From learning about the role of horses and donkeys in farming traditions, to finding out all about life in Viking Dublin, the National Museum of Ireland has something for all ages to enjoy this National Heritage Week.
The Museum is delighted to be taking part once again in this vibrant and engaging initiative by the Heritage Council, which will celebrate Ireland's cultural, built and natural heritage from 12 to 20 August 2023.
This year’s theme of 'Living Heritage' invites us to explore traditions, practices, knowledge and skills passed down through generations.
Take a look at some of our highlight events and be sure to plan your visit to one of our four Museum sites in Dublin and Mayo.
Guild of Irish Lacemakers demonstration at Collins Barracks
National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Dublin 7
10am to 5pm, Saturday, 12 August | Suitable for all ages
Lacemaking has been present in Ireland as far back as the 1600s, becoming a noteworthy industry in the 1800s. European laces were brought to Ireland and reworked using local materials and techniques. These laces were given the names of the places where they were made, and laces such as Carrickmacross Lace and Youghal Lace were born. Join the Guild of Irish Lacemakers at a drop-in session at the National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks for a demonstration of lacemaking techniques. FIND OUT MORE
Demonstration: Tinsmithing with James Collins
National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Dublin 7
2pm to 4pm, Saturday, 12 August | Suitable for all ages
Watch tinsmith James Collins, one of the few remaining Traveller tinsmiths in Ireland, demonstrate his craft. The tinsmith is a metal craftperson who makes and repairs items using sheets of tin or reusing materials such as old biscuit tins. In the past, tinsmiths made tin containers for use in the kitchen and farmyard. They made a stock of tin containers in the winter and took to the roads in the summer selling their wares. FIND OUT MORE
Drop-in workshop: Raiders, Traders and Settlers!
National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
2pm to 4pm, Wednesday, 16 August | Suitable for all ages
Find out about life in Viking Dublin by visiting the Learning Resource Room at the Museum to see some replica Viking artefacts! Take a look at Viking swords and axes used for raiding, a Viking brass scales for trading, and clothes worn by men and women who lived and settled in Viking Dublin. FIND OUT MORE
Drop-in workshop: Viking Artefact Detective
National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
10.30am to 12.30pm, Thursday, 17 August | Suitable for families with children aged 7+
Drop-in to the Learning Resource Room and learn how to think like an archaeologist by solving our puzzle. Look and handle our Viking replica artefacts and figure out what they are and how they were used. FIND OUT MORE
Online Talk: Cotterite - The World’s Rarest form of Quartz
Online talk- National Museum of Ireland- Natural History
1.15pm, Friday, 18 August, Suitable for all ages.
Join National Museum of Ireland - Natural History Geology Curator, Dr Patrick Roycroft, for an online talk to discover the world’s rarest form of mineral quartz. Find out More
Irish Sign Language Highlight Tour
National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
2.30pm, Friday, 18 August | Suitable for all ages
Join our free ISL (Irish Sign Language) public tours to find out more about life in Ireland from the Stone Age to the Early Medieval period and see some of Ireland's most iconic treasures. FIND OUT MORE
Horse and Donkey Day
National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
11am to 4pm, Saturday, 19 August | Suitable for all ages
Our popular Horse and Donkey Day returns for Heritage Week 2023! We are delighted to welcome back our friends from the Donkey Welfare Organisation, Kiltimagh, and shire breeder Colman Cogan with his gentle giants Ned and Ted. There will also be craft and traditional skills demonstrations with farrier Mark Hester, straw crafter Pat Broderick and Castlebar Men's Shed. Learn more about horses and donkeys, their jobs in the past, their uses in the present and their potential for the future. This is a free event suitable for all ages. Admission is free. No booking required. FIND OUT MORE
Heritage Week outreach: Aonach na nDéise
Woodstown Viking Site Heritage Festival, Co. Waterford
Sunday, 20 August 2023 | Suitable for all ages
This Heritage Week, the Education and Outreach Department at NMI - Archaeology will be bringing the Viking Handling Collection to Waterford to take part in the Woodstown Viking Site Heritage Day. People will have a chance to try the Museum’s hands-on activity ‘Viking Artefact Detective’ in which people will explore replica Viking objects to figure out what they were, how they were used, and how they were made. Also taking place on the day will be Viking re-enactments and Medieval and Viking crafts, including spinning, leather and coin making, at the Viking Craft Village. FIND OUT MORE
FULLY BOOKED! An Bhean Ghlúine: Irish midwives & midwifery across the centuries
National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
2.30pm to 4pm, Sunday, 20 August | Suitable for adults
Discover fascinating insights into Irish midwifery practice from the late 1800s to the modern day at this special Heritage Week event featuring a panel of expert speakers. Members of the public are invited to share their stories, photos and memorabilia of midwives in their family tree. Booking is required. FIND OUT MORE
Heritage Week Guided Tours
National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Dublin 7
Various times and dates | Suitable for all ages
Join Museum Educators at Collins Barracks, Dublin 7, throughout Heritage Week 2023 for a range of engaging, free family tours exploring the Museum and its collection. No booking required. FIND OUT MORE
Online Talk: Cotterite - The World’s Rarest form of Quartz
National Museum of Ireland - Natural History | Online
1.15pm to 1.45pm, Friday, 18 August | Suitable for Adults
This Heritage Week join National Museum of Ireland - Natural History Geology Curator, Dr Patrick Roycroft, for an online talk to discover the world’s rarest form of mineral quartz. FIND OUT MORE