Christmas at the National Gallery of Ireland

Festive gifts, events for all the family, and magical moments await!

This winter, the National Gallery of Ireland offers a festive season brimming with unique gifts and memorable experiences for everyone. Explore beautiful, art-inspired products in the Gallery Shop, enjoy free creative family drop-in workshops, or embark on a culinary journey – all set against the backdrop of the Gallery’s collection of Irish and European art.

Gallery Shop

The ever-popular Gallery Shop is your go-to destination for thoughtful and unique gifts this festive season. Championing Irish designers, the curated selection features John Hanly merino scarves (inspired by the national collection), eco-resin ceramic decorations by Kelly Designs, and textile brooches by artist Anita Reynolds.

Using the Gallery’s own archival materials, Irish designer Mink has created a silk scarf inspired by the Cubist movement’s favoured collage technique. The Gallery’s current blockbuster exhibition, Picasso: From the Studio, provides inspiration for a range of perfect Christmas gifts online and in the Gallery Shop: from tote bags to posters.

Find something for home with decorations and homeware pieces made from Irish wool by Tamzen Lundy, or fair trade felt festive symbols and animals by Amica Felt. As well as scarves, in stock are John Hanly angora wool throws made with a mix of wool and Caregora Angora wool, produced ethically and sustainably in Ireland.

This year’s Christmas card range features two new cards featuring works by George Wallace and Daniel Maclise. A set of jigsaws inspired by the Gallery’s most iconic masterpieces includes favourites by Frederick William Burton and Harry Clarke. For young people, jewellery by Cuteryko, eco-friendly art materials for all ages, and an exciting selection of new Irish books can be found on the Shop shelves. Jellycat will also return to the Gallery Shop this Christmas with some of the most popular plush toys you can find.

For two weeks from 20 November 2025, Friends of the National Gallery of Ireland will receive a 15% discount at the Gallery Shop.

Friends Membership: Give the Gift of Art for a Year

Perfect for art lovers and creatives, why not gift a National Gallery of Ireland membership this Christmas? Starting at just €35 for students and 18-25 year olds , annual membership offers a range of exclusive benefits, including free entry to all ticketed exhibitions, access to member-only lectures and tours, a 15% discount in the Gallery Café and 10% off in the Shop year-round, early-bird booking for select events, and a subscription to the Gallery magazine.

A New Year of Online Art Appreciation Courses

The National Gallery of Ireland’s online art appreciation courses go on sale to the public this December. These 8-week evening courses offer participants from anywhere in the world the chance to learn from world-class art historians and guest speakers, all from the comfort of home.

Next year’s courses are:

Rags to Riches: Paper Through Art History with Dr Kathryn Milligan
The Sublime and the Beautiful: Romanticism and Irish Art with Jessica Fahy
Eternal Images: Exploring Greek Myths in European Art with Dr Sarah Wilson

Each course is priced at €150, with a special 10% discount available when booking all three together for a limited time.

Tours and Family Workshops

Celebrate the festive season at the Gallery with a wide range of special events, from guided tours to family drop-in workshops.

Highlights include:

Sound Baths at the Gallery: Join a qualified Sound Healing Practitioner to experience a relaxing and restorative Sound Bath in the surroundings of the National Gallery on Monday 01 December
Women Artists Guided Tour: Experience important works by women artists in the Gallery’s permanent collection, from the Renaissance to the twentieth century on Saturday 07 December
Yoga and Meditation at the Gallery: Join a one hour session beginning with a visit to some of the Gallery’s highlights followed by a mindful yoga practice on Monday 08 December
Irish Sign Language Guided Tour: Join the Gallery’s Irish Sign Language tour guides for a look at highlights from the Gallery’s national collection on Thursday 11th December

Membership of the Friends of the National Gallery of Ireland

Free entry to all paid exhibitions
Friends Fortnight: an annual two-week festival in March, celebrating our members, with exclusive daily events
Lectures and tours/events, including some virtual via ZOOM, sharing knowledge and behind-the-scenes stories about Gallery exhibitions and projects
Exclusive access to digital content, including an archive of videos and art-history talks and lecture series on YouTube
Weekly email newsletter sharing new events and Gallery news for Friends
10% discount in the Gallery Shop with special promotions
15% discount in the Gallery Café
20% discount on selected online events organised by the Education team
Early-bird booking for selected online events
Copy of each issue of The Gallery magazine