The National Museum of Ireland is delighted to present a programme of special events and activities to celebrate Age & Opportunity's Bealtaine Festival 2023.
Bealtaine is a month long arts festival held annually each May featuring performances, exhibitions, discussions, workshops and readings across reland to celebrate culture and creativity as we age. The Museum is participating once again in this engaging initiative with a range of events from rediscovering ancients crafts to learning about bobbin lace making.
All events are free and no booking is required.
Bealtaine Drop-In Event: Rediscovering Ancient Crafts with John Martin
Friday, 5 May, 11.30am to 12.30pm, Adults
National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Meet John Martin, experimental archaeologist and potter, to see replica pots from the Neolithic and Bronze Age Ireland and discuss how these pots were made and what materials and tools were used in the past to make them. This event is suitable for adults and no booking is required. FIND OUT MORE
The Hand Remembers by Mags Duffy
Throughout May
National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar
View a new exhibition developed for Bealtaine by Mags Duffy, which depicts stories told through illustration, the making of objects, voice, drawing, stitching and sewing. It is on display from 9 May in the Courtyard Gallery (next to the café). It was inspired by the artist’s interest in the intrinsic link between the act of making with our hands and the telling of stories. The artist engaged and collaborated creatively with traditional craftspeople and makers in bringing the exhibition together, from spinning yarn and lobster pot making to willow weaving and embroidery. FIND OUT MORE
Meet a Geologist
Throughout May
National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Dublin 7
Do you have an rock that you would like to have identified? Or a query about quartz that you would like answered? Meet a geologist from our exhibition partners, the Geological Survey Ireland, at the Down to Earth - Exploring Ireland's Geology exhibition at the National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, from 10am to 5pm on selected dates throughout May. FIND OUT MORE
Bealtaine Drop-In Event: Rediscovering Ancient Crafts of Early Medieval Ireland
Friday, 12 May, 11.30am to 12.30pm, Adults
National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Meet Museum educator, Matthew Lester, who will have a selection of replica artefacts from Early Medieval Ireland from the Education Department’s handling collection. Take a close-up look at replica jet crosses from Yorkshire, based on a find from Glendalough, Co. Wicklow, a calligrapher’s set, and a selection of brooches for cloaks and clothing. Learn about the coming of Christianity to Ireland, and the impact it had on the valley at Glendalough by exploring our Glendalough timeline banner. Afterwards, make sure you check out the Glendalough; Power, Prayer and Pilgrimage exhibition, and The Treasury, where some of the original artefacts are on display. FIND OUT MORE
Research your family tree with the Mayo Genealogy Group
Saturday, 13 May, 11.30am to 1pm, Adults
National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Castlebar, Mayo
Get some help to research your family tree. Find out how to get started, or get some tips and advice on taking the next steps with an existing project. Join the friendly members of the Mayo Genealogy Group at their next meeting, from 11.30am to 1pm, on Saturday, 13 May 2023. No booking required FIND OUT MORE
Public Tour of the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life
Every Saturday at 2pm and 3pm
National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
This May, join an expert museum guide for a tour of the Museum Galleries, Turlough Park House and Gardens. Journey back in time and marvel at the innovation and endurance of our rural ancestors through the Irish Folklife Collections, discover more about the life of the Fitzgerald family and learn about the architectural style of Turlough Park House and Woodland Gardens. FIND OUT MORE
Bealtaine Drop-In Event: Rediscovering Ancient Crafts with John Nicholl
Friday, 19 May, 11.30am to 12.30pm, Adults
National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
For this week's workshop, archaeologist and leather specialist John Nicholl discuss replica leather objects from Early Medieval and Viking Dublin. He will explain how people sourced and treated leather to make objects, and demonstrate the type of tools used by people in the past to make and decorate leather objects. There are many leather finds on display in the Museum’s Viking Ireland exhibition, so do make sure you check these out afterwards. FIND OUT MORE
Take a tour of the National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History
Every Sunday at 2pm and 3pm
National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Dublin 7
Throughout May, join Museum Educators at the National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History at Collins Barracks, Dublin 7, for a variety of engaging free tours exploring the Museum and its collections. Booking not required, however spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.FIND OUT MORE
Bealtaine Drop-In Workshop: Rediscovering Ancient Crafts with Brendan O’Neill
Friday, 26 May, 11.30am to12.30pm, Adults
National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
For our final Bealtaine drop-in workshop, come and meet Dr Brendan O’Neill of UCD School of Archaeology, and UCD Centre of Experimental Archaeology and Material Culture. Brendan will be talking about metal production in early medieval Ireland, and will have a selection of brooches, along with the various tools and objects needed to make them, including moulds and crucibles. Many of these replica artefacts are based on finds from Garranes, Co. Cork, Lagore Crannóg, Co, Meath, and Dooey, Co. Donegal; all of the original artefacts are on display in the Museum’s Treasury exhibition. FIND OUT MORE
Meet the Crafters: Bobbin lace making
11.30am to 3pm, Saturday, 27 May, Adults
National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Learn all about bobbin lace for beginners with the members of the Connacht Textile Crafters at this free drop-in activity. The Connacht Textile Crafters are a group of talented craft workers and artists from across the region. They share their knowledge and crafting skills at their meetings and showcase their work to each other and members of the public. FIND OUT MORE
Browse more upcoming events and exhibitions at the National Museum of Ireland