This winter, journey back through time and uncover the untold stories of Ireland’s rich history, heritage, and culture with a free guided tour at any of our three museum locations in Dublin and Mayo.
Experienced guides will take you on a journey to explore life from the fierce Viking era to the heart of Iron Age Ireland Ireland. You will marvel at the innovation and resilience of our rural ancestors through the Irish Folklife Collections or discover how objects tell the story of Irish political, cultural and social history from 1900-2020.
ISL (Irish Sign Language) tours will take place at 15:30 on Sunday, 14 December at Collins Barracks and at 13:30 on Friday, 19 December at Kildare Street.
Highlight Tours: To celebrate the rising sun of the Winter Solstice, discover how ancient monuments and archaeological objects are linked to celestial events in our Let the Sun Shine Winter Solstice Tours on Friday, 19 and Saturday, 20 December at Kildare Street.
All tours are free and no booking is required.
Friday 12 December | 15:30 | All Ages
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Learn about the artefacts and shrines connected to Irish saints and how Christianity influenced the development of writing.
Friday, 19 December | 13: 30 | Adults & Children 8+
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
To celebrate the rising sun of the Winter Solstice at Newgrange, join our special tour to discover how ancient monuments and archaeological objects are linked to celestial events. Please Note: An interpretor will be present at the 13:00 tour to provide Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation.
Friday, 19 December | 12:00 | Adults & Children 8+
Saturday, 20 December | 10:00 & 14:00 | Adults & Children 8+
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
To celebrate the rising sun of the Winter Solstice at Newgrange, join our special tour to discover how ancient monuments and archaeological objects are linked to celestial events. Learn how passage tombs, such as Newgrange, are aligned to the Winter Solstice. Take a look at objects found in Ireland’s tombs and find out how Bronze Age objects, such as lunulae and sun discs, are linked to solar symbols.
Selected dates and times in December and early January | All Ages
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Discover Mesolithic fish-traps, food of Neolithic Ireland, wonderful gold objects of the Irish Bronze Age, and artefacts from Iron Age Ireland. 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.
Selected dates and times throughout December and early January | All Ages
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Discover what life was like in Viking Dublin, and see the wider impact that the Vikings had on Ireland.
Selected dates and times throughout December and early January | All Ages
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Join one of our free public tours to find out more about life in Ireland from the Stone Age to Early Medieval Ireland and see some of Ireland's most iconic treasures at the Museum.
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2pm & 3pm Saturdays throughout the Winter months | All Ages.
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Mayo
Journey back in time and marvel at the innovation and endurance of our rural ancestors through the Irish Folklife Collection every Saturday at 2 pm and 3 pm throughout December and January at the National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park. Then discover more about the life of the Fitzgerald family and the history and architectural style of Turlough Park House and Gardens.
Sunday, 14 December | 15:30 | All Ages
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Explore the Changing Ireland galleries and discover how objects tell the story of Ireland’s transformation—from early 20th-century politics and independence to the Troubles and modern social change.
Sunday, 28 December | 15:30 | All Ages
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
This new guided LGBTQIA+ tour views the exhibitions through alternative lenses, bringing some hidden histories and perspectives to the fore. Focusing on objects and individuals from the 17th to the 21st century, the tour reveals a wide variety of identities, genders and sexualities along the way.
Selected dates and times throughout the Christmas Holidays and early January | All Ages
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Celebrate the magic of the Christmas season, and ring in the New Year with Museum Guides at Collins Barracks to explore a variety of engaging free tours exploring the Museum and its collection.
Selected dates and times throughout December | All Ages
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Join us at Collins Barracks this December for free guided tours! Explore festive food history on Eat, Drink and Be Merry, uncover WWI stories on Recovered Voices, and finish the year with Symbols of Ireland on New Year’s Eve. No booking required, but places are limited.
- Browse all upcoming events at the National Museum of Ireland
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Discover the magic of Christmas at the National Museum of Ireland
- Celebrate Christmas with Synge & Byrne at Turlough Park & Collins Barracks