National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History

The National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History (Irish: Ard-Mhúsaem na hÉireann - Na hEalaíona Maisiúla ⁊ Stair) is a branch of the National Museum of Ireland located at the former Collins Barracks in the Arbour Hill area of Dublin, Ireland.

National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History

Ard-Mhúsaem na hÉireann - Na hEalaíona Maisiúla ⁊ Stair
Entrance to the museum
Location of the museum in Dublin
Established	18 September 1997 (18 September 1997)
Location	Collins Barracks Benburb Street Dublin 7, D07 XKV4, Ireland
Coordinates	53.348367°N 6.28581°W / 53.348367; -6.28581
Type	National museum
Collection size	150,000 items
Visitors	313,790 (2009)[1]
Public transit access	Museum Luas station Dublin Bus routes: 25, 25a, 66, 67
Website	museum.ie/en/intro/arts-and-history.aspx
National Museum of Ireland network
Archaeology Decorative Arts & History Country Life Natural History

Main entrance to the National Museum of Ireland- Decorative Arts and History- Collins Barracks, Dublin

The site, opened in 1997, also holds the Museum's administrative centre, a shop and a coffee shop.

This section has displays of furniture, silver, ceramics and glassware, as well as examples of folk life and costume, and money and weapons. The "Soldiers & Chiefs" exhibition features military artifacts and memorabilia tracing Ireland's military history from 1550 to the present. Other permanent exhibitions include ones on Irish coins and currency, silverware, furniture, the designer Eileen Gray, Asian art, "Curator's Choice" (including a Chinese porcelain vase from about 1300 AD, the Fonthill vase), folklife and costumes, ceramics, and glassware.[2]

Included are artifacts such as Etruscan vases, gauntlets worn by King William at the Battle of the Boyne, a life belt and oar salvaged from the wreck of the RMS Lusitania and a pocket book carried by Wolfe Tone whilst imprisoned in the Barracks.

Special exhibitions are mounted regularly; in summer 2007, for example, replicas of six Irish High Crosses that were subsequently shown internationally.