National Gallery of Ireland Welcomes Over One Million Visitors in 2025

Exhibition highlights of the year include ‘Picasso: From the Studio’, ‘Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone. The Art of Friendship’ and ‘Turner’s Watercolours: Scotland’s Vaughan Bequest’

 

The National Gallery of Ireland is proud to announce it welcomed over one million visitors again in 2025. In total, 1,049,683 visitors attended the Gallery over the course of the year, representing the third consecutive year the Gallery has welcomed over one million visitors. The increase in visitors was driven by critically successful exhibitions including Turner’s Watercolours: Scotland’s Vaughan Bequest; Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone. The Art of Friendship; Picasso: From the Studio and the AIB Portrait Prize and AIB Young Portrait Prize. Other exhibitions and displays at the Gallery in 2025 included; Ludovico Mazzolino’s The Crossing of the Red Sea; An Artist’s Presence;Créatúir na Cartlainne | Tails from the Archive; and Maurice Marinot – On Paper, In Glass.

 

In 2025, the Gallery completed a wide range of new acquisitions including: Woman in costume (Self-portrait), 1917 by Kathleen Fox (1880 – 1963); Seated Woman Reading, 1884 by Frank O’Meara (1853 – 1888) and two works by Harry Clarke (1889 – 1931); The Lady of the Decoration, 1914 and Faust 1924/25.

 

The education and public engagement programme at the Gallery delivered a highly ambitious, year-round public programme, onsite, offsite and online across 2025, celebrating the transformative power of art. Highlights in 2025 include the appointment of the inaugural Cultural Art Psychotherapist in Residence, extending the Gallery’s work in the field of arts and health; enhancing the Schools Partnership with SMBC Aviation Capital to address barriers to the arts for children and young people across the country; celebrating our National Language through events trí Ghaeilge, and the continued success of the annual National Drawing Day.

 

The Gallery maintained its position as Ireland’s leading cultural institution on social media with a combined 244,656 followers on our key profiles, which represents a 8.5% year-on-year growth. The most significant growth was seen in LinkedIn (+32.6%) and Instagram (+16%).

 

In addition, the Gallery remains committed to expanding access to high-quality, free images from the national collection through Creative Commons licensing. In 2025, over 600 new images were added to nationalgalleryimages.ie, bringing the total to 2,850 artworks from the national collection freely available for public download.

 

Continuing the Gallery’s commitment to international partnerships in 2025, works from the national collection featured in exhibitions at institutions across the globe, including: 

  • Caravaggio’s The Taking of Christ featured as part of Caravaggio 2025 at the Palazzo Barberini, Rome

  • Saints Cosmas and Damian and their Brothers Surviving the Stake by Fra Angelico was part of the exhibition Beato Angelico at the Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, Florence

  • Vermeer’s Woman Writing a Letter with her Maid featured in Vermeer’s Love Letters as part of the reopening of The Frick, New York 

  • Prince Paul Troubetzkoy’s George Bernard Shaw (1856 – 1950), Author, Playwright and Critic was displayed at the Musée d’Orsay, Paris

  • Camille Pissarro’s Chrysanthemums in a Chinese Vase was shown in both Denver Art Museum, Colorado and Museum Barberini, Potsdam, Germany as part of the exhibition The Honest Eye: Camille Pissarro’s Impressionism

 

The Gallery’s 2026 exhibition season is an exciting and ambitious programme, highlighted by Ireland’s first monographic exhibition of Swedish modernist Hilma af Klint (1862–1944) with Hilma af Klint: Artist and Visionary, and a major celebration of pioneering artist William Blake and his contemporaries in William Blake: The Age of Romantic Fantasy. The Gallery’s 2026 exhibition programme will be a captivating journey through art, spanning multiple genres and eras and blending Irish and international works of art. From the timeless mastery of J.M.W. Turner (1775–1851) to the artistic versatility of Jan Steen (1626–1679), the programme demonstrates the Gallery’s strategic priorities to develop and care for our living collections for public benefit and to be a National Gallery for all. Other exhibition highlights in 2026 include an exploration of the photography of John Minihan (b.1946) and a celebration of European prints and drawings from Rembrandt to Matisse.

