Dublin Festival of History is an annual event that provides free talks, tours, workshops and more to share and celebrate fascinating histories all around Dublin.

You can engage with fascinating tours of the National Museum - Collins Barracks on a range of topics on the dates and times below. 

Tours will begin in Reception at Collins Barracks. Booking is not required. However, places are limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Children must be fully supervised by a parent or adult who is in loco parentis.

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LGBTQIA+ Tours of Collins Barracks

This tour views the exhibitions at the National Museum through alternative lenses, bringing some hidden histories and perspectives to the fore, and reveals a wide variety of identities, genders and sexualities along the way. Spanning the establishment of the Barracks itself to Ireland’s passing of the Marriage Equality Referendum in 2015, highlights include the non-conformist chair by world renowned designer and architect Eileen Gray and artefacts belonging to some of the women of Ireland’s revolutionary period.

Saturday 4th October 
14:00    LGBTQIA+ Tour of Collins Barracks
15:30    LGBTQIA+ Tour of Collins Barracks

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From Barracks to Museum: An Introduction to Collins Barracks

This tour focuses on the story of Royal Barracks (now Collins Barracks) and the lives of soldiers who lived here between 1706 until 1993. Learn about their daily activities, living conditions, drilling and marching practices and experiences going to war. This tour also explores the story of Collins Barracks becoming a Museum, and will introduce students to some of the most fascinating artefacts in the Museum's collection.

Sunday 5th October 
14:00     From Barracks to Museum: An Introduction to Collins Barracks
15:30     From Barracks to Museum: An Introduction to Collins Barracks

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Changing Ireland Exhibition: Preview Tours

Take the first steps with us into a new space at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks. The Changing Ireland galleries are the greatest expansion of our museum in two decades and offer unprecedented public access to our twentieth and twenty-first century history collections. These diverse collections relate to the evolution of Irish social, political and cultural history and connect familiar and lesser-known stories. The new displays will include renowned artefacts alongside new acquisitions exhibited for the first time. Celebrating our diverse histories and shared knowledge, in Changing Ireland we’re inviting visitors to consider, ‘what is Ireland to you?’.

Saturday 11th October
14:00    Changing Ireland Exhibition: Preview Tours
15:30    Changing Ireland Exhibition: Preview Tours

Sunday 12th October
14:00    Changing Ireland Exhibition: Preview Tours
15:30    Changing Ireland Exhibition: Preview Tours

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For more information about the tours listed above, contact bookings@museum.ie or call 01 648 6453. You can find the full programme of events taking place across Dublin as part of Dublin Festival of History at the following link: Dublin Festival of History – 26 September – 12 October 2025