National Print Museum, located at Beggars Bush Barracks, Haddington Road, Dublin 4, County Dublin, is Ireland’s only museum dedicated to the art and history of printing. Housed in the former Garrison Chapel and opened in 1996, it showcases a unique collection of over 10,000 printing artifacts, celebrating the craft’s historical and contemporary significance.
Founded by retired printers and compositors, led by Sean Galavan, the museum began collecting equipment in the 1980s as letterpress printing became obsolete. Officially opened in 1996 by President Mary Robinson, it aims to preserve Ireland’s printing heritage, document its impact, and foster associated skills. Accredited under The Heritage Council’s Museum Standards Programme, it’s a vital repository of printing craft, from Johannes Gutenberg’s 1439 invention to modern times.
The museum highlights printing’s role in shaping Irish history, notably through artifacts like an original 1916 Proclamation, printed during the Easter Rising. It explores how printing democratized knowledge, influenced culture, and supported movements like the Irish independence struggle. Its interactive approach makes it a niche yet engaging stop in Dublin’s cultural landscape, part of the UNESCO City of Literature.
Key Features and Activities:
- Permanent Collection: The ground-floor exhibition, laid out like a 1960s print shop, features fully operational letterpress equipment, including:
- Ireland’s oldest printing artifact, a c.1706 hand-held casting mould.
- Wharfedale, Columbian, and Titan Glockner presses, plus Linotype and Monotype machines.
- Printing blocks, metal/wooden movable type, ephemera, photographs, and periodicals.
- An original 1916 Proclamation, showcasing its complex production story during the Easter Rising.
- The collection is not behind glass, allowing hands-on interaction, such as composing type or printing posters.
Temporary Exhibitions (Mezzanine Level):
- Poster Boys (until end of 2025): Curated by Linda King, this exhibition displays Abbey Theatre posters from the 1970s–1980s, designed by pioneers like Brendan Foreman and Kevin Scally. It explores the modernization of Irish graphic design and theatre’s visual culture, with posters once hung across Dublin’s pubs and streets. Free admission, supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
- Brendan Behan Centenary Exhibition: Marking Behan’s 2023 birth centenary, this exhibit features letterpress prints by 22 NCAD Illustration students, combining hand-crafted illustration and typography. Printed at Distillers Press, it celebrates Behan’s writings and remains on view into 2025.
- Guided Tours: Offered Tuesday–Sunday at 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM (Monday–Friday, plus Sunday free tours on a first-come basis), these 45–60-minute tours, led by passionate guides like Liam or John, cover printing’s history from Gutenberg to the 20th century. Visitors learn about the 1916 Proclamation, try hand-setting type, and print a personaliised poster. Tours cost €8 (adults), €5 (concessions), and are included with Go City Dublin Explorer Pass. Booking is advised via www.nationalprintmuseum.ie.
- Demonstration Days: During events like National Heritage Week (August 16–24, 2025), retired printers and Skills Transfer Programme volunteers demonstrate machines like the Linotype, Wharfdale press, and Shaw Pen Ruling machine. Visitors see letterpress printing in action and learn about restoring the Titan Glockner press.
Workshops and Programmes:
- Letterpress workshops for beginners teach hand-setting type and printing mechanics, with participants creating their own prints. Suitable for adults and older children, these cost €20–€50 and require booking.
- The Skills Transfer Programme, now in its third year, trains new generations in printing craft, with volunteers like Alf McCormack sharing expertise during Demo Days or Reminiscence Evenings.
- Children’s workshops, like those tied to Blot’s Most Marvellous Guide to Printing Books, engage young visitors, with the book/exhibition touring libraries.
Amenities:
- Press Café: An independent café on-site offers homemade Irish dishes, Cloud Pickers coffee, and pastries like mixed berry scones. It’s accessible without museum entry and praised for its cozy ambiance.
- Museum Shop: Sells limited-edition prints, books, and crafts, including Poster Boys response prints (€45) and works by Susan Leen.
- Facilities: Ground-floor toilets, reception, and permanent exhibition are fully wheelchair-accessible via the café entrance. The mezzanine (temporary exhibitions) is stairs-only. Guide/service dogs are welcome, and large-text booklets plus a Visual Story document aid accessibility.