 

 

Welcoming the news, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, said: “Welcoming over one million visitors once again is a remarkable achievement for the National Gallery of Ireland and a powerful vote of confidence in our National Cultural Institutions. For the third year in a row, the Gallery has reached this milestone — proof of its enduring appeal and its vital place in Ireland’s cultural life, attracting people from right across the country and around the world. I am proud that Government investment is helping the Gallery to grow its reach — particularly through initiatives that connect more young people with art and projects that bring creativity into healthcare settings. That is culture making a real difference in people’s lives.”

 

Dr Caroline Campbell, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, added: “We are proud to celebrate another remarkable year at the National Gallery of Ireland in 2025, welcoming over one million visitors for the third year in a row. This milestone is made achievable by our very dedicated staff, volunteers and Friends, and of course our visitors. I would also like to express my gratitude to the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport for their ongoing support, and to all our supporters, who play a vital role in the success of our work and our exciting programme of events and exhibitions. I look forward to another exciting year to come in 2026.”

 

The Gallery would like to thank the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport for its ongoing support. 

 

Find out more about the Gallery’s 2026 plans at www.nationalgallery.ie.

 

 

ENDS

 

Media Contacts:

  • Sam Hardiman, Communications Coordinator: Press & Advertising, National Gallery of Ireland, [email protected]

 

Notes to editor:

  • Images are available at the link; https://we.tl/t-pqoABLpxzF

  • Dr Caroline Campbell, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, is available for interview.

 

Exhibitions currently on display at the National Gallery of Ireland:

Picasso: From the Studio

Curated by Janet McLean, Curator of Modern Art at the National Gallery of Ireland

09 October 2025 – 22 February 2026

Lower Beit Wing, Rooms 6 - 10 | Ticketed Exhibition

 

AIB Portrait Prize & AIB Young Portrait Prize

Curated by Anne Hodge, Curator of Prints and Drawings at the National Gallery of Ireland

08 November 2025 – 15 March 2026

Portrait Gallery | Free Entry

 

Créatúir na Cartlainne

Curated by Marie Lynch, Curator of the Centre for the Study of Irish Art at the National Gallery of Ireland 

Opened 26 June 2025

Room 11 | Free Entry

 

 

Acquisitions:

Artist: Harry Clarke (1889 – 1931)

Title: The Lady of the Decoration 

Date: 1914

Medium: Graphite, ink and watercolour on paper

Dimensions: 53.2 x 30.5 cm

 

Artist: Harry Clarke (1889 – 1931)

Title: Faust

Date: 1924/25

Medium: Graphite, ink and watercolour on paper

Dimensions: 33.5 x 23.5 cm

 

Artist: Kathleen Fox (1880 – 1963)

Title: Woman in costume (Self-portrait) 

Date: 1917

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 100 x 70 cm

 

Artist: Frank O’Meara (1853 – 1888)

Title: Seated Woman Reading

Date: 1884

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 32.5 x 46.3 cm 

 

 

2026 Exhibition Listings:

Turner as Inspiration

Curated by Anne Hodge, Curator of Prints and Drawings at the National Gallery of Ireland

01 January – 31 January 2026

Print Gallery | Free Entry

 

William Blake: The Age of Romantic Fantasy

Curated by Anne Hodge, Curator of Prints and Drawings at the National Gallery of Ireland and Alice Insley, Curator of British Art c. 1730 – 1850 at Tate

16 April – 19 July 2026

Lower Beit Wing, Rooms 6 – 10 | Ticketed Exhibition

Organised in collaboration with Tate

 

From Rembrandt to Matisse – A Celebration of European Prints and Drawings

Curated by Niamh MacNally, Curator of the Prints and Drawings Study Room at the National Gallery of Ireland

