Description
The National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks is a world-class cultural institution situated inside the monumental walls of the world's longest-serving former army base in Dublin. It stands out as one of the best things to do with kids in Dublin if you are looking for an action-packed, historical museum where children can dive deep into Ireland's military, social, and design heritage. Housed in massive eighteenth-century stone barracks, this sprawling site lets young explorers walk through massive courtyards and interactive indoor galleries packed with centuries of human history.
Prices start from £0.00, meaning it is entirely free for families to enter and explore all the permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions. There are no hidden gate tariffs, mandatory ticket fees, or booking charges required to access the main collections. This makes it an incredibly budget-friendly and stress-free option for parents planning an educational day out in the capital.
If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that seamlessly merges real-world science, design, and captivating wartime history, this historic barracks is an unmissable destination. Children can track ancient animal species, marvel at old combat vehicles, and see how everyday Irish life has transformed over the centuries. It provides a highly scannable, screen-free playground for the mind where curious kids can build a lifelong love for history.
Features
- Free
- Host birthday parties: No
Features
Key Features
- Interactive Exhibits: Hands-on multimedia touchscreens and audio-visual displays are placed across the galleries to keep young minds fully engaged.
- Sensory Play Environments: Quiet areas and vibrant visual displays allow kids to absorb historical design and natural textures at their own pace.
- Educational Day Out: The vast site functions as an open-air historical textbook covering industrial design, fashion, and international peacekeeping.
- High Biodiversity Habitat Learning: Dedicated learning rooms help children discover Ireland's native species and global wildlife history.
- Grand Courtyard Spaces: A massive, completely enclosed historic courtyard gives kids plenty of fresh-air space to walk between gallery blocks.
Detailed Highlights
- The Dead Zoo Lab: This dedicated biodiversity space brings an exciting taste of natural history straight to the barracks while the main Natural History Museum building undergoes historic renovations. Children can get an up-close look at real animal taxidermy, ancient skeletons, and fascinating biological specimens. It serves as a living science room that lets kids connect deeply with the natural world.
- The Soldiers and Chiefs Exhibition: Spanning over 1,700 square metres of historic gallery space, this military exhibit details the lives of Irish soldiers at home and abroad since 1550. Children will love seeing real historic uniforms, old armored combat vehicles, and heavy weapons used across the centuries. It brings history to life in an approachable way that makes old-world defensive strategy fun to learn.
- The Eileen Gray Gallery: This specialized design exhibition explores the life and incredible creations of Ireland's most famous twentieth-century modern furniture designer. Kids can marvel at her uniquely shaped lacquer screens, famous non-conformist chairs, and artistic blueprints. It is an excellent visual highlight for inspiring young artists and future creators.
- The Way We Wore Collection: This colorful exhibition traces the evolution of Irish clothing, jewelry, and personal style over the last three centuries. Children can discover what kids their own age wore hundreds of years ago and observe the intricate details of historic textiles. It acts as a fun fashion time capsule that prompts great family conversations about everyday life in the past.
- The Asgard Yacht Yard: Standing as a monumental piece of maritime history, the actual historic Asgard yacht is preserved beautifully indoors on the ground floor. Kids will love seeing a real, authentic ship up close and learning how it was secretly used during the historic 1914 Howth gun-running event. It offers a dramatic visual highlight that captures a child's adventurous imagination.
Specific Named Objects and Sub-Exhibits
- The Dead Zoo Lab: The dedicated natural history specimen satellite hub.
- Michael Collins' Coat: The actual, authentic wool coat worn by the Irish leader on the historic day he died.
- The Stokes Tapestry: A uniquely preserved, massive nineteenth-century embroidered textile piece tracing decades of military movements.
- The Ashworth Pillar Box: The oldest extant postal pillar box in Ireland, introduced by Anthony Trollope.
- Michael Collins' Slippers: A highly personal, preserved textile item displayed within the revolutionary collections.
- Japanese Armour Suit: An ornate, authentic suit of ancient samurai protection located in the Asian art wing.
- The Asgard Yacht: The fully restored, iconic 1914 historic vessel parked permanently in the indoor gallery.
- Eileen Gray’s Lacquer Screen: An authentic, priceless piece of modernist decorative furniture art.
1.14 miles
