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.
All tours are free and no booking is required.
Selected dates and times throughout 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 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.
12:30 | Firday, 23 January | All Ages
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Discover the artefacts associated with the patron saints of Ireland, St. Patrick, St. Brigid, and St. Colmcille, and see what archaeological evidence can tell us about the impact of Christianity to Ireland and which objects demonstrate the development of writing techniques.
Selected dates and times throughout December and early January | All Ages
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Learn about the development of art in Ireland from the Stone Age to Early Medieval Ireland. See megalithic art from the Stone Age on the replica passage tomb, discover the techniques in gold of Bronze Age metalworkers on the lunulae and sun discs, learn about the influence of the Iron Age art style, La Tène, and its impact into Early Medieval Ireland on objects including the Ardagh Chalice and the 'Tara' Brooch.
13:00 & 13:30 | Saturday, 31 January | All Ages
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
To mark St. Brigid's Day, join a special guided tour about the artefacts and shrines connected to the patron saints of Ireland and how Christianity influenced the development of writing.
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2pm & 3pm Saturdays throughout January | 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.
14:00 & 15:30 | Saturday, 10 January | Adults
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Join us for a reflective and slow-looking tour of the National Museum of Ireland - Collins Barracks, where one of our expert guides shares their personal favourite stories and objects from the collection. Exploring how artefacts can spark memory, emotion, and connection, we invite you to experience history through storytelling that speaks to the heart as well as the mind.
14:00 & 15:30 | Sunday, 18 January | All Ages
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
In commemoration of the meeting of the First Dáil on 21st January 1919, join us to learn about the men and women at the centre of Ireland's revolutionary history.
Selected times throughout St Brigids Weekend | All Ages
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Take Symbols of Ireland to discover the fascinating range of symbols used to represent Ireland through time, and The Way We Wore to learn about how the clothes we wear reflect our lives and society, with a focus on the history of women's changing roles in Ireland. Learn about the lives and actions of women at the centre of Ireland's revolutionary past in Revolutionary Women.
14:00 & 15:30 | Saturday, 7 February | 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 January | 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.