Learn about what goes on behind the scenes at the National Museum of Ireland in 2026
The National Museum of Ireland-Turlough Park is delighted to host an exciting and interactive weeklong immersive Transition Year work experience in 2026. Over the course of five days, you will have the opportunity to learn about the important work of preserving and presenting cultural heritage, engaging with communities and creating meaningful learning experiences, through a combination of talks and workshops with Museum staff and hands-on activities. This work experience is intended for students thinking about pursuing a career in the museum and cultural heritage sector, but is also suitable for students with an interest in the role of museums in modern society.
Learning Outcomes:
Successful candidates to the Transition Year Programme will have opportunities to:
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Develop an understanding of the various departments and roles in a museum.
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Gain insights into the work of registration, conservation, curation, marketing, education and community engagement.
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Explore the work of cataloguing, research and interpretation of artefacts.
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Develop strategies to develop programming to engage with new audiences.
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Gain insight into potential career paths in the museum sector.
Key Dates
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Application for the 2025 programme will begin on 29th of September 2025. The application form will be available from this webpage <in development> .
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The closing date for applicants is the 24th of October.
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Successful applicants to the programme can expect to be contacted to have their place confirmed by 5th December 2025.
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This placement will be offered to a maximum of 20 students during the week of
9th - 13th February 2026
Important Information
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This is a five-day programme and it will take place in the National Museum of Ireland-Turlough Park, Co. Mayo.
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All successful applicants must ensure that they are able to attend all five days of the programme and are able to travel to the site.
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Each day of the programme will be from 10am – 4pm, including one hour for lunch. Lunch will not be provided by the Museum.
<Content In Development>
Day 1: Morning: 10am-1pm
Education Department: Welcome/ Orientation/ Museum Tour (Museum, House, Grounds)
On the first day, you will be welcomed, provided orientation and given a tour of the Museum and grounds. This session is designed to provide an overview of the Museum and its collections and introduce you to the various roles and functions of a National Museum.
Key Learnings: Better understanding of the National Museums mission and purpose, and how it serves the public.
Day 1: Afternoon: 2pm-4pm
Registration/ Documentation:
This session will focus on the methodology for managing collections and information. This will cover the process of documenting objects in the Museum's collections, storing and preserving objects (including Library and Archives) and managing loans of objects to and from other institutions.
Key Learnings: How objects come into our collections are stored and documented.
Day 2: Morning: 10am-1pm
Conservation Department: Conservation Care
Conservation is an important aspect of museum work, ensuring that cultural objects are preserved for future generations. In this session, you will learn about the various techniques and practices used to conserve and protect Museum collections. Through hands-on activities, you will gain an appreciation of the complexities of conservation and the importance of preserving our cultural heritage.
Key Learnings: How objects are conserved and the techniques of how this is managed.
Day 2: Afternoon: 2pm-4pm
Curatorial Department: Collecting for the Future
Museums often have specialised collections that require unique care and attention. In this session, you will learn about the Folklife collections and how we are still collecting for future audiences. You will have the opportunity to learn about the unique challenges involved in presenting these collections, as well as the importance of working with communities to ensure that their cultural heritage is properly represented.
Key Learnings: Folklife collections and how this collection is expanding and represented.
Day 3: Morning: 10am-1pm
Curatorial Department: Developing a New Exhibition
Developing a new exhibition involves a wide range of tasks, from research and curatorial work to interpretation planning, design and installation. In this session, you will learn about the various stages of exhibition development, including research, planning, design and installation. You will have the opportunity to work on a future exhibition project and gain a better understanding of the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of this work.
Key Learnings: New exhibition planning and the work involved.
Day 3: Afternoon: 2pm-4pm
Education Department: Design an Exciting Museum Programme
Museums play a vital role in engaging with communities and providing educational opportunities. In this session, you will learn about the various educational programmes and community engagement initiatives offered by the National Museum of Ireland. Through hands-on activities, you will gain a better understanding of the Museum's role in promoting lifelong learning and cultural understanding.
Key Learnings: Work in teams to develop programming, based on the new exhibition for a range of audiences.
Day 4: Morning: 10am-1pm
Irish Community Archive Network (iCAN): Case Studies
Learn about the Irish Community Archive Initiative, whose main aim is to encourage and support communities to collect and share their local history and heritage online. Develop ideas on intergenerational learning.
Key Learnings: Develop case studies on how to work in local communities to provide intergenerational learning opportunities.
Day 4: Afternoon: 2pm-4pm
Marketing: Case Studies
This session will focus on some of the main ways that the public engage with museums and the marketing strategies that are used to inform the public about the Museum. You will meet the Marketing team who will present you with social media exercises and case study examples to highlight the importance of this role.
Key Learnings: Learn how the public engage with Museums and how we develop strategies for a range of audiences.
Day 5: Morning: 10am-1pm
Education: Handling Collection, Fact sheets and Identifying Objects
Handling collections provide tactile learning experiences for a range of audiences. Work in teams to develop factsheets on a number of handling objects in our collection by observing, identifying, collating and analysing.
Key Learnings: Develop handling collection factsheets using various techniques.
Day 5: Afternoon: 2pm-4pm
Future Careers: Reflection, Evaluation and Close
There are many different career paths in the museum sector, ranging from curators and conservators to educators and marketing professionals. In this session, you will have the opportunity to learn about the various museum careers and hear from staff and museum professionals about their experiences and paths to their current positions.
Key Learnings: Explore ways to develop the skills and experience necessary to pursue a career in the museum sector.