National Gallery of Ireland

This national art collection on Merrion Square was established by an act of parliament and opened to the public in 1864. Its galleries span European painting from the medieval period to the twentieth century, with strong holdings of Irish art and works by masters such as Caravaggio, Vermeer and Goya. A dedicated wing celebrates the painter Jack B. Yeats. The building combines Victorian and modern wings around a glazed courtyard, and admission to the permanent collection is free, drawing steady crowds year-round.