Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane

At this laidback, small-scale gallery in Dublin’s happening city center, visitors can browse over 2,000 pieces of modern and contemporary art. “The Hugh Lane,” as locals call it, holds the work of well-known artistic greats such as Monet, Renoir, Degas, and Manet, and also hosts a revolving array of temporary exhibits. Perhaps most fascinating is the studio of Francis Bacon—an Irish born painter who won international acclaim for his emotional and moving pieces.  Here in the Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane, his entire studio was recreated in the exact, eccentric, and extremely messy state that he kept it while he was alive. Historians have lauded the Hugh Lane Gallery for the impeccable attention to detail, and a visit today is a look into the life of one Ireland’s most legendary painters. If visiting on a Sunday, show up in the morning and stay until Noon for the weekly Sunday concert series that takes place in the sculpture hall. Concerts are held from September-June, and consistently attract a talented collection of Ireland’s most popular artists. 

Practical Info

The Dublin Gallery The Hugh Lane is open Tuesday-Thursday from 10am-6pm, on Friday and Saturday from 10am-5pm, and from 11am-5pm on Sunday. Admission is free, and the museum is located past the north end of O’Connell Street along the Parnell Square.