November 17th, 2020 english

Explore from the comfort of your couch!

Over the last few months, galleries, exhibits, attractions and museums across Ireland and the rest of the globe have had to close their doors to visitors due to worldwide restrictions.

In an attempt to bring you a little bit closer to Ireland, we’ve created a guide that’s full of the best virtual tours that Dublin has to offer!

1.EPIC

The Irish Emigration Museum is open for virtual visits! Recently voted as Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction for the second year in a row, this museum has made some changes to its website to now boast a vast variety of online workshops, webinars, virtual 3D tours and history pack downloads. The richness and diversity of the stories available online are both entertaining and educational which makes it a favourite among us here at DCU Language Services.

2. Dublinia

Travel back to Viking and Medieval times at Dublinia. Despite not offering virtual tours of its building and exhibitions, it still has a great interactive website that you can spend hours navigating through. This brilliant new site includes nine audiovisual animations with interactive activities on nine historical sites across Dublin.

3. Glasnevin Cemetery Museum

The perpetual resting place of many Irish historical figures, Glasnevin Cemetery is located just a short bus journey away from Dublin City University. Start your visit here and take a virtual tour of the cemetery’s museum as well as O’Connell Tower, home to one of Ireland’s greatest political figures, Daniel O’Connell. 

4. The Guinness Storehouse

Dublin’s number one visitor attraction is an unmissable attraction and a regular sellout activity with DCU Language Services students.

The home of Guinness can’t currently be visited through a virtual tour, however, it is accessible via 360° photos of some of the main rooms throughout the Storehouse, such as the famous Gravity Bar.

The Gravity Bar is a spectacle that needs to be experienced in person so if you are planning a trip to Ireland soon, make sure that a visit to the home of the black stuff is at the top of your itinerary!

5. Áras an Uachtaráin 

Located in the heart of Phoenix Park, Áras an Uachtaráin has been the official residence of the President of Ireland since the 1930s and contains a total of 95 rooms. 

While you can’t explore all of these rooms virtually, there are still a great selection of 360° photos that can be viewed here. Follow the green arrows across State rooms and into the picturesque gardens alongside Bród, the President’s dog!

6. Chester Beatty Library

Found on the grounds of Dublin Castle, the Chester Beatty is the leading Irish museum promoting the appreciation and understanding of world cultures with holdings of manuscripts, rare books and other riches from every corner of the globe. While the library is closed, you can take a look at these treasures through a 3D virtual tour on their website.

7. National Gallery of Ireland

For the art lovers! The National Gallery of Ireland boasts some 2,500 paintings and approximately 10,000 other works in different media including water-colours, drawings, prints and sculpture. 

Explore the wonders of the gallery’s different collections and take a leisurely stroll around their impressive exhibits from the comfort of your own home.

Make sure to visit the Grand Gallery where you can enjoy a rich collection of paintings and sculptures online from famous artists such as Picasso, Monet or Caravaggio. Virtual tours are available here.

8. National Museum of Ireland – Natural History

This beloved museum hosts over 10,000 exhibits of Irish and worldwide animals. Free admission to every visitor, only the ground and first floors are usually open to the public. 

In this online interactive visit you can access all four floors of the “Dead Zoo” and discover more about Earth’s wildlife. This 3D Space is one of our favourites and is super easy to navigate. You can also download an audioguide to listen to while you explore the museum virtually! Make sure to look out for the giant Irish deer and whale skeletons which are some of the most famous and distinctive animals on display in this museum.

9. National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology

This museum is home to a remarkable range of symbolic treasures, including the Ardagh Chalice, the ‘Tara’ Brooch and the famous Derrynaflan Hoard.

From Prehistoric Ireland to Ancient Egypt, visitors can discover important artefacts dating from 7000 BC up to the 20th century. 

The museum has made interactive presentations for some of their permanent displays which include “The Treasury” and “Viking Ireland” exhibitions. Make sure to download “The Treasury” audioguide and click through the interactive videos to explore all that the museum has to offer.

10. St. Patrick’s Cathedral

The spectacular St. Patrick’s Cathedral was founded back in 1191 and is the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland. It was built in honour of Ireland’s patron saint and today it serves as a place of worship, a visitor attraction and a host for many different events throughout the year. Boasting a 43-metre spire, the cathedral is the tallest and largest church in Ireland.

The inside of this magnificent cathedral is ready to be explored through 360° photos and you can also watch live streams of services here!

Improve your English with us here at DCU!