Redesign the famous Fonthill Vase, take a birdsong challenge; explore the beautiful grounds of Turlough Park; or write scriptures like an Egyptian Pharaoh. Check out some of our fun filled activities to keep you and your family entertained this midterm break.
We are open at three Museum sites in Dublin and Mayo so be sure to schedule in a visit over the midterm break for a great day out for all the family to enjoy.
EASTER OPENING HOURS: We are closed on Good Friday, 15 April but open from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and from 1pm to 5pm on Sunday and Monday. Admission is free.
Here are some of our top events for you and your family to enjoy this Easter midterm.
National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
This exhibition celebrates one of Ireland’s three patron saints on the 1500th anniversary of his birth, through a selection of famous artefacts associated with him. His name was Colum, Columba in Latin, and he became known in the Irish language as Colm Cille. He was reputedly born in Co. Donegal and he lived during the sixth century AD. He is renowned both in Ireland and in Scotland, through his association with Iona, and his legacy has endured to modern times.
Download and print out these colouring sheets of St. Colmcille's relics, the Shrine of the Cathach and St. Colmcille's Crosier. The Shrine of the Cathach is a book shrine that was made in the 11th century to keep safe a book, called the Cathach, believed to have been written by St. Colmcille in the 7th century. Only a piece of St. Colmcille's Crosier survives today. This was created in the 8th or 9th century and it would have been a complete crosier. A crosier is used by a bishop as a symbol of their position.
Download and print our ‘Egyptian Hieroglyphics’ activity sheet to learn more about writing in Ancient Egypt. The Ancient Egyptians used a type of writing called hieroglyphics, which is a type of writing made up of symbols instead of letters. Learn how to write your name in hieroglyphs inside a cartouche, just like an Egyptian Pharaoh.
Download and print this wordsearch and see if you can find the names of the gods that the people of Ancient Egypt believed in. Discover how many of these gods were connected to certain animals.
National Museum of Ireland - Decoratiave Arts & History
Do you have an rock that you would like to have identified? Why not visit the Down to Earth - Exploring Ireland's geology exhibition and meet a geologist who will answer any geology questions you have. FIND OUT MORE
Down to Earth, Exploring Ireland's Geology is an exhibition on the geology of Ireland that tells the story of how scientists have developed their understanding of our planet over the last 175 years.
Little Houses is an exhibition of artworks created through a collaborative partnership between the Stoneybatter Youth Service and the National Museum. The artworks were created by young people from the community close to Collins Barracks during the series of Lockdowns since March 2020. The exhibition is a visual record of their experiences of the pandemic and its impact on the community, and wider society. Down load the Exhibition Flipbook here
Redesign a famous Museum artefact dating from 1300AD, while learning about the long and famous history of this piece.
National Museum of Ireland - Natural History
While the National Museum of Ireland-Natural History is closed for important building works, explore the fascinating collections with some short 'Museum at Home' activities.
Bring spring into your home this April mid-term! Join us in learning the songs of Ireland's most common garden birds in the Birdsong Challenge videos
Download and print this biodiversity-themed activity sheet and use your imagination skills to dream up all the different animals that live in your secret garden. For inspiration and to discover more about Ireland's biodiversity read the accompanying poster.
For a quiet and calming activity that everyone can try at home, download and print these colouring pages of some favourite animals in the Museum’s collection.
Don’t forget you can also find your favourite animal on display with a self-guided online tour of the Museum using the 3D Virtual Visit.
National Museum of Ireland - Country Life
Discover Turlough Park House and Grounds with our Panel of Freelance Guides on Wednesday, 14 August. Find out about nature and biodiversity on a seasonal woodland walk through the grounds. Keep an eye out for Easter Eggs on the way around! Meet at the reception desk in the Museum galleries at 2pm or 3.30pm. BOOKING REQUIRED
Don't miss this opportunity to see this unique selection of St. Brigid's Crosses brought out from storage in February, 2022 to mark the 21st anniversary of the opening of the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life at Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
1845: Memento Mori is a famine memorial by glass artist Paula Stokes. It is an installation of 1,845 handblown glass potatoes remembering the Great Irish Famine.