Spend time in a museum in summer? Why not? Whether inside or outside, the National Museum of Ireland has plenty to attract visitors of all ages, regardless of the weather!
Meet a Geologist, become an archaeologist, see the great coat worn by the Big Fellow Michael Collins or step back in time and discover what an Irish home would have looked like in the 19th century.
This June marks the centenary of the start of the Irish Civil War. Two exhibitions in the National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History that discuss this period, and the events preceding it are The Irish Wars, 1919-1923 and Studio & State: The Laverys and the Anglo-Irish Treaty.
We are delighted to announce that the National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare Street and the National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, will be open until 8pm every Thursday for the rest of the summer months. More Information
Here are some key activities to help inspire you when you’re planning your next visit to the Museum this summer. Admission to all our Museum's is free.
National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Drop-In Workshop: Bronze Age Artefact Detective
11:30am - 1pm, Thursday 7th July, Families 7+
2.30pm - 4pm, Wednesday 13th July, Families 7+
2.30pm - 4pm, Wednesday 27th July, Families 7+
Learn how to think like an archaeologist and try to solve the puzzle of some mystery objects during this drop-in session! See if you can figure out what each of this replica Bronze Age artefacts were used for. More Information
Drop-In Workshop: Viking Artefact Detective
11:30am - 1pm, Thursday 4th August, Families 7+
2.30pm - 4pm, Wednesday 10th August, Families 7+
10.30am - 1pm, Thursday 18th August, Families 7+
Drop-In to the Learning Resource Room at the Museum 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. More information.
Drop-In Workshop: Summer Sun Discs
11:30am-1pm, Thursday 21st July, Families 7+In Early Bronze Age Ireland, people made beautiful gold discs that looked like the sun. Drop in to find out more about these precious objects and make your own shining sun disc! More Information
Exhibition: Glendalough: Power, Prayer and Pilgrimage
All AgesFrom a tenth century woman’s leather shoe lost in a Glendalough bog to the decorated pin of an eleventh century bishop praying on the windswept mountainside these objects and their stories are carefully cared for at the National Museum of Ireland and are on exhibition for the first time in Glendalough: Power, Prayer and Pilgrimage. More Information
Exhibition: Colmcille: Sacred objects of a Saint - 1500 years of devotion
All AgesThis exhibition celebrates of one of Ireland’s three patron saints on the 1500th anniversary of his birth, through a selection of famous artefacts associated with him. More Information
National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7.
Exhibition: Down to Earth - Exploring Ireland's Geology
All AgesDown 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.
Drop-in Activity: Meet a Geologist
10am - 5pm, Every Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, All AgesDo you have an rock that you would like to have identified? Or a query about quartz that you would like answered? Drop-in to Down to Earth - Exploring Ireland's Geology exhibition at the National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History and meet a geologist. More Information
Gallery Trail: Soldiers and Chiefs - Who is a Hero?
FamiliesHave fun, learn and be inspired at the Museum. Explore themes within the Soldiers & Chiefs exhibition with one of four activity booklets specially designed for families. More Information
Exhibition: Asgard
All AgesFrom her building in 1905 by Colin Archer, the celebrated Norwegian naval architect, to her pivotal role in the 1914 Howth gun-running and her later use as Ireland’s first national sail-training vessel, the yacht has had many incarnations. Discover the historic Asgard yacht. Learn about the 1914 Howth Gun Running & Irish Volunteers. Meet Erskine Childers & Roger Casement. More Information
Exhibition: Little Houses
All AgesLittle Houses is an exhibition of artworks created through a collaborative partnership between the Stoneybatter Youth Service and the National Museum of Ireland. 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. More Information
National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Castlebar, Mayo
Exhibition: Our Irish Chair: Tradition Revisited
All AgesOur Irish Chair: Tradition Revisited gives visitors the chance to see a special group of Irish chairs, which have been collected by the Museum for almost a century. This is the first time the Museum's full collection of 16 of these three-legged chairs has gone on display together. More Information
Tour: Our Public Tour is Back!
All AgesJoin one of our panel of freelance guides on a tour of the Museum Galleries, Turlough Park House and Woodland Gardens every Saturday and Tuesday for the months of July and August at 2pm and 3pm. No booking required. More Information
Gallery Trail: Find Peadar the Pygmy Shrew!
All AgesThere is a range of free activity sheets and museum trails available from reception. One trail challenges children (and grown-ups!) to find Peadar the Pygmy Shrew who is hiding at various locations in the galleries. Click on the link balow for a wide range of resources which you can use at the museum or at home. More Information
Visit Turlough Park House
All AgesVisit historic Turlough Park House, located just next to the main museum galleries. This Victorian Gothic mansion dates to 1865. It was the ancestral home of the Fitzgeralds, an influential family of landowners with an interesting history in the region. More Information
Outdoor Activity: Go Wild in the Woodland Playground
Opened in 2018, the natural woodland playground is scenically located and a great place to blast off some energy. Have fun on the swings, slides, playhouses, monkey bars and natural stone climbing steps. More Information
Enjoy a coffee & sweet treat in our Courtyard Cafe
Serving hot and cold snacks, breakfast, lunch, homemade desserts, ice creams and speciality teas and coffees, the café is open Sunday and Monday, 12noon to 5pm and Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. The Museum Café is the perfect place to relax and refresh during your visit to the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life. If the weather is nice, visitors can also enjoy the outdoor seating area in the courtyard. More InformationNational Museum of Ireland - Natural History Merrion Street, Dublin 2
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.Summer Activities with NMI - Natural History: Camouflage
Curious about camouflage? This summer learn about the different animals at the Museum that use camouflage to hide, with these fun 'Museum at Home' activities!. More Information
Summer Activities with NMI - Natural History: Ireland's Marine Biodiversity
At the Museum you can see all the different marine animals found around the Irish coastline, including some very large whales, dolphins and sharks! Try out these fun 'Museum at Home' activities this summer and learn about some of Ireland's marine biodiversity on display at the Museum. More InformationDon’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