Trinity College, Dublin

The collection at Trinity has records attesting to the fact of existence of painting as early as 1710. The collection therefore predate those of the Royal Dublin Society, founded in 1731, and the establishment of the National Gallery of Ireland, founded by an Act of Parliament in 1854 and opened in 1864. The collections houses mainly paintings, print and sculpture.

The modern collection, began in 1959 when George Dawson the Professor of Genetics at the college introduced the ‘College Gallery’ hire scheme. This enabled students and staff to 'acquire' works by both Irish and international artists for display and enjoyment in their offices and student quarters. The collections comprises more than 1,200 artworks and includes such names as Basil Blackshaw, Breon O'Casey, Norah McGuinness, Patrick Hall, Louis Le Brocquy, Carey Clarke, Graham, Clarke, Patrick Collins, Barrie Cooke, Mainie Jellett, Anne Madden, Basil Rakoczi, Nano Reid and Jack Yeats

See also the Douglas Hyde Gallery, Dublin.