Step back from the hustle and bustle of Christmas prep and drop in to Collins Barracks for a special day of festive fun.
 
We will have music in the main reception from 1:30pm, ‘Craft Your Christmas’ art workshops kicking off at 2pm, tours and artefact handling sessions throughout the day.
 
The Museum is open from 1pm until 5pm, and throughout the day you can follow our selection of activity books and trails available at reception.
 

Programme of Events

 
13:00-15:00
Hands-on History: Jingle Bells and Whistles!
Out of Storage Exhibition
 
Get a handful of history this Christmas and join Museum Educator Courtney for a holiday handling session exploring festive traditions through a selection of yuletide knickknacks and winter bric-à-bracs.
 
13:30-14:30
Eat, Drink and Be Merry! A History of Food and Drink Tour
Beginning in Main Reception
 
Feast your eyes on the NMI’s collections and discover some of its most famous food-related artefacts on our Eat, Drink and Be Merry tour. Join Museum guide Sheila for a tour on the history of food and drink through the collections of Collins Barracks.
 
13:30-14:30
St Michael's Folk Choir
Museum Reception
 
A seasonal performance of classic Christmas carols with St Michael's Folk Choir of Inchicore.
 
14:00-16:00
Festive Felting with Gabi McGrath
Palatine Room
 
Join artist Gabi McGrath for a drop-in art workshop on wet felting. Make your own Christmas decorations inspired by seasonal traditions and winter wonders. Free of charge, limited spaces allocated on a first come, first served basis.
 
14:00-16:00
Winter Wrapping Paper with Marika Miklosi Manning
Learning Resource Room
 
Use handmade stamps to create your very own wrapping paper at this drop-in workshop with artist Marika Mikloosi Manning. Free of charge, limited spaces allocated on a first come, first served basis.
 
14:30-15:30
Recovered Voices tour
Taking off in the Museum Reception

Join Museum guide Shannon on a tour of our Recovered Voices; Stories of the Irish at War, 1914-1915 exhibition, and learn about the lives of the Irish in WWI - from civilians on war service to Christmas in the trenches.
 
15:30-16:30
From Barracks to Museum: An Introduction to Collins Barracks
Taking off in the Museum Reception
 
Join Museum guide Sheila and learn about the lives of soldiers living in the Barracks, as well as the transition from one of Europe’s oldest occupied Barracks into one of Ireland’s National Museums.
 
But wait, there’s Myrrh!
 
At reception, don’t forget to pick up a ‘Past and Presents’ Christmas Trail to help navigate the Museum and learn about gift giving throughout history.