National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History Museum

Built as the Royal Barracks in 1704 by Thomas Burgh, National Decorative Arts and History museum is a former army barracks, which was the biggest residential barracks in Europe. Today it is a museum and an administrative headquarters of the National Museum of Ireland.

In the Decorative Arts & History museum you can explore decorative arts, political and historical heritage and check out art and industry collections of nearly 150 000 objects. At the Decorative Arts Museum you can discover the Irish fashion in different areas, beautifully crafted furniture, clothing, folk life and costume, ceramics, glassware, flags, jewellery, children’s toys, military supplies, coins, weaponry and everything else that an Irish life is connected.

The highlight of the museum are collections of Irish Silver, which is one of the largest Irish silver collections in the world and attracts visitors like a magnet. Another collection is 250 years of Irish clothing and jewellery, dating to 1760s and a 1000 years of Irish coins and currency. The famous William Smith O’Brien Gold Cup and the Eillen Gray chrome table are also homed in this museum. The very unique and rarest exhibit is the Fonthill Vase, a Chinese porcelain vase made about 1300 AD. It’s believed that this exhibit is one of the best-documented pieces in the world of early porcelain.

Add Decorative Arts & History Museum to your list and get a sense of history and excitement. Learn the secrets of a great and brave nation, find out interesting and important facts and stories while enjoying Irish history. Thanks to the objects exhibited here, we have a unique opportunity to turn the clock back and get an insights of early Ireland.