See the colours: Art Galleries in Ireland

Are you interested in visual arts? Visit these beautiful art galleries in Ireland!

Ireland has always been a country of the visual arts. Being an isolated country, it developed its own art styles during the early years of the Christianisation of Ireland in the fifth century. From the late 17th century onward, Irish artists became well known for their incredible landscape paintings and portraits. There are a great number of art galleries in Ireland that show the diversity of Irish visual arts, supporting local and upcoming artists.

The Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin

The Hugh Lane Gallery, officially known as Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane is an art gallery operated by Dublin City Council and located on Parnell Square. The gallery has an incredible history centred around the vision of Sir Hugh Lane, a famous Irish art collector and founder of the Hugh Lane Gallery, then called Municipal Gallery of Modern Art. Over the years, the gallery has only grown further and continues to focus on modern and contemporary art, especially by Irish artists. It hosts collections by word-renowned artists and plays a very significant cultural role in Ireland. Opening Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 9.45am-6pm; Friday 9.45am-5pm; Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday 11am-5pm; Closed on Mondays

Address: Charlemont House, Parnell Square North, Dublin 1 Phone: +353 (0)1 222 5550 Web: hughlane.ie

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Olivier Cornet Gallery, Dublin

Located in the heart of Georgian Dublin, the Olivier Cornet Art Gallery is one of the most dynamic modern and contemporary art galleries in Ireland. Often described as a hidden gem of the Irish capital, they exhibit accomplished Irish and international visual artists working in a variety of media such as painting, sculptures, ceramics, photography and digital art. All artworks on display are available for purchase and prices start at €175 for unframed fine art prints. The gallery also organises unique exhibition-related events in collaboration with top arts centres, reputable curators and other art enthusiasts in Dublin’s city centre and beyond. Opening Hours: Tuesday-Friday 11am-6pm (until 8pm on Thursday); Saturday & Sunday 12pm-5pm; Closed on Mondays

Address: 3 Great Denmark Street, Dublin 1 Phone: +353 (0)87 288 7261 Web: oliviercornetgallery.com

Luan Gallery, Athlone

Stroll along the river Shannon in the capital of the midlands and you can’t help but overlook the stunning Luan Gallery. The building itself is a work of art in its own right with floor-to-ceiling windows offering an uninterrupted view across the river. The gallery was built in the well-known 1897 Father Mathew Temperance Hall, which has been a cinema, town hall, library and concert hall over the years. There is always a balanced mix of media on display from paintings to textiles, showcasing the most interesting artists from the midlands, Ireland and abroad. The gallery collection changes every two months so there will be always something new to see. Opening Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 11am-5pm; Sunday 12pm-5pm; Closed on Mondays

Address: Elliott Road, Athlone, County Westmeath Phone: +353 (0)90 644 2154 Web: athlone.ie/visit/the-luan-gallery

Model Arts & Niland Gallery, Sligo

The Model is a world-class visitor centre containing a restaurant, coffee shop, a bookshop, an incredible gallery circuit, a purpose-built performance space and a suite of impressive artist studios on the top floor with incredible views on Sligo Town and County. It hosts one of the most notable public art collections in Ireland, which features one of the largest collections of works by Jack Butler Yeats. The Model also cares for the Niland Collection, the art collection of County Librarian Nora Niland containing over 300 works of traditional and contemporary art by artists. Their contemporary art programme features several major exhibitions of noted national and international contemporary artists each year. Opening Hours:Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday 10am-3.30pm; Closed on Mondays

Address: The Mall, Rathquarter, Sligo Phone: +353 (0)71 914 1405 Web: themodel.ie

Limerick City Gallery of Art, Limerick

The Limerick City Gallery of Art (LCGA) is the largest contemporary art gallery in the mid-western region, annually exhibiting national and international artists in a diverse exhibition programme. LCGA is located in the historic Carnegie Building adjacent to the People’s Park. It hosts an extensive collection of Irish 18th to 21st century art in different media. Collections hosted in the gallery include the National Collection of Contemporary Drawing and the Michael O’Connor International Poster Collection. Opening Hours: Monday-Wednesday, Friday+Saturday 10am-5.30pm; Thursday 10am-8pm; Sunday 12pm-5.30pm

Address: Carnegie Building, Pery Square, Limerick Phone: +353 (0)61 310633 Web: gallery.limerick.ie

Butler Gallery, Kilkenny

The Butler Gallery is committed to exhibiting the work of Irish and emerging artists along with supporting major international artists when possible. The take care of a broad collection of Irish and international art dating back to the 1800s. Currently located in Kilkenny Castle, but planning to move to Evans’ Home sometime this year, the gallery attracts both national and international visitors. It plays a central role in the cultural life of the city and county of Kilkenny, acting as a resource and a meeting point for the arts community as well as the general public. Opening Hours: Seven days a week; October-February 10am-1pm; 2pm-4.30pm; March 10am-1pm; 2pm-5pm; April 10am-1pm; 2pm-5.30pm; May-September 10am-5.30pm

Address: The Castle, Collegepark, Kilkenny Phone: +353 (0)56 776 1106 Web: butlergallery.com

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Crawford Art Gallery, Cork

The Crawford Municipal Art Gallery is a national cultural institution dedicated historic and contemporary visual arts, located in the heart of Cork city. Its collection contains around 4,000 works ranging from 18th century Irish and European paintings and sculptures to contemporary video installations. The gallery is also home to the famous Canova Casts, a collection of Greek and Roman sculpture casts that were brought to Cork in 1818 from the Vatican Museum in Rome. Through its exhibitions and programmes the gallery wants to promote recognition, critical assessment and acknowledgement of contemporary art practice. Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm; Late opening Thursdays until 8pm

Address: Emmet Place, Centre, Cork Phone: +353 (0)21 480 5042 Web: crawfordartgallery.ie

The Lewis Glucksman Gallery, Cork

The Lewis Glucksman Gallery, also called the Glucksman, is a contemporary art museum located in the historic part of University College Cork. It was named in honour of one of its founding members, the American financier and philanthropist Lewis Glucksman and opened its doors in 2004. The gallery has already won numerous awards for its architecture and creative programmes that encourage participation from art professionals and first-time gallery visitors alike. Both Irish and international artists can be found in the ambitious exhibitions presented at the Glucksman. Opening Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday 2pm-5pm; Closed on Mondays

Address: University College, Cork Phone: +353 (0)21 490 1844 Web: glucksman.org

The Naughton Gallery, Belfast

Situated on the first floor of the Lanyon Building at Queen’s University in Belfast, the Naughton Gallery showcases exciting original and contemporary exhibitions. Named after its generous benefactors Martin and Carmel Naughton, the gallery was founded in 2001 to exhibit the University’s permanent collection comprising gifts, bequests and purchases since its foundation. Its collections spans over a wide range of media: paintings, prints, sculptures, furniture, metalwork and silver. But the most notable feature of the gallery are the over 50 portraits that hang in the Great Hall of the building. Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 11am-4pm

Address: Queen’s University, University Road, Belfast Phone: +44 (0)28 9097 3580 Web: naughtongallery.org

If you liked these art galleries in Ireland, check out Ireland’s museums as well! Some of them run their own art galleries as well so they will be well worth a visit. Do you know any other interesting or special galleries? Let us know in the comments below!