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Opening Hours

Full opening hours

Location

Royal Hospital Kilmainham
Dublin 8, D08 FW31, Ireland
Phone +353 1 6129900

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Visiting IMMACafé, Shop & Grounds

An extraordinary space where contemporary life and contemporary art connect, challenge and inspire one another.

 

Café, Shop & Grounds

Nestled in 48 acres of land in the heart of Dublin 8, IMMA’s home is the extraordinary historical site of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. A visit to IMMA can include exploring our Formal Gardens, Meadows, the historical exhibition the ‘Old Man’s House’, the IMMA Shop or stopping for a coffee in the Kemp Sisters Cafe.

IMMA Cafe

A visit to IMMA is not complete without a visit to the Kemp Sisters cáfe, where delicious homemade food and great service go hand in hand. In a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, enjoy our freshly baked scones and homemade cakes, cookies and healthy treats. We offer a range of cold pressed juices and delicious home-made salads and hot dishes. A variety of different gourmet sandwiches and deli items are also available, many of which are perfect for take away when the sun is shining on our seating in the beautiful courtyard.

We are delighted to serve wines from Wine lab as well as coffee from Dublin roastery, Cloudpicker. Our menu has been carefully chosen to include a range of gluten free, vegetarian, vegan and healthy options. We also offer a range of wholesome kids menu and can cater for larger groups and parties.

Opening Times

Day Hours
Monday: 10.00am – 3.00pm
Tuesday – Saturday: 10.00am – 5.00pm
Sunday: 12 noon – 5.00pm

Please Note The Children’s area in the Kemp Sisters Café will be closed over the Bank Holiday Weekend in June for a private function from 10am Friday 31 May until 12pm Tuesday 04 June. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Location

We are located off the Courtyard opposite the Main entrance, at basement level. The Café is wheelchair and pushchair accessible with a lift from ground floor to basement.

Visitor Review

“Set in the basement of this impressive building the ambiance is relaxed and friendly. Menu has a wide selection. Service is excellent. Food is also really great. Highly recommend.”

IMMA Shop

The IMMA Shop has a great selection of children’s toys, design items, jewellery, gifts, greetings cards, IMMA souvenirs and of course beautiful artist books and fine art prints.

Opening Times

Day Hours
Monday: Closed (except Bank Holidays – hours as below)
Tuesday – Saturday: 10.30am – 5.00pm
Sunday: 12noon – 5.00pm

Location

The IMMA Shop is located on the first floor of the Main Galleries, above the main reception.

Online Shopping

You can also visit the online shop here.

Grounds & Gardens

The Irish Museum of Modern Art is housed in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, the finest 17th-century building in Ireland. The Royal Hospital was founded in 1684 by James Butler, Duke of Ormonde and Viceroy to Charles II, as a home for retired soldiers and continued in that use for almost 250 years. The style is based on Les Invalides in Paris with a formal facade and a large elegant courtyard. The Royal Hospital in Chelsea was completed two years later and also contains many similarities in style. The Royal Hospital Kilmainham was restored by the Government in 1984 and opened as the Irish Museum of Modern Art in May 1991.

Please visit the RHK Building and Site page for further information on the heritage of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.

Old Man's House

Learn more about the original use of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham and what it was like to live here in the 17th and 18th centuries by visiting the historical exhibition the ‘Old Man’s House’, created by the OPW.

The history of the Kilmainham site includes ancient burial grounds, early Christian monuments, a Viking settlement and a medieval monastery. The RHK was open as a retirement home and infirmary for nearly 250 years for generations of military veterans who lived and died there. The Old Man’s House explores the stories of these soldiers alongside those of the hospital staff, from the earliest beginnings, through to its restoration and the founding of IMMA.

The exhibition is free of charge, and is located at ground level in the Courtyard Galleries, West. It is open Museum hours.

Artwork in the Grounds

A number of works from the IMMA Collection are currently displayed in the grounds of the Museum. You can download a great guide to the artworks, for all ages, here: IMMA Artwork Trail

Look, No Cows Trail

Look, No Cows is a special trail for families by Laureate na nÓg Siobhán Parkinson which visits her favourite IMMA Collection artworks in the museum grounds.

In this short film Siobhán Parkinson, who served as Ireland’s first children’s laureate (Laureate na nÓg) in 2010-12, visits her favourite artworks from IMMA’s Collection in the museum grounds. She talks to children about the artworks, the Royal Hospital and its magnificent garden.

Gardens

The beautiful formal gardens at IMMA are free of charge and are open Museum hours. For those interested in the natural beauty of the gardens and grounds of IMMA, we have created two maps, for visitors of all ages, detailing the plants, flowers and trees that can be found there.

Download these maps below and bring a printed copy to accompany you as you explore, or save to view on your device.

 

 

Explore the IMMA Gardens & Meadows with Trees PDF
Resource Explore the IMMA Gardens and Meadows with Plants & Flowers PDF