National Museum of Ireland
Review of Leading Irish Arts and Culture Museum, Dublin.
Visual Arts Guide - Art Galleries and Museums in Ireland

National Museum

Originating in 1890, the National Museum of Ireland (Ard-Mhúsaem na hÉireann) is the national museum of Ireland. This cultural institution comprises four centres: three in the capital Dublin and one in County Mayo. The National Museum of Ireland has a strong focus on Irish art, history and culture.

History and Archaeology

The History and Archaeology part of the museum (Kildare Street, Dublin) commemorates prehistoric Ireland, with an emphasis on Irish visual art. It displays early Celtic gold masterpieces, illuminated religious manuscripts, outstanding examples of later Celtic metalwork and numerous church treasures from the medieval era, including the Viking age, and later times. The Museum houses special displays of artifacts from Egypt, and the Roman world, augmented at regular intervals by special exhibitions of Ancient art.

Early Celtic and Irish Masterpieces

Among the many outstanding early Irish exhibits are such masterpieces as the Ardagh Chalice, the Derrynaflan Chalice, the Derrynaflan Paten, the Moylough Belt, the Petrie Crown, the Tully Lough Cross and the Tara Brooch, as well as the Broighter Hoard (including the gold Broighter collar and the gold Broighter boat, complete with anchor, mast, rowing benches, oars, and boathook.) Several of these Celtic Irish treasures would have been lost or melted down but for the intervention of archeological experts (eg. George Petrie) from the Royal Irish Academy and the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. These items in the National Museum of Ireland help to trace the development of Irish visual arts from the Newgrange era to the medieval Irish renaissance following the eclipse of Rome and the Dark Ages.

Irish Metalwork and Jewellery

The National Museum of Ireland collection contains some of the most important Celtic and Irish antiquities discovered in Munster, Connacht, Leinster and Ulster, including personal gold jewellery, Viking swords, reliquaries, episcopal sculpture and croziers, as well as ecclesiastical metal vessels. Many items display exquisite craftsmanship, encompassing traditional metallurgical skills of casting, soldering, riveting, and mechanical joint-making; plus advanced goldsmith art involving the use of gold plate, gold foil, and delicate filigree work. Other specialist arts and crafts featured in these items include millefiori glass ornamentation, carving in ivory, amber, and engraving. Much of the abstract designwork is executed using Celtic patterns such as zoomorphic (animal-form) or geometrical motifs.

Examples of Metalwork Art in the Museum

Here are some of the highlights of the museum's collection of precious metal antiquities.

Decorated Macehead
Located in the main Passage Tomb at Knowth. Made of grey flint, it contains outstanding decoration in low-relief, with spiral designs.
Discovered: Knowth, County Meath
Date: 3300-2800 BCE
See also Visual Arts in Meath.

Five Gold Bands
Made of sheet gold, they comprise one of the earliest collections of gold objects found in Ireland.
Discovered: Belville, County Cavan
Date: 2300-2100 BCE
See also Visual Arts in Cavan.

Gold Lunula
Exemplifies the craft of the Irish goldsmith in the Bronze Age. Decorated with simple pattern of hatched triangles.
Discovered: Rossmore Park, County Monaghan
Date: 2000 BCE
See also Visual Arts in Monaghan.

Gold Lunula
Retaining a perfect crescent shape, this exceptional gold ornament is decorated with lozenges, hatched triangles and zig-zag motifs.
Discovered: Trillick, County Tyrone
Date: 2000 BCE
See also Visual Arts in Tyrone.

Hoard of Gold Ornaments
The armlets are made from heavy sheet gold, while the necklet is fashioned from gold wire, almost 15 metres in length, wrapped over a leather thong.
Discovered: Derrinboy, County Offaly
Date: 1400-1200 BCE
See also Visual Arts in Co Offaly.

Gold Ear-Spools
Fashioned from fine sheet gold, decorated with concentric circle patterns and traditional motifs on raised bosses.
Discovered: Mullingar, County Westmeath
Date: 800-700 BCE
See also Visual Arts in Co Westmeath.

Gold Bracelet, Dress-Fasteners
Although undecorated, the bracelet and fasteners are made from solid gold.
Discovered: Ballinesker, County Wexford
Date: 900-700 BCE
See also Visual Arts in Co Wexford.

Hoard of Ear Ornaments
Consists of four split-ring ornaments with discs.
Discovered: Arboe and Killycolpy, County Tyrone
Date: 800-700 BCE

Gold Disc (Fasteners and Bracelets)
The disc is made from fine gold foil with complex decoration.
Discovered: A bog in Lattoon, County Cavan
Date: 900-700 BCE

Gold Foil-Covered Bullae (Pendants)
Decorated in diverse patterns of concentric circles, geometric motifs and gold filigree.
Discovered: Bog of Allen, County Kildare
Date: 800-700 BCE
See also Visual Arts in Co Kildare.

