Kildare Street

The National Museum of Ireland currently lacks lift access to its first floor. We are collaborating with the Office of Public Works and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media to progress the refurbishment and redevelopment of the building, prioritising accessibility to the entire Museum. Furthermore, we are actively working to improve the accessibility of our exhibitions, allowing all visitors to fully enjoy and engage with the Museum’s offerings. 

Although our building doesn't have lift access, we're pleased to share that we've teamed up with our colleagues and neighbours in the Houses of Oireachtas. Together, we're providing lift access at specific times during the Words on the Wave exhibition for visitors who use wheelchairs or have physical access requirements. To take advantage of this service, please remember to book in advance. Arrangements can be made on Monday afternoons or Fridays, and we're here to help make your visit smooth and enjoyable. 

If you wish to enquire about arranging a visit to the exhibition via this route, please complete the Enquiry form via the link below, and a member of the Bookings team will respond as soon as possible. The earlier you can contact us to plan for your visit, the more likely we will be able to accommodate you – we recommend contacting us at least a week in advance. 

Words on the Wave Step-free Access Request Form 

To support your decision on whether to use the route via the Houses of the Oireachtas, here are the two options to reach the Words on the Wave exhibitions: 

Option A: To enter from the Kildare Street museum gateway to the exhibition entrance using the regular museum route, which includes 50 steps, and is approximately 121 metres/397 feet, or,  
 

Option B: To enter from the Houses of the Oireachtas, a museum staff member will accompany you. This route is step-free but is approximately 97 meters/318 feet long to the door of the building - This second option will take a little longer since you’ll first check in with museum staff at the Museum reception. Then, you'll go through Oireachtas security. We’re happy to offer a manual wheelchair on loan for one visitor if you book it in advance. Please note that only two visitors can be accommodated through this route.

 

How does this arrangement work? 

Option A  

1. If you wish to use the regular Museum route to access the exhibition, you will enter the building on Kildare Street. There is a black iron gate with ‘Museum’ above it, to the right of Government buildings. There are 4 steps up to the entrance into the Museum, or there is a ramp on the right-hand side. It will take approximately a minute to get from the gate to the door. 

2. You will enter the main Museum building’s first room, the Rotunda - a circular main entrance hall, the Reception desk is on the right-hand side. Museum staff wear blue and navy uniforms. There are fishing stools available which you can request to use if you wish. 

3. There is a fully accessible bathroom on the ground floor of the Museum, which will take about 3 to 5 minutes to reach, on the other side of the Centre Court. Please be aware that there are no bathroom facilities on the first floor of the Museum.

4. It will take 5 to 10 minutes to travel from the Rotunda up to the ‘Words on the Wave’ exhibition on the first floor. You can either walk around the perimeter of the Centre Court exhibition which is a step-free route, or if you walk through the centre of this space which is a shorter distance, there are 8 steps – 4 down and then 4 up the other side.

5. You will then reach the main staircase – there are 32 steps in total. This is broken down as follows -7 steps – small landing – 14 steps – small landing – 7 steps – small landing – 4 steps landing. 

6. You will then enter the first-floor balcony area and turn right. There are 7 steps here up to the next level. The entrance to the ‘Words on the Wave’ exhibition is at the end and there are 7 steps down inside the door to reach the exhibition area. 

7. Please be aware that unless you are part of a group, you do not need to book in advance if you wish to use this route to access the Museum. You may however need to queue on the balcony outside the door, depending on the available capacity in the exhibition.  

Option B 

If you wish to arrange a visit using the step-free route option - please contact the Museum Booking Office by completing the Enquiry form with the information we need to help arrange your visit.  

Or if it’s easier, you can email us at bookings@museum.ie or call +353 (01) 6486396 and we’ll be happy to help. 

1. We will confirm if we can arrange the visit for your preferred date and time, confirm your booking and send you the ticket & the information you’ll need to be aware of for your visit.  We will also confirm a couple of additional pieces of information with you, to ensure your visit runs smoothly. 