- A guided tour takes 45–60 minutes, with self-guided visits or café time extending to 1.5–2 hours. The compact chapel setting suits quick cultural stops.
- Cost: General admission is free, guided tours are €8 (adults), €5 (seniors/students/children), and workshops vary (€20–€50). Groups of 10+ must book via info@nationalprintmuseum.ie. Go City Dublin Explorer Pass covers tours.
- The ground floor is wheelchair-accessible, but the mezzanine is not. The nearest DART stations (Lansdowne Road, Grand Canal Dock) are a 10-minute walk; Dublin Bus 4 or 7 stops at Haddington Road. No on-site parking; use Haddington Road’s local rates.
- Atmosphere and Reviews: With a Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award, the museum is a “hidden gem” for its interactive, hands-on approach and passionate staff/volunteers (e.g., Liam, John, Alf McCormack). Visitors love printing their own posters, learning phrases like “mind your Ps and Qs,” and the café’s scones. Some note outdated signage or the small size, but the engaging tours and unique focus earn high praise.
- Criticisms: Limited parking, mezzanine inaccessibility, and occasional signage issues are drawbacks. The €8 tour price is seen as high by some for the museum’s size.
- Location and Getting There: At Beggars Bush Barracks, Haddington Road, Dublin 4 (D04 E0C3), it’s a 20-minute walk from Trinity College, 10 minutes via Dublin Bus 4/7 from O’Connell Street (€2), or 10 minutes from Lansdowne Road DART. No on-site parking; use Haddington Road or nearby structures. From Donegal Airport, it’s a 3.5-hour drive (183 miles) or 5-hour 25-minute bus via Mc Ginley Coach Travel (€20) to O’Connell Street, then a bus/walk.
- Nearby Attractions: Combine with EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum (10-minute drive), Trinity College’s Book of Kells (15-minute walk), or Saint Stephen’s Green. Searson’s of Baggot Saint or Slattery’s Pub offer nearby dining.
- Tuesday–Friday (10:00 AM–4:00 PM), Saturday–Sunday (12:00 PM–4:00 PM), closed Mondays and Bank Holiday weekends. No changes are noted, but confirm via www.nationalprintmuseum.ie.
- Guided Historical Tour: Visitors view the 1916 Proclamation and learn its production story, composing their own type and printing posters.
- Demonstration Days: Volunteers showcase Linotype, Wharfdale, and Shaw Pen Ruling machines, with updates on the Titan Glockner press restoration. These events, funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, celebrate letterpress as a National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
- National Drawing Day (May 17, 2025): While not confirmed for the Print Museum, nearby National Museum of Ireland sites host drawing events, and MoLI may participate with literary sketching. MoLI could inspire similar print-themed art activities, like sketching presses or posters, given its creative focus.
- Skills Transfer Programme: Entering its fourth year, this programme continues training volunteers in letterpress skills, ensuring craft preservation. Visitors may meet participants during Demo Days..
Practical Tips for Visiting
- Getting There: Walk from Trinity College (20 minutes), take Dublin Bus 4/7 (€2, 10 minutes), or DART to Lansdowne Road (10-minute walk). Use GPS (D04 E0C3). Park on Haddington Road (local rates). Book tours online for summer.
- What to Bring: Wear comfortable shoes; bring a camera (photography allowed). The Press Café covers dining; try their scones. No on-site parking; plan for street parking.
- Best Time to Visit: Weekdays for quieter tours; Sundays for free tours (first-come). August for Heritage Week demos or May for potential Drawing Day tie-ins.
- Tips: Book guided tours via www.nationalprintmuseum.ie (€8). Go City Dublin Pass saves on tours. The café is a cozy stop; arrive early for lunch specials. Pair with EPIC or Saint Stephen’s Green for a full day.
- Combine with Other Sites: Visit EPIC, Trinity College’s Book of Kells, or MoLI (15-minute drive). Searson’s or Slattery’s Pub offer post-visit drinks.
For the latest 2025 updates, contact the National Print Museum (+353 1 660 3770, info@nationalprintmuseum.ie) or visit www.nationalprintmuseum.ie
