When recently taking my parents to Ireland my intention was to take them to the National Archaeology Museum of Ireland on our first day in Dublin, Ireland. We ran out of time and ended up going on our last day. I think this was an auspicious turning of events because we were able to view artifacts of many of the places we had seen during the prior two weeks motoring through the Isle.
Three Faced Corleck Head
The Archaeology museum houses relics from many of the castles, monasteries, carved stones from burial mounds, etc throughout the Isles. Highlights for us were the display of Celtic Gold dug up from hundreds of years of exploration through Ireland.
The Museum has a wonderful Bog Man display showing multiple bog people along with their stories, location, circumstances of their exhumation, and more. It has a large medieval Viking display honoring Dublin’s long “connection” with the Vikings. There is a small Egyptian Collection. The treasury houses the Cross of Cong and the The Faddan More Psalter, a book of Psalms recovered from a bog which was written around AD 800! Prehistoric Ireland is on display as well as sacrifice and Kingship.
Clonmacnoise Crozier
Plan at least three hours to explore this FREE museum and be sure to stop for a cup of coffee at their lovely café. And did I mention it was Free?
Nowth Macehead https://bulldogtravels.com/2015/07/13/nowth-dowth-and-newgrange-irelands-greatest-neolithic-sites/
To explore more of my Irish musings please click here…
Bulldog Travels / Photos By Jenny 
Celtic Blog People? Surely not!
When will you return to Ireland? I am going again next year but not sure exactly where to just yet. I must try and get to see this museum.
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Oh my. That’s funny. I will be making that correction now!
I don’t know when I will be back but I know it will never be soon enough.
It really is a wonderful museum. Plan to spend three hours or so. But it is free which is wonderful!
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Free! That’s even better!
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Fascinating artifacts. That gold collar must be rather uncomfortable to wear. 🙂
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I imagine so! Some of them must have been so heavy! Perhaps they only wore them ceremonially.
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Fully agree, one of the best museums I’ve ever visited and that Bog Man display is wonderfully eerily
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Yah it is so interesting and captures the interest immensely. However, it is a little sad and creepy all at the same time.
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We were told how good this place was, but unfortunately didn’t have time to visit. Really wish we had now – will have to go back, looks so interesting.
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Always new things to see in Dublin! Enough for multiple trips! It gives you something to look forward to. Thanks for leaving a comment! Happy to have you visit my blog.
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You’re welcome 🙂
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Interesting collection! I wish Dutch museums are for free as well, it will encourage people to visit and learn 🙂
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I think so too! I wish they were free here too. We generally only get a few free days per year and they tend to be so busy no one wants to go then.
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Very fine art from my Gaelic cousins. 🙂
There is possibly some viking influence in one of the artefacts. Not too sure.
Thanks for sharing.
(I can almost hear the sound of a distant bagpipe)
😉
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There is a huge Viking influence in Dublin. They took it over for a while!
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Darn Swedes. 🙂 They were all over the place at one time. Sailed all the way to Paris around the 8th-9th century. The King of France had to give them a Duchy in Normandy. Hence the name: Nord (north) Man. They then proceeded to invade England a few centuries later.
Regardless it’s very fine art. 🙂
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Interesting history!
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I am loving these artefacts! Makes me think of those awesome Vikings coming over from Norway to settle down on the green island;)
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Thank you. I love them to. I have been to this museum three times and I will always go back. 🙂
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Thanks for you post on the museum. I think it is lovely that you were able to see artefacts of places you had seen…very special for you and your parents. rgds.
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It was. Thanks for the comment. 🙂
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The National Museum is great, isn’t it? I’m glad you found time to have a look around, and it must have been fun catching up with the history of all the places you visited during your trip! Next time, visit the Natural History museum (if you didn’t already go)… It has to be one of my favourite places in Dublin. And it’s free too! 😀
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We went there too. It was great also. I love all the museums in that area over there by the green!
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I know, it’s so handy that they’re all pretty much next door to each other. I’m especially looking forward to the National Gallery reopening after the renovations, since it’s really close to where I work too!
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Yes. I saw they were building another building around the old one. I think that is an interesting concept.
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Oooh, maybe they’ve started another phase of the building! I thought they were just renovating the older parts, I really should visit again. If they’re building something new around the original gallery, that will certainly add another layer to its existing mash-up of architectural styles!
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Exactly. It was still open in July but if memory serves they were going to close it down during construction.
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That figures… It makes sense to keep it open for peak visitor season, but that’s coming to an end now!
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It does look like a fine museum. Interesting you said there is a small Egyptian exhibit. Seems a little off-topic compared to the rest of the stuff, but if it’s an anthropology museum, I’m sure they are happy to display anything that fits!
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It’s probably there for all the local people bored with their own history??? Everyone loves Egyptian artifacts!
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I know I do. 🙂
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It looks like a cool museum for me & my hubby to explore! 🙂
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Definitely. Please do and let me know what you think.
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