27 June – 8 November 2026

Print Gallery | Free Entry

 

Hilma af Klint: Artist and Visionary

Curated by Janet McLean, Curator of Modern Art at the National Gallery of Ireland

15 October 2026 – 07 February 2027

Lower Beit Wing, Rooms 6 – 10 | Ticketed Exhibition

Presented by Key Capital at 25

 

AIB Portrait Prize and AIB Young Portrait Prize 2026

Curated by Dr Brendan Rooney, Head Curator and Sinéad Rice, Head of Education and Public Programming at the National Gallery of Ireland

14 November 2026 – 14 March 2027

Portrait Gallery | Free Entry

 

Jan Steen: Sacred and Profane

Curated by Dr Lizzie Marx, Curator of Dutch and Flemish Art at the National Gallery of Ireland

21 November 2026 – 25 April 2027

Sir Hugh Lane Room | Free Entry

 

 

About the National Gallery of Ireland: 

The National Gallery of Ireland is one of the country’s most popular visitor attractions housing the nation’s collection of European and Irish art from about 1300 to the present day, and an extensive Library & Archive. Entry to the collection is free for all to enjoy, learn and be inspired. 

Visit nationalgallery.ie or follow us on social media:

  • Facebook & Instagram: @nationalgalleryofireland
  • LinkedIn: @National Gallery of Ireland
  • X: @NGIreland

 

 

Chuireamar fáilte roimh bhreis is milliún cuairteoir chuig 
Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann in 2025
I measc thaispeántais mhóra na bliana bhí ‘Picasso: Ón Stiúideo’,  
‘Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone. The Art of Friendship’ agus 
‘Turner’s Watercolours: Scotland’s Vaughan Bequest’

 

Is cúis bhróid ag Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann a fhógairt gur chuireamar fáilte roimh bhreis is milliún cuairteoir arís eile in 2025. San iomlán, thug 1,049,683 duine cuairt ar an nGailearaí i rith na bliana, agus ba é 2025 an tríú bliain as a chéile a thug níos mó ná milliún duine cuairt air. Tháinig lear mór daoine chuig taispeántais dár gcuid, agus ina measc siúd bhí Turner’s Watercolours: Scotland’s Vaughan Bequest; Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone. The Art of Friendship; Picasso: Ón Stiúideo agus Duais Phortráide AIB agus Duais Phortráide AIB don Aos Óg. I measc na dtaispeántas eile a bhí ar siúl sa Ghailearaí in 2025 bhí Ludovico Mazzolino’s The Crossing of the Red Sea; An Artist’s Presence; Créatúir na Cartlainne | Tails from the Archive; agus Maurice Marinot – On Paper, In Glass.

 

Fuair an Gailearaí roinnt saothair nua in 2025, agus iad seo a leanas ina measc: Woman in costume (Self-portrait), 1917 le Kathleen Fox (1880 – 1963); Seated Woman Reading, 1884 le Frank O’Meara (1853 – 1888) agus dhá shaothar le Harry Clarke (1889 – 1931): The Lady of the Decoration, 1914 agus Faust 1924/25.

 

Faoi chlár oideachais agus rannpháirtíochta poiblí an Ghailearaí, rinneamar cumhacht chlaochlaitheach na healaíne a cheiliúradh le clár poiblí uaillmhianach, ar an láthair, lasmuigh den láthair agus ar líne. I measc na mbuaicphointí in 2025, cheapamar an chéad Síciteiripeoir Cónaithe a bhíonn ag plé leis an Ealaín Chultúrtha, rud a thug an deis dúinn cur le scóip na hoibre a dhéanann an Gailearaí i réimse na n-ealaíon agus na sláinte; cuireadh feabhas ar Chomhpháirtíocht na Scoileanna le SMBC Aviation Capital chun dul i ngleic le bacainní ar na healaíona do pháistí agus daoine óga ar fud na tíre; rinneamar ár dteanga náisiúnta a cheiliúradh le himeachtaí trí Ghaeilge, agus bhí Lá Náisiúnta na Líníochta, imeacht a n-éiríonn go geal leis i gcónaí, ar siúl arís.

