In a grand 1890s building beside Leinster House, Ireland's national archaeology museum holds the country's greatest treasures — and entry costs nothing. From the Ardagh Chalice and the 'Tara' Brooch to Iron Age bog bodies, it packs 7,000 years of history into a single city-centre block.
The museum's showpiece, holding the Ardagh Chalice, the 'Tara' Brooch, the Derrynaflan Hoard and the Cross of Cong. Three galleries trace Irish art from the Iron Age to the twelfth century, with the Faddan More Psalter given its own room.
A display of prehistoric goldwork: ribbon torcs, lunulae and the Coggalbeg hoard of two sun discs and a gold lunula found in a Roscommon bog.
Finds from the museum's excavations in Dublin, the most important Viking site in Ireland, alongside decorated lead trading weights from a warrior's grave at Islandbridge.
The world-famous Iron Age bog bodies, including Clonycavan Man, with the forensic science behind them explained. Curiosities such as bog butter are here too.
Artefacts spanning 7000 BC to the twentieth century, so you can move from Stone Age Ireland to an Ancient Egypt gallery in a few steps.
A temporary exhibition of twenty-six objects never previously displayed, telling the story of Wicklow's monastic valley from St Kevin to the Anglo-Normans.
Free guided, in-gallery and late-evening discovery tours run through the year, and several galleries have Matterport 3D virtual tours online.
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