Hugh Lane Gallery Museum
Dublin modern art gallery housing portrait and contemporary works
Municipal gallery of modern and contemporary art in Dublin holding national collections, temporary exhibitions and Francis Bacon's preserved studio; popular with art visitors exploring twentieth-century and contemporary Irish art.
Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane is a public gallery of modern and contemporary art in Parnell Square, Dublin, founded by Sir Hugh Lane in the early 20th century. It is one of the city’s principal municipal art institutions.
The permanent collection includes modern and contemporary Irish and international works and is shown alongside a programme of temporary exhibitions and public events. The gallery houses an installed reconstruction of Francis Bacon’s studio, displayed as a single-room exhibit alongside the main galleries. Educational programmes and rotating displays make the venue a frequent stop for both local visitors and international tourists.
Sir Hugh Lane established the gallery in the early 1900s to promote modern art in Dublin; his early acquisitions formed the core of the collection. Over the 20th and early 21st centuries the institution expanded its display spaces and conservation facilities and moved into the restored Charlemont House as its primary public building.
The gallery sits on Parnell Square, a short walk north of O’Connell Street in central Dublin, within easy distance of the main city centre and public transport links.
- Collection focus: A permanent collection focuses on modern and contemporary Irish and international art, supplemented by rotating temporary exhibitions and loans.
- Francis Bacon Studio: The Francis Bacon Studio was dismantled in London and reassembled in the gallery as a complete installation, offering an unusually intact view of the artist's working environment.
What to See#
- Charlemont House: The gallery occupies the 18th-century Georgian townhouse Charlemont House in Parnell Square, which serves as the main exhibition space and public entrance.
- Francis Bacon Studio: A reconstructed working studio of Francis Bacon that contains the artist's original furnishings and layout, installed as a permanent display alongside the main galleries.
- Exhibition galleries: Multiple temporary exhibition galleries used for rotating shows of contemporary and modern art, education programmes, and public events.
How to Get to Hugh Lane Gallery#
Parnell Square sits north of O’Connell Street in central Dublin. From O’Connell Street a 10-15 minute walk will bring visitors to the gallery. Several Dublin Bus routes (including 15, 27, 39) stop nearby; the closest Luas (tram) stop is at Abbey Street, a 10-12 minute walk.
Tips for Visiting Hugh Lane Gallery#
- See the reconstructed Francis Bacon studio - it was moved stone‑for‑stone from 7 Reece Mews and reassembled at the gallery; ask at reception for the route.
- Visit on a weekday morning to avoid school groups and to linger over the Hugh Lane's modern Irish collection.
- Pick up the free floor map: the gallery is housed in Charlemont House (18th century) and the circulation can feel like a small maze.
Best Time to Visit Hugh Lane Gallery#
Best visited on weekday mornings outside the high summer season; the permanent collection is free which encourages regular local visitors.
Weather & Climate near Hugh Lane Gallery#
Hugh Lane Gallery's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 21°C. Moderate rainfall (713 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 8°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (66 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (52 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (51 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (50 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (50 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (55 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (51 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (68 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (61 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 14°C and lows of 7°C. The wettest month with 71 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (67 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 3°C. The wettest month with 71 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.
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