The National College of Art and Design has been Ireland's principal art school since its foundation in 1746, and its Thomas Street campus occupies a handsome Victorian building alongside a more recent extension. NCAD runs a public gallery showing work by students and visiting artists, and the end-of-year degree shows in May and June are among the most interesting free cultural events in Dublin.
The college's location in the Liberties, historically the craft and textile heart of Dublin, is no coincidence — it grew from the tradition of craft education that the area represented.