 

Léiríodh gurb é an Gailearaí fós príomhinstitiúid chultúrtha na hÉireann ar na meáin shóisialta: 244,656 leantóir san iomlán a bhí againn ar ár bpríomhphróifílí — sin méadú 8.5% i gcomparáid le 2024. Ba ar LinkedIn (+32.6%) agus Instagram (+16%) a tháinig an méadú ba mhó ar líon na leantóirí. 

 

Ina theannta sin, tá an Gailearaí meáite fós ar chur leis an rochtain ar íomhánna ardchaighdeáin, saor in aisce ón mbailiúchán náisiúnta trí cheadúnú Creative Commons. In 2025, cuireadh níos mó ná 600 íomhá nua le nationalgalleryimages.ie, rud a fhágann go bhfuil 2,850 saothar ealaíne ón mbailiúchán náisiúnta ar fáil anois lena n-íoslódáil ag an bpobal, agus iad go léir saor in aisce.

 

Bhíomar díograiseach i leith comhpháirtíochtaí idirnáisiúnta a chothú in 2025, agus cuireadh saothair ón mbailiúchán náisiúnta ar taispeáint in institiúidí ar fud an domhain, iad seo a leanas san áireamh: 

  • Bhí The Taking of Christ le Caravaggio ar taispeáint ag Caravaggio 2025 ag an Palazzo Barberini sa Róimh.

  • Bhí Saints Cosmas and Damian and their Brothers Surviving the Stake le Fra Angelico ar crochadh sa taispeántas Beato Angelico ag an Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, Flórans.

  • Bhí saothar de chuid Vermeer, Woman Writing a Letter with her Maid ar taispeáint in Vermeer’s Love Letters tráth a athosclaíodh The Frick i Nua-Eabhrac. 

  • Taispeánadh saothar leis an bPrionsa Paul Troubetzkoy, George Bernard Shaw (1856 – 1950), Author, Playwright and Critic, sa Musée d’Orsay i bPáras.

  • Bhí Chrysanthemums in a Chinese Vase le Camille Pissarro ar taispeáint sa Mhúsaem Ealaíne, Denver, Colorado agus i Músaem Barberini, in Potsdam na Gearmáine, mar chuid den taispeántas The Honest Eye: Camille Pissarro’s Impressionism.

 

Clár spreagúil, uaillmhianach atá againn i gcomhair shéasúr taispeántas na bliana 2026 sa Ghailearaí, agus cúis bhróid ar leith againn is ea an chéad taispeántas aonair in Éirinn de shaothar Hilma af Klint (1862–1944), nua-aoisí Sualannach, a bheith á chur ar bun againn, le Hilma af Klint: Artist and Visionary, chomh maith le ceiliúradh mór ar an ealaíontóir ceannródaíoch William Blake agus ealaíontóirí a linne in William Blake: Aois na Fantaisíochta Rómánsaí. Aistear mealltach ealaíne a bheidh i gceist le clár taispeántas an Ghailearaí in 2026. Clúdófar seánraí agus réanna éagsúla agus beidh idir shaothair ealaíne Éireannacha agus saothair idirnáisiúnta ar taispeáint. Eiseamláirí is ea taispeántais le J.M.W. Turner (1775–1851), maistirealaíontóir, agus le Jan Steen (1626–1679), ealaíontóir ildánach, den chaoi a gcuireann an Gailearaí i bhfeidhm na tosaíochtaí straitéiseacha atá againn i dtaobh ár mbailiúcháin bheo a fhorbairt agus aire a thabhairt dóibh chun leasa an phobail agus ionas go mbeimid inár nGailearaí Náisiúnta do chách. I measc bhuaicphointí eile an chláir taispeántas in 2026 tá iniúchadh ar ghrianghrafadóireacht John Minihan (a rugadh in 1946) agus ceiliúradh ar phriontaí agus líníochtaí Eorpacha ó Rembrandt go Matisse.

