Top Ten Tour

On this page, you can find out what you can do at the Museum, in the classroom and online

All groups who are coming to the Museum must book their visit with the Bookings Office.

On this tour you can:

Span almost 8,000 years of Irish History through 10 exciting objects from the Mesolithic to the Early Christian Period
See how people in Mesolithic Ireland caught their fish with our 9,000 year old fish-trap
Hear how our first metalworkers turned gold from the soil into stunning neck ornaments shaped like half moons
Learn how experts discovered which type of shield was best for prehistoric battle through Experimental Archaeology
Discover the stories behind the impressive 'Tara' Brooch

1. Fish-trap, Clowanstown, Co. Meath, 5300-4730 BC.

2. Macehead, passage tomb, Knowth, Co. Meath 3300 BC.

3. Dug-out canoe, Lurgan, Co. Galway, 2500 BC.

4. Macehead, passage tomb, Knowth, Co. Meath 3300 BC.

5. Gold lunula, Rossmore Park, Co. Monaghan, c. 2000 BC

6. Gold torcs, Tara, Co. Meath 1000 BC.

7. Bronze shield, near Lough Gur, Co. Limerick. C.700 BC.

8. Carved stone head, Corleck, Co. Cavan, 200-100 BC.

9. Gold hoard, Broighter, Co. Derry, 100 BC.

10. The ‘Tara’ brooch, Bettystown, Co. Meath, 8th century AD.

11. The Ardagh chalice, Co. Limerick, 8th century AD.

Key Curriculum Strands

SESE History

Maximum 30 per group. Duration 50 minutes. Wheelchair accessible.

Tours and workshops should be booked at least two weeks in advance, via the Bookings Office.

To make the most of your visit, we recommend that you plan activities for your students to complete.

Here are some suggested follow up activities:

Create a timeline using drawings inspired by your Museum visit, such as Mesolithic arrowheads, Bronze Age lunulae or shields. Add to this timeline as more topics are covered.