Gold Hoard of Collar, Pair of Gold Lock-Rings, Bracelets, Ear Ornaments
Ceremonial jewellery, made from gold foil and gold wire.
Discovered: Gorteenreagh, County Clare
Date: 800-700 BCE
See also Visual Arts in Co Clare.

Gold Torc
Exhibits repousse style decoration of spirals and S-shapes, with gold wire.
Discovered: A bog in Ardnaglug, County Roscommon
Date: Third Century BCE
See also Visual Arts in Co Roscommon.

Broighter Gold Hoard
Discovered: Broighter, County Derry
Date: First Century BCE
For details, see above.

Loughnashade Trumpet
Metal trumpet with first-class riveting craftsmanship, decorated with spiral bosses; comparable with the Cork Horn and Petrie Crown.
Discovered: Loughnashade, County Armagh
Date: First Century BCE
See also Visual Arts in Co Armagh.

Petrie Crown
Discovered: Unknown Locality
Date: Second Century CE
For details, see above.

Hoard of Bronze Bracelets, Amber Beads, Gold Torcs
This comprises four gold ribbon collars fashioned from twisted gold, together with a number of bracelets made from thin bronze rods decorated with incised linear patterns, and amber bead remnants of a necklace.
Discovered: Dooyork, County Mayo
Date: 200 BCE - 100 CE

Silver Spiral Rings
Part of a large number of gold, silver and bronze ornaments and implements found near the famous Passage Tomb of Newgrange, these rings have three coils decorated with transverse notches on the upper and lower edges.
Discovered: Newgrange, County Meath
Date: Second Century CE

Carving of Saint Patrick
Full-length late medieval relief-sculpture carved from a limestone pillar, featuring a bearded cleric in full bishop's attire with mitre and crozier.
Discovered: Faughart Graveyard, County Louth
Date: Early Sixteenth Century CE
See also Visual Arts in Co Louth.

Moylough Belt Shrine
Comprises four hinged metal-plates enclosing fragments of a leather belt. The two at the front make up a false buckle. The frames of these plates are ornamented with heads of animals and birds and glass edgings.
Discovered: A bog in Moylough, County Sligo
Date: Eighth Century CE
See also Visual Arts in Co Sligo.

The Tara Brooch
Discovered: Bettystown, County Meath
Date: Eighth Century CE
For details, see above.

The Loughan (Dalriada) Brooch
Uniquely, this is the only Irish brooch yet discovered, made entirely of gold. Features exquisite gold filigree work with numerous zoomorphic designs.
Discovered: In the river Bann at Loughan, County Derry
Date: Eighth Century CE
See also Visual Arts in Co Derry.

The Cavan (Queen's) Brooch
Fashioned from gilt silver and decorated with gold filigree, it was nicknamed the 'Queen's Brooch' after a replica of it was presented to Queen Victoria upon her visit to the Great Exhibition in Dublin (1853).
Discovered: Cavan Town, County Cavan
Date: Eighth Century CE

The Loughmoe (Tipperary) Brooch
Made from silver but decorated with gold filigree and big amber studs.
Discovered: Loughmoe, County Tipperary
Date: Ninth Century CE
See also Visual Arts in Co Tipperary.

The Kilmainham Brooch
Made from silver in a Pictish style, its now-empty panels are thought to have originally contained gold filigree and glass ornamentation.
Discovered: Kilmainham, County Dublin, but traceable to a collection of objets d'art, from eighteenth century Sligo.
Date: Ninth Century CE

The Ardagh Chalice and Hoard
Discovered: Reerasta, County Limerick
Date: Ninth Century CE
For details, see above.
See also Visual Arts in Co Limerick.

The Derrynaflan Chalice, Paten, Strainer and Hoard
Discovered: Derrynaflan, County Tipperary
Date: Ninth Century CE
For details, see above.

Plaque Featuring an Ecclesiastical Figure Engraving
Made from cast and gilt copper-alloy, the plaque is believed to have been attached to a cross or reliquary. The background to the figure is ornamented with ribbon interlace and spiral motifs.
Discovered: In a grave in Aghaboe, County Laois
Date: Eighth Century CE
See also Visual Arts in Co Laois.

Silver Bossed Penannular Brooch
Fashioned out of hammered silver, this item of Viking jewellery displays a tight composition of animal motifs. On the rear of the brooch appear four Irish names written in Ogham script: possibly former owners of the brooch.
Discovered: Ballyspellan, County Kilkenny
Date: Late Ninth Century CE
See also Visual Arts in Co Kilkenny.

The Ballinderry Sword
The most outstanding example of a Viking sword in Ireland. Probably made in Norway by Ulfbehrt, whose name is etched into the iron blade.
Discovered: A crannog near Ballinderry, County Westmeath
Date: Ninth Century CE

Gold Ornaments
Includes a huge ring fashioned from three twisted gold rods. It weighs about 380g making it the largest gold ornament found in Ireland.
Discovered: Rathedan, County Carlow
Date: Eleventh Century CE
See also Visual Arts in Co Carlow.

