From captivating tours, interactive handling sessions, engaging drop-in sessions and a fascinating talk on the Fighting Fitzgeralds of Turlough Park, there’s something for everyone to discover and enjoy across our museum sites in Dublin and Mayo.
The 25th anniversary of Culture Night will take place from 5pm - 8pm on Friday, 19 September 2025.
Supported by the Arts Council, Culture Night/Oíche Chultúir is an annual all-island public event and a great opportunity for people to enjoy a range of specially programmed cultural activities at hundreds of participating locations, including museums, theatres, galleries, arts centres and more. This year's theme is 'One Night For All'
See what's on at the National Museum of Ireland for Culture Night 2025
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Finding the Fighting Fitzgerald with Patrick Butler
19:00 - 20:00 | Friday, 19 September | Suitable for Adults | Free Admission | Booking Requred
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
This Culture Night, the National Museum is delighted to present a special talk with Patrick Butler, a writer and local historian who lived in Turlough Park House for almost 40 years. Patrick will deliver a fascinating talk on the subject of his latest book - the colourful and ultimately tragic figure of George Robert ‘Fighting Fitzgerald’.Discover the many twists and turns in the life of this famous duellist and rebel – considered one of Ireland’s most dangerous personalities in the mid-1700s and hanged for murder in Castlebar at the age of 38. This talk will also celebrate the 160th anniversary of Turlough Park House, a Victorian Gothic ‘big house’ built in 1865 by the Fitzgerald family. FIND OUT MORE
My Favourite Animal at the Dead Zoo Lab
17:00 - 19:00 | Friday, 19 September | Families | Free Admission | No booking required
Dead Zoo Lab, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Drop into the Discovery Zone this Culture Night and choose your favourite animal on display in the new Dead Zoo Lab. Grab a pencil and a copy of the newly designed activity sheet, ‘My Favourite Animal’, and get exploring! Museum Educators will be on hand to answer any curious questions and show off the new handling carts where you can touch real fossils, fur and bones! . FIND OUT MORE
Hands on History: Gloves, Games and Gallons of Fun
17:30 - 19:00 | Friday, 19 September | Adults & Families | Free Admission | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
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. FIND OUT MORE
LGBTQIA+ Tour of Collins Barracks
17:30 - 18:30 & 19:00 - 20:00 | Friday, 19 September | Adults & Families | Free Admission | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
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. FIND OUT MORE
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