St Patrick’s Day at the National Museum of Ireland

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day at the National Museum of Ireland. Join one of our events or discover the traditions and symbols associated with the day. 

Natural History Museum Snake

March 17th is the feast day of Ireland’s patron saint, St. Patrick. It is marked in Ireland and throughout the world with parades, religious and cultural events. The National Musuem of Ireland will open on St. Partrick's Day 10am-5pm. 

In the spirit of St Patricks Day Weekend why not join us at the National Museum of Ireland and participate in the various workshops, tours and events and discover the traditions and symbols associated with St. Patrick in our collections. 

The National Museum will also participate in an initiative called ‘Greening the City’ which is being organized by the St Patrick’s Festival. The Museum will be going green from 17th March – 20th March.

Museum of Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin

St Patrick’s Bell, or the "Bell of St. Patrick's Will" was one of the great treasures of the medieval church of Armagh.  It is a simple, almost crude hand-bell, formed of two sheets of iron joined by rivets with a handle attached, and coated in bronze.  Whether it was actually used by St Patrick is unknown but it is clearly very early in date. Around 1100AD an elaborate shrine was made to contain this bell, thanks to the patronage of Domhnall Ua Lochlainn, then high-king of Ireland. This shrine is of bronze with silver-gilt frame which originally held 30 gold filigree panels in place, arranged in the shape of a ringed cross. On the front and side are panels of interlace formed of large beasts in figure-of-eight shape, interlaced with small ribbon-like snakes. This is one of the finest examples of the Irish version of the distinctive Scandinavian Urnes art style.

St. Patrick's Bell (N.M.I. Collection - R4010-11)

Find more examples of the major religious artefacts associated in some form with St. Patrick and on view in the National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology. 

Museum of Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Dublin

This clay pipe is from Frongoch Internment Camp, North Wales. It is decorated with harps and shamrock and painted green in places. It is dated from mid-1916 up to the release at Christmas 1916, but possibly extending to 1917.

Clay pipe (N.M.I. Collection - HE:1998.122)

Evening dress of olive green shantung silk and antique Irish crochet with matching silk coat, designed by Neillí Mulcahy for her aunt Phyllis, Mrs. Sean T. O'Kelly.  Phyllis O'Kelly wore the dress to a reception in The White House on the evening of St. Patrick's Day 1959, during the first ever Irish Presidential visit to the U.S.A.. The designer supplied Beverly Bags of Bray, Co. Wicklow, with remnants of the silk and crochet and the company made a bag to match.

Evening dress by Neillí Mulcahy (N.M.I. Collection - DT: 2007.33 & 2007.33.4)

St. Patrick and the symbols associated with him can be seen in some of the objects from our Decorative Art & History Museum, Collins Barracks, Dublin.

Museum of Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo

Traditionally children made ‘St. Patrick’s crosses’ – badges of fabric and paper. They wore these crosses to Mass and then to local parades and festivities. Adults wore shamrock during the day as it was believed that St. Patrick used its three leaves to illustrate the Holy Trinity – the existence of three persons in one God. By evening the worn shamrock might be dipped in an alcoholic drink, called ‘St. Patrick’s Pot’, and a toast raised in honour of the saint.

St. Patrick's Cross (N.M.I. Collection - F:1948.18)

Discover more about the traditions surrounding St. Patrick at our Museum of Country Life, Turlough House, Co. Mayo. 

Events

Hands on History at the National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History
Thursday 17th March 2-3pm
A chance to explore some of the artefacts from the Museum's collection of objects for handling with Museum educators - a fascinating drop-in handling session for all ages. No booking required. Audience: All Ages

Ireland's Saints and their Relics at National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
Friday 18th March 2:30-3:30pm
Join Museum educator, Trisha Ryan, on a specialised tour exploring the relics of the Patron Saints of Ireland. Come and see St. Patrick's Bell Shrine, St. Brigid's Shoe Shrine and the Crozier of St. Columba, among many other treasures and learn about the Cult of the Relics in Ireland. No booking required. Meet at Reception. Limited places will be allocated on a first come basis. Partially wheelchair accessible. Audience: Ages 12+

Knitting Circle: Keep Calm and Cast On at the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life
Friday 18th March 11am - 1pm
Join the Museum knitters to make your own spring time knits and crochet. Start a new project or get help finishing an old one! Exchange ideas and tips. Learn a new skill for life. Beginners welcome. No booking required. Audience: Adults & children 7yrs +

Rarity by Tonnta at National Museum of Ireland – Natural History
Friday 18th March  Evening
St. Patrick’s Festival I Love My City will host a very special evening performance created by Robbie Blake and Tonnta vocal ensemble. For further information and ticketing visit http://www.stpatricksfestival.ie/events/love-my-city-event/rarity_by_tonnta

Ireland's Saints and their relics at National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
Saturday 19th March 2.30-3.30pm
Join Museum educator, Trisha Ryan, on a specialised tour exploring the relics of the Patron Saints of Ireland. Come and see St. Patrick's Bell Shrine, St. Brigid's Shoe Shrine and the Crozier of St. Columba, among many other treasures and learn about the Cult of the Relics in Ireland. No booking required. Meet at Reception. Limited places will be allocated on a first come basis. Partially wheelchair accessible. Audience: Age 12+

Reconstructing 1916 at the National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History
Saturday 19th March 1.30-4.30pm
An opportunity to see and handle the material culture of the Easter Rising 1916. Replica uniforms and paraphernalia of the Irish Volunteers, Cumann na mBan and the Irish Citizen Army will be presented alongside artefacts relating to the British Army and the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC). Weaponry from the period will be demonstrated and there will also be a focus on daily life items. No booking required.  Audience: All Ages

Art Appreciation Day: Landscape Painting at the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life
Saturday 19th March 2pm - 4pm
Join local artist Nuala Clarke for an 'Art Appreciation and Painting' workshop. Take a look at landscape painters, historical and local. Followed by a discussion on composition, colour, tone and painting landscape from a photograph; now you're ready to paint your own landscape. Booking required. Materials provided. Audience: Adults

St Patrick's Staff and the Mystery of the Irish Crosier at National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
Wednesday 23rd March 1pm-1.45pm
Destroyed as an object of superstition during the Reformation, St Patrick's staff was one of the most revered objects in medieval Ireland. Recent research on early Irish crosiers has led to exciting new discoveries, which have vastly improved our understanding of these mysterious objects. Join us at the National Museum for this special lecture by Dr Griffin Murray, UCC. Booking required, please phone 01 6486334 or email educationarch@museum.ie. Located in the Ceramics Room, first floor. Not wheelchair accessible.
Audience: Adults

Make your own St. Patrick's Bell Workshop at National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
Thursday 31st March 2:30 - 3:30pm
Come and join us for our special workshop on St. Patrick where you can learn all about our patron saint and his relics. Take a closer look at St. Patrick’s Bell and Shrine and make your bell own to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Places are limited and booking is required, contact educationarch@museum.ie or phone 01 648 6332. Meet at Reception. Partially wheelchair accessible.
Audience: Ages 6+

For further details please see our Calendar of Events.