Irish Museum of Modern Art
The Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) is a free museum that has exhibitions by exciting Irish and international artists. There are breathtaking galleries and beautiful gardens to walk through and relax.
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Modern and Contemporary Art
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Wide variety of artwork from Irish and International artists
The IMMA during the summer you will have the pleasure of experiencing their outdoor programme called IMMA Outdoors. This programme turns the museum inside out and you enjoy performances, music, talks, workshops, artist commissions and tours. IMMA is home to a collection of both modern and contemporary art. There is over 3,500 pieces of artwork from artists that are Irish as well as international.
This was not always a museum, in fact it used to be a hospital in the 17th Century called Royal Hospital Kilmainham which was founded in 1684 by James Butler, Duke of Ormonde and Viceroy to Charles II. This was used as a home for retired soldiers and continued to be used for that for almost 250 years.
Getting to the Chester Beatty Library
Walk
The Chester Beatty Library is located in the heart of Dublin city centre, within the grounds of Dublin Castle. If you are taking the hop on hop off tour you can jump off directly outside at the Dublin Castle stop, otherwise it is a short walk from O’Connell Street or Grafton Street.
The Museum is located to the rear of Dublin Castle, and can be accessed through the main gates off Dame Street or by the rear entrance down the steps from Castle Street
If you enter the grounds of Dublin Castle via the main gate on Dame Street (just opposite the Olympia Theatre) then you can reach the Chester Beatty museum by continuing to walk straight down until you reach the end of the road and then turn right. The museum is then on your left hand side as you walk down. You will see the landscaped gardens in front of it and the glazed entrance lobby.
If you enter Dublin Castle by the back entrance, having descended the steps from Castle Street, then you simply turn left to enter the grounds of Dublin Castle, walk until you see the Garda Siochána Memorial Gardens and then turn right.
Bus
Dublin Bus has many routes passing by the museum Check dublinbus.ie for details.
Hop-On Hop-Off
There is a designated hop-on hop-off stop for DoDublin Tours at Kilmainham Gaol and IMMA. City Sightseeing Dublin and Big Bus Tours Dublin also have designated stops beside Kilmianham Gaol.
OTHER FREE ATTRACTIONS ALERT
Save those pennies and check out some other great / free attractions in Dublin like the National Gallery of Ireland and the National Museum of Ireland.