A host of activities, tours, and trails can be found at Collins Barracks in celebration of Lá Fhéile Bríde and the first day of spring!

St. Brigid's Circle of Life Badge Weaving Workshop

Sunday, 4th February: 2 - 4pm

Think all St. Brigid’s crosses look the same? Be inspired by the regional variations of hundreds of St. Brigid's crosses in the NMI’s Collection and weave your own Circle of Life badge using different coloured yarns.

Join artist Gabi McGrath in the Museum’s Irish Country Furniture gallery for this drop-in family weaving workshop to celebrate the start of Spring.

Hands-on History: Of Their Own Time

Sunday, 4th February: 1 - 3pm

"We must ask nothing of artists but to be of their time" - Eileen Gray

Objects in this drop-in handling session explore design by and for women. The stories of prominent designers like Eileen Gray, Neillí Mulcahy, and Irene Gilbert will feature alongside the histories of crafts traditionally practiced by female makers and the genres of designed objects that populated women's lives through time.

Come and go as you please!

Public Tours 

Take Eileen Gray: The Making of Modernism to explore the story of an Irish icon of modern design, Not Just Shamrocks to discover the fascinating range of symbols used to represent Ireland through time, and The Way We Wore to learn about how the clothes we wear reflect our lives and society, with a focus on the history of women's changing roles in Ireland. 

Booking not required, however spaces are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Saturday 3 February 
1pm    The Way We Wore: Representations of Social Change through Clothing
2pm    Eileen Gray: The Making of Modernism

Sunday 4 February
2pm    Not Just Shamrocks: Irish Symbolism in the NMI's Collections
3pm    The Way We Wore: Representations of Social Change through Clothing 

Monday 5 February - Bank Holiday
2pm    The Way We Wore: Representations of Social Change through Clothing 
3pm    Eileen Gray: The Making of Modernism

Museum in Bloom

Available in Reception throughout the weekend

Explore the blossoms of Collins Barracks in this puzzle-filled activity trail for families!

The first day of spring brings the Earth back to life after a long winter. To celebrate the beginning of the season of budding flowers and leaping lambs, pick up a copy of Museum in Bloom where you can solve floral word scrambles, riddles, and more.

The activity trail will be available beside the reception desk throughout St. Brigid's weekend. 
Ask at Reception for pencils!