The National Museum of Ireland is set to host a wide range of activities for all ages this winter season.
As winter settles in, the National Museum of Ireland has a jam-packed programme of brand-new temporary exhibitions, tours, demonstrations and hands-on events across its Dublin and Mayo locations. Best of all, admission is free.
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Here’s a glimpse of what’s on offer for the rest of 2024:
GAA: People, Objects & Stories exhibition
A new temporary multi-media exhibition at the National Museum’s decorative arts and history branch in Collins Barracks on Benburb Street in Dublin offers an in-depth look at the influence of Ireland’s largest sporting organization. The exhibition showcases a variety of objects dating from the late medieval period to the present day, many of which are on display for the first time, including a 10-carat gold GAA medal from 1936, which was awarded to one of the players from the Cavan football team or Limerick hurling team that travelled to play in New York’s Yankee Stadium.
Also on display is a rugby football used by prisoners to play Gaelic football at Frongoch internment camp in Wales in 1916, alongside a hurley belonging to Michael Collins. The oldest artefacts on display are 15th-century sliotars made from matted cow hair and plaited horsehair, found in bogs in Kerry, Mayo and Limerick.
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Saints and Scholars tours
Join a “Saints and Scholars of Ireland tour” at the National Museum’s archaeology branch on Kildare Street in Dublin on Friday, 22 November, Saturday, 30 November or Friday, 13 December. Learn about the artefacts and relics associated with Ireland’s three patron saints – St Patrick, St Brigid and St Colmcille – as well as lesser-known early saints. These tours offer an insight into the impact of Christianity on early medieval Ireland, particularly in shaping the development of writing and scholarship.
Not Just Shamrocks tour
The “Not Just Shamrocks: Irish Symbolism in the Museum’s Collections” tour will take place on Sunday, 24 November, at Collins Barracks. It will explore the range of symbols used to represent Ireland over time.
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History of Art in Ireland tour
On Friday, 29 November and Friday, 6 December, the “History of Art in Ireland” tours at the archaeology museum on Kildare Street will take visitors on a journey through Ireland’s artistic evolution, from the Stone Age to the early medieval period. Highlights include megalithic art on a replica passage tomb and the intricate goldwork of the Bronze Age. The tour also explores how the La Tène art style of the Iron Age influenced early medieval artwork, such as the Ardagh Chalice and the Tara Brooch.
Bobbin Lace demonstration (booking required)
On Friday, 6 December, the Museum of Country Life in Turlough Park in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, will host a demonstration, presentation and exhibition by members of the Headford Lace Project. This traditional craft, which dates back to c.1766, was added to the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2021.
>>> RELATED: Ireland’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage expands to 42 cultural practices
Visitors can view various intricately crafted pieces, including lace bonnets and a christening gown. Among the highlights is a recently made ceremonial baby christening bonnet – marking the first production of Headford lace in over 100 years. This exhibition showcases the enduring beauty and revival of a near-forgotten Irish art form.
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Prehistoric Ireland family tour
On Saturday, 7 December, the archaeology museum on Kildare Street is running a family-friendly tour exploring its prehistoric collection. The tour will include artefacts such as fish traps from the Mesolithic period, information about the food of the Neolithic period and an exhibition of bronze, iron and gold objects from the Bronze Age and Iron Age. Inspired by the primary school history curriculum, this tour uses key objects from the museum’s collection to offer a window into each period.
Medieval Christmas at the Museum open day
On Sunday, 8 December, the archaeology museum on Kildare Street will host its medieval Christmas event. The museum is inviting families to explore how people spent their winters in the past, the games they played and how they kept safe on perilous pilgrimages. Visitors can wander through the galleries, following the Medieval Christmas Trail. Re-enactors from Laoch Living History will bring to life characters such as a pilgrim, a monk, a games master and a barber surgeon. Visitors can also make their own Christmas decorations to take home.
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Mayo Genealogy Group
The Mayo Genealogy Group will meet on Saturday, 14 December, at the Museum of Country Life. This event offers advice and support for anyone researching their family tree, whether you’re just getting started or need guidance with an ongoing project.
Stories of the Irish During World War One tour
On Sunday, 15th December, a tour of the “Recovered Voices: Stories of the Irish at War, 1914–15” exhibition will take place at Collins Barracks. It covers topics such as Christmas in the trenches, the experiences of prisoners of war and the contributions of nurses and doctors. This is an ISL-interpreted tour and priority will be given to members of the Deaf community.
Winter Solstice tour
Mark the Winter Solstice with a special guided tour in the archaeology museum on Kildare Street on Friday, 20 December or Saturday, 21 December. Learn how ancient passage tombs, like Newgrange, were aligned with celestial events like the Winter Solstice and explore artefacts from Ireland’s megalithic tombs.
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Glendalough: Power, Prayer and Pilgrimage exhibition
The “Glendalough: Power, Prayer and Pilgrimage” temporary exhibition in the archaeology museum on Kildare Street showcases the rich history of one of Ireland’s most important early monastic sites. It explores the life and legacy of its founder, St Kevin and the site’s evolution through the medieval period.
This exhibition features 26 artefacts that offer a fascinating glimpse into the lives of those who lived, worked and prayed at Glendalough. Among the highlights are an 8th/9th-century hand-bell, a 10th-century woman’s leather shoe lost in a bog, a 13th-century gaming board used to play merels (also known as nine-men’s morris) and a 15th/16th-century wooden statue of a high-ranking cleric or saint. The exhibition also features one of the earliest examples of Irish coinage, a silver penny from AD 995 minted under Sitric, King of Dublin.
Even more events and tours are scheduled across the three locations of the National Museum of Ireland beyond those featured here. See what events and tours are coming up here and find out what temporary exhibitions are on display this winter here.
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