Things to see & doMuseums
- Home
- Things to see & do
- History & heritage
- National Museum of Ireland, Merrion Street
National Museum of Ireland, Merrion Street


- Family friendly
- Free to visit
- Rainy days
The National Museum of Ireland on Merrion Street in Dublin City, affectionately known as the Dead Zoo, has remained largely unchanged since it opened in 1857, just before Darwin published On the Origin of Species.
The museum features galleries of Irish animals and geological exhibits from a collection of around two million specimens. Famous for its Victorian cabinet style displays, the museum showcases both living and extinct Irish wildlife. It has also served as a filming location for shows like Ripper Street and Penny Dreadful.
Please note: the location is currently closed.
You may also like
- GPO Museum
- The Jeanie JohnstonThings to see & doMuseums
- Croke Park StadiumThings to see & doMuseums
- Chester BeattyThings to see & doMuseums
- National Museum of Ireland, Collins BarracksThings to see & doMuseums
- National Museum of Ireland, Kildare StreetThings to see & doMuseums
- EPIC The Irish Emigration MuseumThings to see & doMuseums
- Museum of CuriositiesThings to see & doMuseums
- Trinity CollegeThings to see & doPublic buildings
- Experience Glasnevin: Ireland's National CemeteryThings to see & doStatues & monuments
- Museum of Literature IrelandThings to see & doMuseums
- Skerries MillsThings to see & doMuseums