 

Agus fáilte á cur aige roimh an dea-scéala, dúirt an tAire Cultúir, Cumarsáide agus Spóirt, Patrick O’Donovan TD:  “Is mór an t-éacht é fáilte a chur roimh bhreis is milliún cuairteoir arís eile chuig Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann agus is maith an teist é ar ár nInstitiúidí Cultúrtha Náisiúnta. Seo é an tríú bliain as a chéile a bhain an Gailearaí amach an sprioc sin i dtaobh líon cuairteoirí — cruthúnas ar an gcumas atá aige daoine a mhealladh agus ar an áit ríthábhachtach atá aige i saol cultúrtha na hÉireann, agus daoine ag teacht chuige ó i bhfad is i gcóngar. Is cúis bhróid agam é go bhfuil an infheistíocht ón Rialtas ag cuidiú leis an nGailearaí dul i bhfeidhm ar níos mó agus níos mó daoine — go háirithe trí thionscnaimh lena gcuirtear an ealaín ar a súile do níos mó daoine óga agus tionscadail a spreagann an chruthaitheacht i suíomhanna cúram sláinte. Is léir go bhfuil an cultúr ag dul i bhfeidhm i ndáiríre ar shaol daoine.”

 

Arsa an Dr Caroline Campbell, Stiúrthóir Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann: “Táimid bródúil as bliain iontach eile a cheiliúradh i nGailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann in 2025, tráth a chuireamar fáilte roimh bhreis is milliún cuairteoir den tríú bliain as a chéile. Is a bhuí lenár mbaill foirne, ár n-oibrithe deonacha agus ár gCairde, agus ar ndóigh ár gcuairteoirí, a d’éirigh linn an gaisce sin a dhéanamh. Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil freisin leis an Roinn Cultúir, Cumarsáide agus Spóirt as an tacaíocht leanúnach a thugann sí dúinn, agus lenár lucht tacaíochta go léir, dream a chuireann go mór leis an rath atá orainn agus lenár gclár spreagúil imeachtaí agus taispeántas. Táim ag tnúth le bliain iontach eile romhainn in 2026.”

 

Ba mhaith leis an nGailearaí buíochas a ghabháil leis an Roinn Cultúir, Cumarsáide agus Spóirt as an tacaíocht a thugann sí dúinn. 

 

Gheofar tuilleadh eolais faoi phleananna an Ghailearaí i gcomhair 2026 ag www.nationalgallery.ie.

 

 

CRÍOCH

 

Teagmhálaí na meán:

  • Sam Hardiman, Comhordaitheoir Cumarsáide: Preas ⁊ Fógraíocht, Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann, [email protected]

 

Nótaí don eagarthóir:

  • Tá íomhánna le fáil ag an nasc: https://we.tl/t-pqoABLpxzF
  • Féadfar an Dr Caroline Campbell, Stiúrthóir Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann, a chur faoi agallamh.

 

Taispeántais atá ag siúl i nGailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann faoi láthair:

Picasso: Ón Stiúideo

Coimeádaí: Janet McLean, Coimeádaí na Nua-Ealaíne ag Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann

9 Deireadh Fómhair 2025 – 22 Feabhra 2026

Sciathán Íochtarach Beit, Seomraí 6 – 10 | Ticéad de dhíth

 

Duais Phortráide AIB agus Duais Phortráide AIB don Aos Óg

Coimeádaí: Anne Hodge, Coimeádaí na bPriontaí agus na Líníochtaí ag Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann

8 Samhain 2025 – 15 Márta 2026

Gailearaí na bPortráidí | Saorchead isteach

 

Créatúir na Cartlainne

Coimeádaí: Marie Lynch, Coimeádaí Ionad Staidéir na hEalaíne Éireannaí ag Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann 

Ar oscailt ón 26 Meitheamh 2025

Seomra 11 | Saorchead isteach

 

