National Transport Museum of Ireland, Transport heritage museum in Howth, Ireland
The National Transport Museum of Ireland houses around 180 vehicles in converted farm buildings at Howth Castle, including buses, trams, fire engines, and commercial trucks from different eras. The collection spans passenger vehicles, delivery trucks, emergency responders, and specialty vehicles built between 1883 and 1984.
The collection was founded in 1949 to rescue Dublin's historic trams from being scrapped after the city closed its tramway network. The museum relocated to Howth Castle grounds in 1986, where it now permanently displays vehicles spanning more than a century of Irish transportation.
The collection reveals how ordinary Dubliners lived and moved through their city across generations, from early tram networks connecting distant neighborhoods to buses that shaped suburban commuting. Every vehicle tells a story about daily transportation needs that shaped the region.
The buildings are spacious enough to walk around comfortably among the many vehicles, but there are few places to sit and rest. Plan to spend several hours here, and bring a jacket as the spaces are only partially covered overhead.
The Hill of Howth No.9 tram was restored to full working order and stands as the centerpiece of the collection, showing the skill and care required to bring a 1920s streetcar back to life. This vehicle offers a direct glimpse into the tram culture that once defined Dublin's streets.
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