About RHA Gallagher Gallery
Tucked just off Merrion Square on Ely Place, the Royal Hibernian Academy's Gallagher Gallery is a contemporary powerhouse in Dublin's Georgian core. Founded in 1823, the RHA champions Irish and international modern art through cutting-edge exhibitions in a restored 18th-century house. If you're hunting the best galleries in Merrion Square Dublin, this spot delivers bold installations, paintings, and sculptures that push boundaries. Free entry lets you immerse in works by academy members like Guggi, Eamon Coleman, and international stars, all amid period fireplaces and sky-lit spaces.
What to Expect
Step into a world of innovation: expect immersive video art, large-scale canvases dripping with colour, and thought-provoking sculptures. Annual highlights include the RHA Annual Exhibition, a curated showcase of 500+ emerging and established artists; the Future Tense series spotlights young talent. The architecture blends historic elegance with modern interventions, light flooding through massive windows onto polished floors. Talks, workshops, and performances add buzz; coffee in the cafe fuels debates on Irish identity in art.
Insider Tips
Time your visit for the RHA Annual (May-July); book events via their site. Wander Ely Place's hidden garden square post-visit for that authentic Georgian feel. Locals love the bookshop's art tomes; snag signed catalogues. Combine with National Gallery five minutes away. For 'Merrion Square galleries', RHA's edgier vibe contrasts classics perfectly. Fridays stay open late; arrive thirsty for wine receptions. Park on Merrion Row or Luas to St Stephen's Green. It's where Dublin's art pulse beats strongest.