2. On the day of the visit, you will come to the Museum on Kildare Street. We’d ask that you arrive 15 minutes before your confirmed booking time, please, to allow the journey time through the Houses of the Oireachtas complex.  

3. You will present your ticket at the Reception desk and a member of the team will welcome you and note your arrival, and you will meet your assigned Museum staff member. 

4. If there are other members of your group who do need to use this step-free route, they can enter the Centre Court and use the stairs to access the ‘Words on the Wave’ exhibition on the first floor. Please note, queuing may be necessary at busy times. 

5. You will exit the Museum via the same route you entered, with the Museum staff member, and turn right outside the gate, then enter the Houses of the Oireachtas complex through the security hut on Kildare Street.  

6. Your name will be confirmed with them, you will receive a security pass, and you will need to pass through an x-ray machine as part of their security process. Any bags will also be x-rayed. This x-ray machine is 70cm wide – please let us know if this poses a challenge regarding your mobility aid. 

7. You will be met by a member of the Oireachtas staff who will guide you through the complex. The Museum staff member will remain with you for the duration of your visit. 

8. You will then travel through the car park to the entrance of the main building – a distance of 97metres/318feet. 

9. You will then enter Leinster House, there is a ramp on either side of the entrance, and it will take 3 – 5 minutes to reach the lift. 

10. There is an accessible toilet beside the lift. Please be aware that this is the closest bathroom to the exhibition, there is no bathroom on the first floor. 

11. On exiting the lift, it will take 3 –5 minutes to reach the entrance to the exhibition. There is a quiet space before you enter the exhibition where you can rest for a few minutes if you wish, or if you need a quiet space during the visit. 

12. You will then enter the ‘Words on the Wave’ exhibition.  

13. We suggest 45minutes duration for the visit. When you are ready to leave, you will exit the exhibition with the Museum staff member, by the same route that you entered. However, the lift will leave you at a different door to exit Leinster house. There is a ramp back out to the car park area, which you will cross to exit the complex.

    FAQs 
    
    1 – Why is this route necessary to access the first floor of the Museum? 

    The National Museum of Ireland building on Kildare Street currently lacks lift access to its first floor. This access route enables visitors who may have reduced mobility to access this exhibition space via an alternative, step-free route through the Houses of the Oireachtas. 

    
    2 – Can I access other areas of the first floor via this route? 

    While we have a specific arrangement in place with the Houses of Oireachtas to enable visitors to access the ‘Words on the Wave’ exhibition via a step-free access route, unfortunately due to the layout of the building it’s not possible to access other areas of the first floor via this route. There are a number of steps leading out of the exhibition space, and around the first floor balcony area, therefore it is not accessible for individuals with reduced mobility. We sincerely apologise for any disappointment. 

    
    3 – Why is a week’s notice required for these visits? 

    As the arrangements for these visits need to be confirmed with our colleagues in the Houses of the Oireachtas, we need a week’s notice to ensure we can accommodate your visit on your preferred date.

    
    4 – Why is this arrangement only possible on Mondays & Fridays? 

    The arrangement that has been put in place with our colleagues in the Houses of the Oireachtas means that access can only be arranged on these days. We are sorry for any inconvenience or disappointment, that is not available on other days.

    
    5 – Why can only 2 people use this route? 

    Because of the security arrangements involved in this visit, as it involves travelling through the Houses of the Oireachtas complex, only 2 people in a party can use this route to access the exhibition. Other members of the party can access the exhibition through the Museum.

    
    6 – What happens if I need to cancel my visit? 

    If you need to cancel your visit please contact the Bookings team with as much notice as possible please. You can phone us on +353 (01) 6486396 or email bookings@museum.ie

    
    7 – Who can I contact for more information? 

    If you would like any further information as to how this arrangement will work, please call + 353 (01) 6486396/ +353 (01) 648 6453 or email bookings@museum.ie