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All 462 Dublin Attractions »

National Museum of Ireland - Natural History

Merrion St., Dublin 2, Ireland
01-677-7444
As featured in Dublin for young kids
Ranked #22 of 222 attractions in Dublin
4.5 of 5 stars 100 Reviews
Type: History Museums, Natural History Museums
Fee: No
Owner description: The ground floor of this museum is dedicated to Irish animals, featuring giant deer skeletons and a variety of mammals, birds and fish. The upper...... more » Owner description: The ground floor of this museum is dedicated to Irish animals, featuring giant deer skeletons and a variety of mammals, birds and fish. The upper floors of the building were laid out in the 19th Century in a scientific arrangement showing animals by taxonomic group. « less
Useful Information: Activities for older children, Activities for young children
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100 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
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    23
    16
    1
    1
Date Rating
Loganville, Georgia
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 27 May 2012 NEW

My husband and I love visiting museums so we decided to spend a little time at the Natural History Museum, known to Dubliners as "The Dead Zoo". The first floor contains displays of Ireland's mammals, birds, fish, invertebrates, and insects. The second floor contains displays of mammals from all over the world. (The museum has several floors but only the... More

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Cheltenham, United Kingdom
Contributor
19 reviews 19 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
8 helpful votes 8 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 19 May 2012

This is a free museum and is full of stuffed animals, which I found to be quite spooky. There are also skeletons of the now extinct giant Irish deer. I really enjoyed this museum. More

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See 6 more reviews by kabe2537 for Dublin
Huntersville, North Carolina
Contributor
18 reviews 18 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 19 May 2012

This is an amazing museum and was a highlight of our trip. More

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See 5 more reviews by doneill241 for Dublin
Manchester, New Hampshire
Contributor
11 reviews 11 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 9 May 2012

The Natural History Museum wasn't very big. Certainly nothing like the Smithsonian. And some of the displays have seen better days. Otherwise, this was an interesting museum. The first floor is animals, birds and sea life native to Ireland. More

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See 8 more reviews by Akasharogue for Dublin
Maybole, United Kingdom
Senior Contributor
32 reviews 32 reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
16 helpful votes 16 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 7 May 2012

Gave a big insight as to what Eire has come from, did not Know that the IRA was at the start a proper army, on display are officers uniforms and firearms of the Irish Republican Army with photographs etc, have visited many museums over the years this one is my favourite More

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See 8 more reviews by James G for Dublin
Los Angeles, California
Senior Reviewer
10 reviews 10 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 3 May 2012

This museum can be slowly browsed or moved thru quickly depending on your interests. It was very helpful for me to understand the history of Ireland which was rarely covered in school. It was free of charge and well located to add to any itinerary. More

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See 2 more reviews by Sheldon K for Dublin
Portland, Oregon
Contributor
11 reviews 11 reviews
Reviews in 7 cities Reviews in 7 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 30 April 2012

This was my number one stop in Dublin. It was like stepping back in time. The creaky floors, and all the animals staring out at you. I guess this place isn't for everyone, as the people I went with couldn't wait to leave, but I could have spent 2 more hours there. If you are into bugs an creepy crawlies,... More

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See 3 more reviews by gnargnasher for Dublin
Prague, Czech Republic
Contributor
17 reviews 17 reviews
Reviews in 7 cities Reviews in 7 cities
6 helpful votes 6 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 30 April 2012

This museum is free so you can't go wrong there. The main floor when you enter is full of Irish animals. There were ALOT of birds and fish. The other area has animals from around the world. Some of the taxidermy isn't done very well (let's admit it - some of it is very old), but all in all it... More

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See 9 more reviews by JMurph40 for Dublin
Toronto, Canada
Top Contributor
82 reviews 82 reviews
Reviews in 23 cities Reviews in 23 cities
31 helpful votes 31 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 25 April 2012

housed in a beautiful building are all the animals of ireland and many of the world, in stuffed, and skeletal forms. And fauna too!! all free and in a great ambiance, with friendly staff and lots of school children ( from Spain and France on the day we visited) More

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See 6 more reviews by gitta45 for Dublin
Dumfries
Contributor
14 reviews 14 reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 21 April 2012

to the "museum of a museum" when museums were taxonomic collections devoted to the preservation of type specimens, light on interpretation, ecology, interactives or any of that stuff. Little kids will find this wildly entertaining, and most everyone else will too. Years ago, many museums around the world looked like this but I haven't seen anything like this in a... More

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See 2 more reviews by Kevin K for Dublin

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