays12noon – 5.30pm. ClosedMondays, Good Friday and 24 – 26 December.

Admission Free

Guided ToursGuided tours on Wednesday,Friday and Sunday at 2.30pm. To pre-book tours, availableTuesday – Friday, please tel: +353 1 612 9967 or email: [email protected] least three weeks in advance.Guided heritage tours of thehistoric North Range are availableduring the summer months.

Access for Less AbledWheelchair accessible. Wheelchair available on request.

How to get HereBus: Buses to Heuston Station 26,51, 79, 90, 91 & 92. Train: Heuston Station.Luas: Red line to Heuston Station.

Image: Alice Maher, Berry Dress, 1994,Rosehips, cotton, paint, sewing pins, 16x 26 x 30 cm, Collection Irish Museum ofModern Art, Purchased, 1995

Irish Museum of Modern Art [IMMA] | Royal Hospital | Military Road | KilmainhamDublin 8 | Ireland Telephone: +353 1 612 9900 Fax: +353 1 612 9999 Email: [email protected] Website: www.imma.ie

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General Information

Facilitiesthe National Archives providesa genealogical advisory serviceto personal callers to theArchives. The service, which isfree of charge, is provided byprofessional genealogists whocan advise and assist in thefirst steps towards researchingfamily history.

Admission Free

Opening HoursMonday to Friday 10am – 5pm.With the exception of publicholidays. Archives are producedfor inspection in the readingroom from 10am – 4.30pm.

Access for Less Abledmost visitors can beaccommodated. Lift to the5th floor reading room.

How to get HereBus: 16, 16A, 19, 19A, 83,122 to Aungier Street. Luas: Green line to St. Stephen’sGreen.

National Archives of Ireland

The National Archives is the largest and mostimportant institution in the Republic of Irelandwith responsibility for the preservation and publicavailability of archives. It has custody of archivesrelating to the administration of the state from thelate 18th-century to the late 20th-century, andmany other archives dating from the 14th-centuryto the late 20th-century.

National Archives of Ireland | Bishop Street | Dublin 8 | IrelandTelephone: +353 1 407 2300 Fax: +353 1 407 2333Email: [email protected] Website: www.nationalarchives.ie

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National Concert Hall | Earlsfort Terrace | Dublin 2 | IrelandBox Office: +353 1417 0000 Telephone: +353 1 417 0077 Fax: +353 1 417 0078 Email: [email protected] Website: www.nch.ie

National Concert Hall

The National Concert Hall is Ireland’s premierevenue for the performance of live music and one ofthe foremost concert halls in Europe. Staging over450 concerts a year, it plays host to some of theworld’s finest international orchestras and musiciansincluding violinists Joshua Bell, Maxim Vengerov,Anne Sophie Mutter, baritone Bryn Terfel, sopranoCecilia Bartoli and orchestras such as the ViennaPhilharmonic, London Philharmonic and New YorkPhilharmonic. As well as an array of Irish andinternational artists including legends, The Chieftains,Colm Wilkinson, Burt Bacharach and Tony Bennett.It is also home to the RTÉ National SymphonyOrchestra. So from classical to jazz, opera totraditional, musicals to world music there’s somethingfor everyone at the National Concert Hall.

General Information

FacilitiesTerrace Café, full bar and pre-order service for interval drinks,The Music Box shop. InternetKiosk, conference & private roomhire, interactive ticket collectionbooths and Cloak room.

Opening HoursMonday to Saturday 10am –7pm, 2 hours prior to concertson Sunday and bank holidays.

How to BookBox Office: tel +353 1 417 0000online at www.nch.ie no bookingfees or email: [email protected] Booking Discounts:tel +353 1 408 6793 Mondayto Friday 10am – 4pm or email: [email protected] Standby Scheme: tickets€5 prior a performance [StudentID required].

Access for Less AbledLimited stall seats available forwheelchair users. Induction loopsystem. Please advise the boxoffice at time of booking ofspecial needs.

How to get Hereclose to St. Stephen’s Green.Bus: all routes to city centre.Dart: Pearse Station.Luas: Green line to HarcourtStreet.

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National Gallery of Ireland | Merrion Square West and Clare Street | Dublin 2 | IrelandTelephone: +353 1 661 5133 Fax: +353 1 661 5372 Email: [email protected] Website: www.nationalgallery.ie

General Information

FacilitiesAudio Guide to permanentcollection; Lecture Theatre;Multimedia Gallery, Library and Research facilities; YeatsArchive, Centre for the Study ofIrish Art, Reference Library andPrint Room. Gallery Shop, caféand Restaurant.