Saothair nua:

Ealaíontóir: Harry Clarke (1889 – 1931)

Teideal: The Lady of the Decoration 

Dáta: 1914

Meán: Grafít, dúch agus uiscedhath ar pháipéar

Toisí: 53.2 x 30.5 cm

 

Ealaíontóir: Harry Clarke (1889 – 1931)

Teideal: Faust

Dáta: 1924/25

Meán: Grafít, dúch agus uiscedhath ar pháipéar

Toisí: 33.5 x 23.5 cm

 

Ealaíontóir: Kathleen Fox (1880 – 1963)

Teideal: Woman in costume (Self-portrait) 

Dáta: 1917

Meán: Olaphéint ar chanbhás

Toisí: 100 x 70 cm

 

Ealaíontóir: Frank O’Meara (1853 – 1888)

Teideal: Seated Woman Reading

Dáta: 1884

Meán: Olaphéint ar chanbhás

Toisí: 32.5 x 46.3 cm 

 

Na Taispeántais a bheidh ar siúl in 2026:

Turner mar Inspioráid

Coimeádaí: Anne Hodge, Coimeádaí na bPriontaí agus na Líníochtaí ag Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann

1 Eanáir – 31 Eanáir 2026

Gailearaí na bPriontaí | Saorchead Isteach

 

William Blake: Aois na Fantaisíochta Rómánsaí

Coimeádaithe: Anne Hodge, Coimeádaí na bPriontaí agus na Líníochtaí ag Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann agus Alice Insley, Coimeádaí Ealaín na Breataine c. 1730 – 1850 sa Tate

16 Aibreán – 19 Iúil 2026

Sciathán Íochtarach Beit, Seomraí 6 – 10 | Ticéad de dhíth

Arna eagrú i gcomhar leis an Tate

 

From Rembrandt to Matisse – A Celebration of European Prints and Drawings

Coimeádaí: Niamh MacNally, Coimeádaí Sheomra Staidéir na bPriontaí agus na Líníochtaí i nGailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann

27 Meitheamh – 8 Samhain 2026

Gailearaí na bPriontaí | Saorchead Isteach

 

Hilma af Klint: Artist and Visionary

Coimeádaí: Janet McLean, Coimeádaí na Nua-Ealaíne ag Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann

15 Deireadh Fómhair 2026 – 7 Feabhra 2027

Sciathán Íochtarach Beit, Seomraí 6 – 10 | Ticéad de dhíth

Arna chur i láthair ag Key Capital at 25

 

Duais Phortráide AIB agus Duais Phortráide AIB don Aos Óg 2026

Coimeádaí: an Dr Brendan Rooney, Príomhchoimeádaí agus Sinéad Rice, Ceann Oideachais agus Cláreagraithe don Phobal ag Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann

14 Samhain 2026 – 14 Márta 2027

Gailearaí na bPortráidí | Saorchead isteach

 

Jan Steen: Sacred and Profane

Coimeádaí: an Dr Lizzie Marx, Coimeádaí Ealaín na hÍsiltíre agus Fhlóndras ag Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann

21 Samhain 2026 – 25 Aibreán 2027

Seomra Sir Hugh Lane | Saorchead isteach

 

Maidir le Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann: 

Tagann daoine ina sluaite chuig Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann, áit a bhfuil bailiúchán de shaothair ealaíne ón Eoraip agus ó Éirinn a chlúdaíonn tréimhse ó thart ar 1300 go dtí an lá inniu, chomh maith le Leabharlann agus Cartlann fhairsing. Ní ghearrtar aon táille as cuairt a thabhairt ar an mbailiúchán agus tá súil againn go mbainfidh gach duine taitneamh as, go bhfoghlaimeoidh siad uaidh agus gur spreagadh a bheidh ann dóibh. 

Tabhair cuairt ar nationalgallery.ie nó lean muid ar na meáin shóisialta:

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  • X: @NGIreland