As the final days of the school year approach, we’d like to wish all teachers and students a joyful and well-deserved summer break. In these final days of term, we still have a number of engaging tours and hands-on workshops available for both primary and post-primary classes.
Don’t forget, our wide range of online resources remains accessible both now and throughout the summer, perfect for end-of-year activities or creative inspiration during the holidays!
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What's on for Primary Schools at the National Museum of Ireland
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What's on for Post Primary Schools at the National Museum of Ireland
The National Museum of Ireland located at Merrion Street, also known as the 'Dead Zoo', closed on 2 September 2024, so a school visit is not possible at this location. However, teachers can still book a virtual session for your school and explore the fascinating Natural History Collections through a range of classroom activities and resources.
BOOKINGS & ENQUIRIES:
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To book a visit to one of our Dublin Museums, submit a Schools Enquiry Form and our Bookings Office will get back to you regarding availability for your chosen session. You can also email bookings@museum.ie or call (01) 648 6453.
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Enquiries regarding Bookings for Turlough Park can be directed to BookingsCountryLife@museum.ie or (094) 90 31751.
See the full schools programme for the NATIONAL MUSEUM OF IRELAND at:
Some highlights for PRIMARY LEVEL include:
GUIDED TOUR: Game, Set, Match: The History of Sports in Irish Society
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays
(National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7)
From hair hurling balls dating from the 1500s to ladies camogie dresses from the 1960s, join Museum Guides on an engaging and interactive tour focuses on the development and evolution of Ireland's sociatal and sporting past. FIND OUT MORE
WORKSHOP: If Things Could Talk
Tuesdays from 10am - 11am and 12pm - 1pm
(National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7)
Explore the power of objects to tell stories about Ireland’s rich history. Working in small groups, students will develop their historical enquiry and communication skills, through hands-on, object based learning. Engaging with a selection of objects from the Museum's handling collection, students will take on the role of historians and curators to explore the different meanings that we invest in objects. FIND OUT MORE
VIRTUAL TOUR: Proclaiming a Republic: The 1916 Rising
In this virtual tour, the speakers will focus on personal stories, in particular those of the lesser-known participants and civilians who were involved in Easter Week, as well as examining why the rebellion happened, and the immediate aftermath. Included on this page are Teachers Notes, which will guide your class through the film. FIND OUT MORE
VIRTUAL SESSION: Meet the Bears
(Natural History online)
How many different types of bears can be found in the world? Where do the live, what do they eat and who does big green poos! Discover this and more during a short online session, led by a Museum Educator and streamed straight to your classroom! FIND OUT MORE
WORKSHOP: Buttermaking
Selected dates in September, October, November
(National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo)
Due to popular demand this workshop will take place again in the next school term. Facilitator Fiona Deacy will discuss the origns of buttermaking in Ireland how our ancestors relied on the land and their animals for food. FIND OUT MORE
CURRICULUM LINKED: Archaeology Resources
We have a range of Primary level Activity sheets to support your learning during your visit. These can be requested at time of booking and will be ready for collection at reception. There is also a wide range of curriculum linked educational resources on our Primary School webpages. To explore the Museum and learn more about the archaeology collections you can book your free self-guided visit by contacting our bookings department or completing a Schools enquiry form
Some highlights for POST PRIMARY LEVEL include:
GUIDED TOUR: The Way We Wore: Representations of Social Change through Clothing
This interactive tour focuses on the history of clothing in Ireland, and in particular, how clothing can be seen as a representation of social change for women in Ireland. Students will explore examples of clothing that highlight how women were expected to dress, and how clothing could be used to show status in communities. Students will hear stories of individuals in Ireland whose clothing give us an insight into restrictions which may have been placed on them, as well as how their clothing could be a symbol of personal freedom and activism. FIND OUT MORE
GUIDED TOUR: Game, Set, Match: The History of Sports in Irish Society
From hair hurling balls dating from the 1500s to ladies camogie dresses from the 1960s, join Museum Guides on an engaging and interactive tour focuses on the development and evolution of Ireland's societal and sporting past. This tour will explore the development of a variety of sports in Ireland, including Gaelic games, soccer, rugby, cricket and horse racing. It will also place the evolution of these sports in a wider societal context, such as the concept of domestic and garrison games, social class, nationalism and independence, and gender. FIND OUT MORE
GUIDED TOUR: 1913 - 1923, A Decade of Military Conflict
Students are introduced to the experiences of ordinary Irishmen and women involved in World War I, the 1916 Rebellion, the War of Independence and Irish Civil War, and how all these events affected combatants and civilians alike. FIND OUT MORE
RESOURCE: The Irish Coast Climate Change Virtual Visit
(Natural History online)
Discover the effects of climate change in Ireland using a 3D walkthrough of the museum from the comfort of the classroom. FIND OUT MORE
WORKSHOP: Buttermaking
Selected dates in September, October, November
(National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo)
Due to popular demand this workshop will take place again in the next school term. Facilitator Fiona Deacy will discuss the origns of buttermaking in Ireland how our ancestors relied on the land and their animals for food. FIND OUT MORE
Buttermaking Workshop Review from Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh, Co Mayo:
The visit began at Turlough Park, where we were warmly welcomed and divided into two groups. While one group took part in a butter-making workshop led by Fiona Deacy, the other group explored old Irish traditions and “The Murmur of Bees” exhibition. The butter-making workshop offered students a hands-on experience of churning cream into butter using traditional methods, all while learning about the history, science, and cultural importance of dairy production in Ireland. Students got to taste the butter and were all in agreement of its lovely taste.
At the same time, students visiting the “Murmur of Bees” exhibition discovered the vital role of Irish bees in nature and culture. With over 100 bee species in Ireland, the exhibition introduced everything from ancient beekeeping traditions to modern conservation efforts. Highlights included preserved bee specimens, historical beekeeping artefacts, and even a Lego hive that holds a Guinness World Record. The students watched honey bees flying in and out of active hives on the rooftop from a glass apex viewing area that looks out to a heather garden. The Museum hives are tended by local beekeepers.
It was a wonderful day full of hands-on learning, historical discovery, and cultural appreciation — a perfect blend of education and experience.
RESOURCES: Leaving Certificate Art
With exams around the corner why not explore our curriculum linked Leaving Certificate Art History Resources with detailed information on the Museum and its galleries. To book your free self-guided visit to the Museum contact our bookings department or complete a Schools enquiry form.
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