Admission is free to thepermanent collection.

Opening HoursMonday to Saturday 9.30am –5.30pm. Thursday 9.30am – 8.30pm.Sunday 12noon – 5.30pm.Closed 24 – 26 December andGood Friday.

Guided ToursSaturday at 3pm. Sunday at 2pm,3pm and 4pm. Tours outsidethese hours may be bookedthrough the Education Dept.tel: +353 1 663 3510

Access for Less Abledaccess at Merrion Square andClare Street. Disabled parkingbays outside Merrion Squaregates. Lecture Theatre equippedwith loop system.

How to get HereBus: all routes to city centre. Dart: Pearse Station. Luas: Green line to St. Stephen’sGreen.

Image: Johannes Vermeer [1632 – 1675],‘Woman writing a letter with her maid’.Courtesy National Gallery of Ireland[Beit Collection].

National Gallery of Ireland

The National Gallery of Ireland was founded by anAct of Parliament in 1854 and opened to the publicin 1864. The collection, which comprises some13,000 works of art, contains the most importantand representative collection of European and Irishart with masterpieces by Fra Angelico, Caravaggio,Vermeer, Poussin, Goya, Rembrandt, Titian, Goya,Zurbáran, Poussin, Gainsborough and Reynolds.There is also a National Portrait Collection and aspecial room dedicated to the artistic works of JackB. Yeats. An audio guide to the permanent collectionis available free from the Information Desks. Specialexhibitions and education events are part of theGallery’s annual programme and are listed in the quarterly Gallery News or visit our websitewww.nationalgallery.ie

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National Library of Ireland | Kildare Street | Dublin 2 | IrelandTelephone: +353 1 603 0200 Fax: +353 1 676 6690 Email: [email protected] Website: www.nli.ie

General Information

FacilitiesReading rooms, genealogyadvisory service, lecture room,exhibitions, café and shop.

Opening HoursMonday to Wednesday 9.30am –9pm. Thursday to Friday 9.30am– 5pm. Saturday 9.30am – 1pm[Note: The Manuscript ReadingRoom and Heraldic Museum close30 minutes earlier, exhibitionsclose 15 minutes earlier].

Admission Free

Guided ToursPublic tours of the Yeatsexhibition take place at 3.30pm,Monday to Friday, and Saturdayat 11am. Special tours ofexhibitions and the Library byappointment tel: +353 1 6030277

Access for Less Abledwheelchair access to readingroom and exhibition area.

How to get HereBus: all routes to city centre.Dart: Pearse Station. Luas: Green line to St. Stephen’sGreen.

National Library of Ireland

Established in 1877, the National Library of Ireland’sholdings of books, manuscripts, prints and drawings,maps, photographs, newspapers, music, ephemera andgenealogical material comprise the most outstandingcollection of Irish documentary heritage in the world.The Library’s Genealogy Advisory Service is designedto assist all of those who wish to research their familyhistory in Ireland. The award-winning exhibition Yeats:the life and works of William Butler Yeats will rununtil the end of 2008. A new exhibition, Strangers tocitizens: the Irish in Europe 1600 - 1800 (inassociation with the Louvain 400 and Flight of theEarls commemorations) will open in 2-3 Kildare Streetin October 2007 and will run for a year. See ourwebsite www.nli.ie for other events, includingreadings, lectures and children’s activities.

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General Information

FacilitiesReading rooms, exhibitionarea and shop.

Opening HoursMonday to Friday 10am – 5pm.Saturday 10am – 2pm[exhibition area only, for theduration of an exhibition].Closed Sunday and BankHolidays.

Admission Free

Access for Less Abledwheelchair access to exhibitionarea and reading room.

How to get HereBus: all routes to city centre.Dart: Tara Street. Station, 10minute walk from Tara Street. Luas: Red line to Jervis Street. 5minute walk from Jervis Street.

National Photographic Archive | Meeting House Square | Temple Bar | Dublin 2 | IrelandTelephone: +353 1 603 0374 Fax: +353 1 677 7451Email: [email protected] Website: www.nli.ie

National Photographic Archive

The National Photographic Archive houses thephotographic collection of the National Library,comprising approximately 610,000 photographs.While most of the collections are historical thereare also some contemporary collections. Subjectmatter ranges from topographical views to studioportraits, and from political events to early touristphotographs. The Library maintains an activecollecting policy and additional material isconstantly added to the collections. An on-goingprogramme of exhibitions runs throughout the year.