The Roscrea Brooch
Fashioned from cast silver, decorated with zoomorphic patterns (similar to those on the Killamery Brooch) and embellished with gold filigree work, silver and amber.
Discovered: Roscrea, County Tipperary
Date: Ninth Century CE

Silver Penannular Brooch
Made from cast silver, this also features animal designs reminiscent of the Killamery Brooch.
Discovered: Viking cemetary at Rathlin Island, County Antrim
Date: Ninth Century CE
See also Visual Arts in Co Antrim.

Cross of Cong
One of the most outstanding examples of Irish metalwork of the early Christian era, it was made for use in processions and enshrined a relic of the True Cross which had come into the possession of Turlough O'Connor, High King of Ireland in the early twelfth century.Rich in zoomorphic decoration, it also features gold filigree, niello plus blue and white glass bosswork.
Discovered: County Mayo
Date: Twelfth Century CE

Soisceal Molaise Shrine
Designed to enshrine the gospels of St Molaise of Fermanagh, it is considered to be the oldest surviving Irish book shrine. Its front features panelling of gold filigree and gilt silver, interspersed with symbols of the four Evangelists.
Discovered: Devenish, County Fermanagh
Date: Eleventh Century CE
See also Visual Arts in Co Fermanagh.

Shrine of the Stowe Missal
Made from wood enclosed by metal plates, it was later embellished with rock crystal, ivory and glass beads.
Discovered: Sealed in the walls of Lacken Castle, Lorrha, County Tipperary
Date: Eleventh Century CE

Lismore Crozier
This hollow crook, made for the Bishop of Lismore, was cast in a single piece. It features panels decorated with animal motifs, as well as white millefiori glass in chequerboard patterns. At the sides, the ornamentation consists of blue glass beading, inset with additional red and white millefiori.
Discovered: In a blocked-up doorway at Lismore Castle, County Waterford
Date: Twelfth Century CE
See also Visual Arts in Co Waterford.

Gold Ring Brooch
Designed as a neck-fastener for gowns in the 13th and 14th centuries.
Discovered: Ballinrea, County Cork
Date: thirteenth Century CE
See also Cork Art.

Shrine of the Cathach (Battler)
Made to enshrine a manuscript or gospel text personally written by St Columba, it was carried into battle by the O'Donnells as a talisman of victory. Unfortunately it was captured in 1497.
Discovered: Ballymagroarty, County Donegal
Date: Fourteenth Century CE
See also Visual Arts in Co Donegal.

Domhnach Airgid ('Silver Church') Shrine
Designed to enclose a text given by St Patrick to St. Macartan. Its decorative features, added in the fourteenth century by John O'Carbry Abbot of Clones, include figures of saints grouped around the crucifixion, plus Old Testament scenes of St John the Baptist, and Salome the daughter of Herod.
Discovered: Clones, County Monaghan
Date: Originally Eighth Century CE

Shrine of Saint Patrick's Tooth
A beautiful piece of metalwork featuring the Virgin Mary, St John together with Irish saints all grouped around Christ on the Cross.
Discovered: Athenry, County Galway
Date: Thirteen/Fourteenth Century
See also Visual Arts in Co Galway.

Natural History

The Natural History Museum, which is also part of the National Museum of Ireland, is located on Merrion Street in central Dublin and houses exhibits and specimens from the animal kingdom around the world. Neither its collection of exhibits, nor its Victorian style building have altered greatly since the early twentieth century.

Decorative Arts

Opened in 1997, the historical decorative arts section of the National Museum of Ireland is situated at the Collins Barracks site, a former military building named after Michael Collins. This site houses the NMI's administrative centre, as well as the Great Seal of the Irish Free State.

Among the many exhibits are items of furniture, silver, ceramics and glassware, money and weapons, as well as examples of folklife and costumes. A medieval Chinese porcelain vase dating from about 1300 is one of the highlights. In addition, the decorative arts section holds regular special exhibitions throughout the year.

Country Life

The Museum of Country Life, in Castlebar, in County Mayo, is the newest section of the National Museum of Ireland. Opened to the public in 2001, this section commemorates day-to-day Irish life from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s, notably rural Ireland in the 1930s. There are special exhibits on the home, the natural environment, and forces for change.

More Details

NMI Archaeology and History
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
01-677-7444

NMI Decorative Arts and History
Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7.
01-677-7444

NMI Natural History
Merrion Street, Dublin 2.
01-677-7444

NMI Country Life
Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo.
094-903-1773.

• For details of other fine art exhibitions and collections, see: Irish Art Galleries and Museums.
• For facts about arts and crafts in Ireland, see: Guide to Irish Art

• How to Update This Mini Review of National Museum of Ireland

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