Free culture guide: Great galleries, gigs and grub that won’t cost you a cent

For anyone who ever thought that arts and culture were elitist pastimes, think again. Seasoned savers know that you can get culturally rich on the tightest budget, and you’re thoroughly spoiled for choice in Ireland.

We’ve put together a list of 20 treats to get you started, but you’ll find galleries in towns and villages across Ireland, while your nearest bookstore will likely be hosting readings, book launches and chat sessions too. Your local library is probably fertile ground for talks, exhibitions and events, as well as free internet, books, DVDs and more.

Insider tip: sign up with galleries, museums and other cultural invitations for details of upcoming events, plus occasional invites to openings and launches, where there are frequently free refreshments too. You can also check out your local authority arts office for free events year-round – such as Dublin City Council’s summer Opera in the Open series. But that’s for later, there’s plenty to look out for right now.

Museums and more

Chester Beatty Library
Beside Dublin Castle, world-renowned and award-winning, the collections here open up whole new worlds. From ancient Egyptian texts to contemporary Chinese prints. Admission and many events are free, including Happy New Year Rats! on February 6th (pre-school event), The Language of Art on February 8th (12 to 17-year-olds), and a film screening of A Royal Affair on February 14th. chesterbeatty.ie

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National Museum of Ireland
Its branches are treasure troves of brilliant things, and admission is free. Choose from the Natural History Museum, fondly known as "the Dead Zoo", on Merrion Square, Decorative Arts and History, at Collins Barracks, and Archaeology (with some very cool Sheela-na-gigs), on Kildare Street, Dublin. Free upcoming events include Smartphone Photography at Collins Barracks on February 16th, and a Family Viking Tour on February 21st at Kildare Street. museum.ie

One more from the National Museum stable is the National Museum of Country Life at Turlough Park in Co Mayo. Upcoming free events include Knitting and Crochet on February 2nd, or get into Genealogy on February 8th. museum.ie

Ulster Museum, Belfast
From dinosaurs to contemporary art, this is a one-stop-shop. Left Right and Centre, a response to the current state of British Politics by renowned artist Cornelia Parker is well worth a visit, and is on show till March 11th. Or take a Slow Art Sunday tour to see art at a leisurely pace. nmni.com

Áras an Uachtaráin
When it's not being used for Important State Matters, you can pop into Áras an Uachtaráin (via guided tour) on a Saturday. Tours take about an hour, and you check in on a first-come, first served basis at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre. Bring photo ID. president.ie

Galway City Museum
From Pre-History to Sea Science, by way of revolution and the Galway Hooker, The Galway City Museum is endlessly fascinating. galwaycitymuseum.ie. Plus, you can wander through Eyre Square and down Shop Street on your way and catch the free shows of jugglers, buskers, street artists and more.

Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture
Galway's stint as Culture Capital for 2020 kicks off in February too. See galway2020.ie to truffle out the free events, including Fire Tour Ceremonies across the county from February 2nd, the rather chillier sounding Wild Atlantic Sea Swim on March 8th. For more free stuff, click the tag marked free.

Galleries

Limerick City Gallery
This is a charming mix of historic building and new galleries, plus a sunny café. The café obviously isn't free, but everything else is. Their next exhibition, Elliptical Affinities, looking at 13 Irish women artists, opens on February 6th. gallery.limerick.ie

Dublin City Gallery the Hugh Lane
This gallery on Parnell Square has a mouthful of a title, but it's just brilliant inside. From Harry Clarke to Francis Bacon, via the gallery's brilliant (and contested) Impressionist collection. Add free lunchtime classical music concerts on Sundays and it's a real treasure. hughlane.ie

Crawford Gallery, Cork
Another gallery with a super café . . . But we're here for the art, which includes gems from the old AIB collection, fantastic Canova casts, which were "de-figged" just last year, and Daphne Wright's haunting show, a Quiet Mutiny, until February 16th. Music at Midday on February 2nd promises to be a rather delicious piano concert. crawfordartgallery.ie

Science Gallery, Dublin 2
Be wowed, dismayed, excited but always intrigued. You're just in time to catch Plastic, until February 9th, and Faolán Carey discussing analogue photography and its environmental impacts on February 8th. Sign up to join a series of workshops during February, when you can have your say on future events. Their next exhibition, Invisible, exploring the mysteries of Dark Matter opens on March 13th. dublin.sciencegallery.com

Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin 8
Some shows at "Imma" have an admission charge, but there's always free stuff too. Currently on show, alongside works from the collection, is Protest by the late activist, artist and filmmaker Derek Jarman, including his glorious film, Blue. Until February 23rd. imma.ie

Temple Bar, Dublin 2
The area may have a reputation as a drinking and debauch zone, but by day check out the Temple Bar Gallery (templebargallery.com), Gallery of Photography (galleryofphotography.ie), the gallery at Project (projectartscentre.ie), and The Library Project (blackchurchprint.ie) among others. All have programmes of launches, workshops and talks too, and all are free.

In Kilkenny, the National Design and Craft Gallery is to be found via the trove of goodies at Kilkenny Design – also in the Castle Yard. But close your eyes to ceramics, glassware and silver, to get to the Gallery, where you can see cutting edge crafty goings on by Ireland's leading makers in Surface Matters, until March 4th. Looking is free, but be warned: you may well be very tempted. ndcg.ie. Come back in May when the Butler Gallery opens in its brand new Kilkenny space - butlergallery.com for updates.

More free stuff

Love is in the air on February 14th, but it's always free to see the relic of the heart of the great Saint himself. It's at Whitefriar Street Church in Dublin, having been gifted by Pope Gregory XVI in 1836. And if you want to get really in the mood, see if your route there could take in Love Lane. Though if things don't work out, you might want to divert to Misery Hill for some soulful selfies. All Dublin City Centre. whitefriarstreetchurch.ie

Free previews at the Abbey Theatre
Be the first to see the latest shows at the Abbey for nothing. Zero, zilch, nada . . . The Abbey's award winning Free First Previews have approximately 100 tickets to give away for each upcoming new run. The next one is What I Don't Know About Autism, and the freebies are up for grabs from 1pm on February 1. Max two per person. See abbeytheatre.ie/free-first-previews

Beethoven's anniversary
If Beethoven had lived, (a) it would have been a miracle, because (b) he would be 250 years old this year. The Limerick Philharmonic Orchestra are marking the occasion with a free concert at Limerick's St Mary's Cathedral on February 9 at 6pm. saintmaryscathedral.ie

Botanic gardens
Plants are culture too, and lovers of leafy things are in heaven at the National Botanic Gardens, at two centres: in Glasnevin, and Wicklow's Kilmacurragh. Think there's nothing to see in winter? Think again, and if it's too chilly, there's always the famous curvilinear glasshouses to bask in. botanicgardens.ie

And finally, giving the lie that there’s no such thing as a free lunch, here are two to keep you going:

Lunch at the Dundalk Institute of Technology training restaurant
Yes, a restaurant in a training college, so don't expect to have all your dietary whims catered for, but you could be the very first to discover the next generation of Super Chefs. Selected Wednesdays throughout February. See eventbrite.ie

Playing with Your Food
Ireland's third level institutions prove rich ground for free eats. Susan Boyle leads Playing with Your Food, which is billed as a "food, beverage and performance research day" at TU Dublin on February 19th. It runs from 10am to 4pm and sounds like it could well be packed with tasty surprises – and it's not all research: food is on the menu too. See eventbrite.ie