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National Museum of Ireland – ArchaeologyWalk into the National Museum of Ireland on KildareStreet and you are magically transported back intime to 7000BC. The museum first opened its doorsin 1890 and since then it has been filling in theblanks for us through its extensive archaeologicalcollections. Take time at The Treasury, which featuresoutstanding examples of Celtic and Medieval art,such as the famous Ardagh Chalice, the Tara Broochand the Derrynaflan Hoard. Gaze in wonder at thefinest collection of prehistoric gold artefacts inEurope, which is to found in Ór – Ireland’s Gold.Ramble through Prehistoric Ireland and experiencelife at the time of the Vikings in Viking Age Ireland.Medieval Ireland 1150 – 1550 documents life inIreland in the age of cathedrals, monasteries andcastles. The new and fascinating Kingship andSacrifice exhibition centres on a number of recentlyfound bog bodies dating back to the Iron Age.Displayed along with other bog finds from theMuseum’s collections, it offers you an opportunity tocome ‘face to face’ with your ancient ancestors.

National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology | Kildare Street | Dublin 2 | IrelandTelephone: +353 1 677 7444 Fax: +353 1 677 7450Email: [email protected] Website: www.museum.ie

General Information

FacilitiesMuseum café, gift shop,Education resource room,Audio-visual presentation.

Opening HoursTuesday to Saturday 10am – 5pm.Sunday 2pm – 5pm.Closed Mondays, includingBank Holidays.

Admission Free

Guided ToursAvailable at frequent intervals.Special tours and educationalworkshops. For further detailscontact the Education andOutreach department at tel: +353 1 648 6453

Access for Less AbledThe ground floor [including thecafé] is wheelchair accessible.

How to get HereBus: 7, 7A, 8 [Burgh Quay], 10,11, 13 [O’Connell Street].Dart: Pearse Station. Luas: Green line to St Stephen’sGreen.

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National Museum ofIreland – Natural History

Opened in 1857, this is the oldest purpose-builtmuseum building in Ireland. One of very fewVictorian cabinet style museums left in the world, itis home to a rich variety of animals, many of whichare endangered or extinct. Accumulated over twocenturies and drawn from a collection of over twomillion specimens, the zoological exhibitions boastoutstanding examples of wildlife from Ireland andthe far corners of the globe. You cannot miss theimposing skeletons of Giant Irish Deer or the tinyinsects hidden under their protective covers. Theupper floors house everything from an armadillo toa zebra – indeed this is the best place to seeSpoticus the Giraffe or the 20m long whale skeletonsuspended from the roof.

National Museum of Ireland – Natural History | Merrion Street | Dublin 2 | IrelandTelephone: +353 1 677 7444 Fax: +353 1 677 7450Email: [email protected] Website: www.museum.ie

General Information

FacilitiesMuseum gift shop.


Admission Free


Access for Less AbledNot wheelchair accessible.

How to get HereBus: 7, 7A, 8 [Burgh Quay]Dart: Pearse Station.Luas: Green line to St Stephen’sGreen.

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National Museum of Ireland – DecorativeArts & HistoryCollins Barracks could be said to be the NationalMuseum of Ireland’s largest artefact, having had aunique history all of its own in another life. It nowcompletes the picture for the National Museum inDublin and joins the two already famous buildingsin the possession of the Museum. Collins Barrackshas been completely renovated and restored tobecome the National Museum of Ireland – DecorativeArts & History – charting Ireland’s economic, social,political and military progress through the ages.Artefacts on display range from silver, ceramic andglassware pieces to weaponry, furniture, examplesof folk life and costume. The new Military Historyexhibition called Soldiers & Chiefs: The Irish atWar at Home and Abroad since 1550 uses originalartefacts, letters, replicas and audio accounts,showing how soldiering and war have affected thelives of Irish people. All of these pieces are displayedwith imagination in innovative and contemporarygalleries, which entice you to go further, look harderand examine more closely.

National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History | Collins Barracks | BenburbStreet | Dublin 7 | Ireland Telephone: +353 1 677 7444 Fax: +353 1 677 7450Email: [email protected] Website: www.museum.ie

General Information

FacilitiesMuseum café, gift shop andEducation resource room.


