Seeing the Sights - Dublin - page 92

Francis Bacon; it was moved piece by piece from Bacon's original stu-
dio and reconstructed at the museum. The bookshop is considered
the best art bookshop in the city.
Parnell Sq. N., Dublin 1. & 01/874-1903. Fax [phone]. www.hughlane.ie. Free
admission to museum; Francis Bacon studio 3.50 ($4.20) stu-

dents. MC, V. Tues-Thurs 9:30am-6pm; Fri-Sat 9:30am-5pm; Sun 11am-5pm.
DART to Connolly or Tara stations. Bus: 3, 10, 11, 13, 16, or 19.

€ 7 ($8.45) adults, €

Kilmainham Gaol Historical Museum This is a key sight
for anyone interested in Ireland's struggle for independence from
British rule. Within these walls political prisoners were incarcerated,
tortured, and killed from 1796 until 1924, when President Eamon
de Valera left as its final prisoner. To walk along these corridors,
through the exercise yard, or into the main compound is a moving
experience that lingers hauntingly in the memory. Note: The Wa r
Memorial Gardens ( & 01/677-0236 ), along the banks of the Lif-
fey, are a 5-minute walk from Kilmainham Gaol. The gardens were
designed by the famous British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens
(1869-1944), who completed a number of commissions for Irish
houses and gardens. The gardens are fairly well maintained, and
continue to present a moving testimony to Ireland's war dead. They
are open weekdays 8am to dark, Saturday 10am to dark.
Kilmainham, Dublin 8. & 01/453-5984. www.heritageireland.ie. Guided tour € 5 ($6)
adults, 11 ($13) families. AE, MC, V.

Apr-Sept daily 9:30am-4:45pm; Oct-Mar Mon-Fri 9:30am-4pm, Sun 10am-4:45pm.
Bus: 51B, 78A, or 79 at O'Connell Bridge.

€ 3.50 ($4.20) seniors, € 2 ($2.40) children, €

National Gallery of Ireland This museum houses Ire-
land's national art collection, as well as a superb European collection
of art spanning from the 14th to the 20th centuries. Every major
European school of painting is represented, including fine selections
by Italian Renaissance artists (especially Caravaggio's The Taking of
Christ ), French Impressionists, and Dutch 17th-century masters. The
highlight of the Irish collection is the room dedicated to the mesmer-
izing works of Jack B. Yeats, brother of the poet W. B. Yeats. All pub-
lic areas are wheelchair accessible. The museum has a fine gallery shop
and an excellent self-service cafe run by Fitzers (p. 76 in chapter 4).
Merrion Sq. W., Dublin 2. & 01/661-5133. Fax [phone]. www.nationalgallery.ie.
Free admission. Mon-Sat 9:30am-5:30pm; Thurs 9:30am-8:30pm; Sun noon-5pm.
Free guided tours (meet in the Shaw Room) Sat 3pm, Sun 2, 3, and 4pm. Closed Good
Friday and Dec 24-26. DART: Pearse. Bus: 5, 6, 7, 7A, 8, 10, 44, 47, 47B, 48A, or 62.

National Museum Established in 1890, this museum is a
reflection of Ireland's heritage from 2000 B . C . to the present. It is the