This summer, discover Ireland's rich heritage and vibrant culture at the National Museum of Ireland. We are delighted to announce our extensive programme of free tours, workshops, and trails, offering engaging activities for all ages to enjoy across our three museum sites in Dublin and Mayo.
Don’t miss this opportunity to explore, learn, and be inspired by Ireland’s fascinating history and heritage.
Admission is free.
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
1. Watch: Traders on the Reek
2:30pm - 4pm | Saturday, 19 July | Adults & Children | Booking required
Watch Louisburgh Killeen Heritage Group's award winning, Traders on the Reek documentary ahead of Reek Sunday 2025.
2. Demonstration: Boules on the Lawn at Turlough Park House
10am - 1pm | Saturday, 19 July | Adults & Children
Come along to watch members of Castlebar Pétanque Club demonstrate how to play this unique game and have an opportunity to try it out for yourself!
3. Poetry Trail: Silent Objects/Spoken Lives
Available during Musuem opening hours | Suitable for adults and children aged 14+
Discover a new poetry trail this summer in the museum galleries at Turlough Park for Onsight 2024/2025.
4. Nature Trail: Woodland Explorer
Available during Museum opening hours.
Pick up a ‘Woodland Explorer’ activity booklet from Museum reception to explore a self-guided nature trail through the grounds of Turlough Park.
5. Public Tour - Museum, House and Gardens
2pm & 3.30pm every Satruday throughout June, July & August
Journey back in time and marvel at the innovation and endurance of our rural ancestors through the Irish Folklife Collection. Then discover more about the life of the Fitzgerald family and the history and architectural style of Turlough Park House and Gardens.
6. Down Memory Lane - Childhood in the 1950s
Outdoor exhibition on display throughout June, July & August
Learn about childhood in the 1950s in this charming outdoor exhibition located in the woodland playground at Turlough Park
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
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1 The Ballsbridge Beetle
Saturday, 5 July & 2 August | All Ages
See the "Ballsbridge Beetle" in the metal on the first Saturday of June, July and August at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks.
2. National Day of Commemoration Weekend Tours
2pm & 3.30pm | Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 July | All Ages
To mark the National Day of Commemoration, join us at Collins Barracks for a weekend of tours exploring Ireland's turbulent decade of conflict 1913-1923, and learn about the historic truce to end the Irish War of Independence 104 years ago.
3. All Ireland GAA Senior Championship - History of Sport in Ireland tours
2pm | Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 July | All Ages
Up for the match? Warm up for this year's Inter-County Senior Hurling and Football Championship Finals at Collins Barracks with a tour that explores the development and evolution of Ireland's societal and sporting past, from hair hurling balls dating from the 1500s to ladies camogie dresses from the 1960s. Explore and learn about Gaelic games, soccer, rugby, cricket and horse racing with friends and family in the National Museum's collections.
4. July Tours at Collins Barracks
Throughout the month of July
This July, we're offering a range of free guided tours of the Museum's collections every week.
5. The Army No. 1 Band Performance
1pm | 23 July & 6 August | All Ages
Experience a free lunchtime recital by the Army No 1 Band at 1pm on Wednesday, 23 July and Wednesday, 6 August at Collins Barracks.
6. Hands-on History: Come Back to Erin
2pm - 3.30pm | Thursday, 31 Juy | All Ages
Join Museum Educators for Hands-on History: Come Back to Erin, an interactive handling session with objects from the Museum’s handling collection that explore the history of travel and holiday-making in Ireland.
7. Panel Discussion: The Dead Zoo in Blue: Seeing Collections Through a New Lens BOOKED OUT!
6pm - 7pm | Thursday 3 July | Adults
Join us for an 'In Conversation' event at Collins Barracks where the Museum's Natural History collection is viewed through different lenses. Keeper Paolo Viscardi and curator Dr Amy Geraghty are joined by visual artist Ishmael Claxton and interdisciplinary scholar Dr Verity Burke.
8. Relaxed Sensory Friendly Children’s Workshop: Clarke’s Colourful Creations BOOKED OUT!
11am - 12noon | Wednesday 23 July | Neurodivergent Families ages 5-10
This workshop is suitable for families who have one or more children who are neurodivergent, and those who seek out sensory input.
9. Azure Dementia-Inclusive Tours
11am - 12.30pm | Wednesday 27 August | All Ages
Azure tours are a free gallery led experience specifically designed to support people living with dementia and their family, friends or carers.
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
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1. Drop-In: Manuscript Makers! Early Medieval Handling Workshop
10.30am - 12.30pm | Wednesday 2 July | Families
During this hands-on workshop, discover the raw materials once used to create inks and pigments that were then used to write and decorate manuscripts over 1,200 years ago.