Admission Free


Access for Less AbledFully wheelchair accessible.

How to get HereBus: 90 [Aston Quay], 25, 25A,66, 67 [Middle Abbey Street].Luas: Red line to ‘Museum’ stop.

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National Museum of Ireland – Country Life

The first branch of the National Museum of Irelandto be situated outside Dublin, it is set in thespectacular grounds of Turlough Park House. Theexhibitions tell the story of ordinary people wholived in rural Ireland. The setting encourages visitorsto remember a vanished world, made real againthrough the vivid detail of domestic furniture andutensils, hunting, fishing and agricultural implements,objects relating to games and pastimes, religion,education, dress and footwear.

National Museum of Ireland – Country Life | Turlough Park | Castlebar | Co. Mayo | IrelandTelephone: +353 94 903 1755 Fax: +353 94 903 1628 Email: [email protected] Website: www.museum.ie

General Information

FacilitiesMuseum café, gift shop andEducation resource room.


Admission Free


Access for Less AbledFully wheelchair accessible.

How to get HereCar: located in Turlough village,8 kilometres east of Castlebar,off the N5.Bus: contact Bus Éireann,Ballina, at tel: +353 967 1800Train: contact Castlebar Train Station, at tel: +353 94 902 1222

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The Arts CouncilBased at 70 Merrion Square in Dublin 2, the ArtsCouncil is the Irish government agency for developingthe arts. It provides financial assistance to artists, artsorganisations, local authorities and others for artisticpurposes. It offers advice and information on the artsto government and to a wide range of individuals andorganisations. As an advocate for the arts and artists,it undertakes projects and research, often in new andemerging areas of arts practice, and increasingly inco-operation with partner organisations. The Chair ofthe Arts Council is Olive Braiden and the Director isMary Cloake.

The Arts Council | 70 Merrion Square | Dublin 2 | IrelandCallsave: 1850 392 492 Telephone: +353 1 618 0200 Fax: +353 1 676 1302Email: [email protected] Website: www.artscouncil.ie

General Information

Opening HoursMonday to Friday 9.15am –5.30pm. Closed on weekends,public holidays and onspecific days during Easterand Christmas. A full stafflisting by department is givenon the Council’s websitewww.artscouncil.ie. Priorappointment is advisable.

Access for Less Abledwheelchair access is availablevia Fitzwilliam Lane, behindMerrion Square.

How to get Here10 minute walk from GraftonStreet. Bus: 13, 13A to Merrion SquareDart: Pearse Station. Luas: Green line to St Stephen’sGreen.

Image: The Arts Council providesfunding to hundreds of artsorganisations each year includingthis one, the Kilkenny Arts Festival.Pictured is actor Olwen Fouere in astaging of Samuel Beckett’s Lessness.

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The Heritage Council

The Heritage Council works with individuals,organisations and local communities to ensureheritage is valued, appreciated and protected. TheHeritage Council was established as a statutorybody under the Heritage Act 1995 and is funded

by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The HeritageCouncil produces a bi-annual magazine, Heritage Outlook that looks at a rangeof heritage issues. The Council operates seven different grants schemes andallocates approximately 3 million in funding annually to organisations,individuals and community groups. National Heritage is defined under theHeritage Act as including monuments, archaeological objects, heritage objectssuch as art and industrial works, documents and genealogical records,architectural heritage, flora, fauna, wildlife habitats, landscapes, seascapes,wrecks, geology, heritage gardens, parks and inland waterways.

The Heritage Council | Rothe House | Parliament Street | Kilkenny | IrelandTelephone: +353 56 777 0777 Fax: +353 56 777 0788Email: [email protected] Website: www.heritagecouncil.ie

General Information

Opening HoursMonday to Friday 9.15am –5.30pm. Closed on weekends,public holidays and onspecific days during Easterand Christmas.

How to get HereRothe House is on ParliamentStreet in Kilkenny, directlyacross the road from the oldparliament building andcurrent court house.

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Map Key:

1. Abbey Theatre

2. Chester Beatty Library

3. Irish Museum of Modern Art

4. National Archives of Ireland

5. National Concert Hall

6. National Gallery of Ireland

7. National Library of Ireland

8. National Photographic Archive

9. National Museum of Ireland –Decorative Arts & History

10. National Museum of Ireland –Archaeology

11. National Museum of Ireland –Natural History

12. National Museum of Ireland –Country Life

13. The Arts Council

14. The Heritage Council

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Culture Map

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