Drop into Collins Barracks this Culture Night for an evening of tours, trails and tactile sessions.

Hands on History: Gloves, Games and Gallons of Fun

17:30 - 19:00

This Culture Night, the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks invites visitors to take part in an engaging, hands-on session exploring the age-old question of how to spend your evening – going out or staying in? 

This interactive experience offers a unique opportunity to handle a selection of historical objects related to fashion, grooming, and leisure activities of times past, from elegant accessories and grooming tools used to prepare for a night on the town, to the more intimate items associated with domestic entertainment and relaxation.

This drop-in handling session will take place in the Museum Reception area from 17:30 - 19:00. No booking is required, come and go as you please! Handling sessions can be expected to take from 5-15 minutes. Children must be fully supervised by a parent or adult who is in loco parentis.

LGBTQIA+ Tour of Collins Barracks

17:30 - 18:30
19:00 - 20:00

Come along on Culture Night for a rich and informative historical tour of the National Museum of Ireland – Collins Barracks exploring LGBTQIA+ history in the Museum’s collections.

This tour views the Museum’s 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.

Places are limited to 20 people and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Children must be fully supervised by a parent or adult who is in loco parentis.

Museum Trails

You can grab any of our trails and activity sheets from Museum Reception throughout Culture Night to explore the Museum at your own pace. Explore topics such Irish Design, LGBTQIA+ history, Irish Heritage and many more through our free booklets, suitable for all ages.

For more information about the items listed above, contact bookings@museum.ie or call 01 648 6453. You can find the full programme of events taking place across the country as part of Culture Night at the following link: Culture Night Programme 2025