2. Drop-In: The Secrets of the Scribes! Calligraphy Workshop
2pm - 4pm | Thursday 3 July | Families
Join this drop-in workshop on calligraphy and begin your journey to learn how to write the script of early medieval Irish manuscripts!
3. Drop-In: The Saints, Scholars, and Scribes of Ireland! Early Medieval Handling Workshop
10:30am - 12:30pm | Wednesday 9 July | Families
Discover replicas of jet crosses from Yorkshire, early medieval leather shoes, and brooches for cloaks and clothes. Learn about the coming of Christianity to Ireland, and the impact it had on Ireland. Take part in some relaxing colouring activities, read through our many books about archaeology, and make sure to explore the Museum's galleries afterwards.
4. Drop-In: Knot Again! Manuscript Decorating Workshop
2pm - 4pm | Thursday, 10 July | Families
Uncover the secrets of interlace, knotwork and spirals used to decorate early medieval Irish manuscripts and objects during this drop-in workshop.
5. Pop-Up Handling Table: Manuscript Makers
10.30am - 12.30pm | Wednesday, 16 July | All Ages
Discover the raw materials used to create inks and pigments that were then used to write and decorate manuscripts over 1,200 years ago. Take a look at replica objects, including vellum, wax tablets and quills, to see how people in the past learned how to write and create manuscripts.
6. Drop-In: An Etch in Time! Ogham Craft Workshop
2pm - 4pm | Thursday 17 July | Families
During this craft drop-in workshop, use vellum, a quill, and oak gall ink, to write your secret message in ogham on a mini bookmark, just like the scribes of early medieval Ireland.
7. 'The History of Art in Ireland' Tour
Throughout the month of July | All Ages
Discover megalithic art in a replica passage tomb, the gold techniques of Bronze Age metalworkers through lunulae and sun discs, and the La Tène style's influence on Early Medieval artifacts like the Ardagh Chalice and the Tara Brooch.
8. Drop-In: Raiders, Traders and Settlers! Viking Ireland Handling Workshop
10.30am - 12.30pm | Wednesday 23 July | Families
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.
9. Drop-In: Forge and Rune! Viking Sword Craft Workshop
2pm - 4pm | Thursday 24 July | Families
Explore the lives of Viking warriors and their swords at this drop-in workshop. Craft and decorate your own mini paper Viking sword and mark it with a secret message in Viking runes to take home with you.
10. Early Medieval Ireland; Ireland to St. Gallen Tour
Throughout the month of July | All Ages
To mark the opening of Words on the Wave: Ireland and St. Gallen in Early Medieval Europe exhibition, follow along on this short tour of the main collection at the Museum. This tour will introduce you to Early Medieval Ireland, the development of writing in Ireland, and the pilgrimage of Irish clergy to places around Europe, including St. Gallen in Switzerland.
11. Drop-In: Manuscript Makers! Early Medieval Handling Workshop
2pm - 4pm | Wednesday 30 July | Families
During this hands-on workshop, discover the raw materials once used to create inks and pigments that were then used to write and decorate manuscripts over 1,200 years ago.
12. 'Prehistoric Ireland' Tours
Throughout the month of July | All Ages
This tour weaves through the changes and continuity of prehistoric Ireland by using key objects from the Museum’s collection to inform us about the people and changes of each period.
13. Drop-In: The Secrets of the Scribes! Calligraphy Workshop
10.30am - 12.30pm | Thursday 31 July | Families
Join this drop-in workshop on calligraphy and begin your journey to learn how to write the script of early medieval Irish manuscripts!
14. 'Viking Ireland' Tours
Throughout the month of July | Families 7+
On this Viking Ireland Family Tour see a replica fishing boat, examine the beautiful oval brooches worn by Scandinavian women, and discover ice skates made of bone!
15. 'Highlights of the National Museum of Ireland’s Archaeology collection' Tours
Throughout the month of July | Families 8+
See some of the most famous artefacts from the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology’s collection and learn about life from Stone Age to Medieval Ireland.
National Museum of Ireland, Merrion Street, Dublin 2, Online
1. Make your own Wearable Antlers
Throughout the month of June | Online | Families 7+
Learn about the Giant Irish Deer and get creative with this online activity.
Top Temporary Exhibitions to see at the Museum this Summer
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The Murmur of Bees | National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
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Mary Anne Fanning | National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
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SWARM | National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
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Harry Clarke’s-Stained Glass | National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
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Beyond the Surface | National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
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A New Form of Beauty | National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
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GAA: People, Objects & Stories | National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
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Words on the Wave | National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
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Glendalough: Power, Prayer and Pilgrimage | National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Browse more upcoming events at the National Museum of Ireland