For my last free day post, I want to talk about our visit to the National Gallery of Ireland. As a kid, museums especially art museums were always some of my favorite places to visit. One of my dreams growing up was to travel to different countries and explore their national art galleries. I thought this would happen much later in life, but I was lucky enough to live out that dream for the first time during our trip to Ireland.
I got to visit the National Gallery with Ash and Alex on one of our free days.
It turned out to be one of the most relaxing and meaningful days for me. Walking through the gallery, I felt sentimental knowing I was finally experiencing something I had dreamed about since I was a teenager. We strolled through rooms filled with biblical-themed artwork created by various artists, which was both beautiful and inspiring.
In another room, we saw portraits of influential Irish figures, along with information about their recognition and contributions. I actually recognized several of them from TV or the news, which made the experience even more interesting. As we continued through the gallery, we came across stunning pieces from the 17th and 19th centuries some of my absolute favorites. I’ve always loved classical paintings, and seeing them up close was incredible. We also explored landscapes and portraits of other historical figures.
I enjoyed the experience so much that I went back a second time with Maddy, Sydney, and Ryan. Afterward, I stopped by the gift shop and picked up a magnet and a compact mirror, both of which I absolutely love. I always make it a point to bring home something small from art museums it’s a tradition I started back when I used to visit the National Gallery in Washington, D.C.
I highly recommend visiting the National Gallery of Ireland if you love art or even just enjoy taking peaceful walks through beautiful spaces. I wish I had gotten the chance to visit more galleries during my time here, but due to our busy schedule, I couldn’t fit them in. Still, I’d love to return to Ireland someday to explore more.