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Plan your perfect day out at the Museum

Be sure to add the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life in Co Mayo to your day trip list! There is something for everyone to enjoy and admission is free. Check out this list of top things to do.

Free Admission

Ireland's National Folklife Collection

Explore Ireland's National Folklife Collection across four floors of modern, award-winning exhibition galleries. Objects, interactive audio and visual displays, rare photography and archive film footage depict the lifestyles, customs and traditions of our rural ancestors.

Turlough Park House

Visit historic Turlough Park House, located just next to the main museum galleries. This Victorian Gothic mansion dates to 1865. It was the ancestral home of the Fitzgeralds, an influential family of landowners with an interesting history in the region.

Victorian Gardens

The Green Flag award-winning gardens are some of the loveliest in the region with lots of interesting features and things to see and do. Today, the gardens and grounds are maintained by the OPW and Mayo County Council.

Museum Greenway

Start your visit with a scenic Greenway cycle for a great day out, suitable for all of the family.

Courtyard Café

Have a bite to eat or a sweet treat in the Museum café. If the weather is nice, enjoy the outdoor seating in the courtyard. The Courtyard Gallery next door also has a changing programme of art exhibitions

Outdoor Art

There are several outdoor artworks located throughout the grounds. One such sculpture by Barry Linnane is called 'Portal' and reflects the circle of life. The lakeside sculpture is 'Raon an Tuthail' by Colm Brennan and is inspired by childhood memories of rushes being cut with a reaping hook.

'Hawthorn Shrine' by Mags Duffy

'Counsellor II' by Brother Joseph McNally

'Raon an Tuthail' by Colm Brennan

The Glass House

The original glass house was built between 1874 and 1875. It was destroyed by a violent storm in the 1930s. Mayo County Council restored the structure in 2000. It serves as a central focal point for the gardens.

Nature walks

Immerse yourself in nature in our Green Heritage site. Enjoy a peaceful walk around the lake or through the woods. There are lots of built and natural heritage features to explore and interesting sightings for keen eyed nature enthusiasts.

Ancient Round Tower

Turlough Round Tower is a national monument, attached to a 17th century church overlooking the grounds of the Museum. It is a well preserved example of a round tower, dating to the ninth century, on the site of an older abbey - possibly founded by St Patrick.

Woodland Playground

Spectacularly located, the award-winning woodland playground at Turlough Park features a giant slide, swings, climbing bars and natural play features.

Model Thatch Cottage

Located in the gardens, this thatched 'house' was constructed to demonstrate the variety of materials, tools and techniques used in the building of vernacular houses across Ireland.

Irish Books and Crafts

Browse a wide range of unique, Irish books, gifts and crafts in the Museum Gift Shop.

18th Century Ruin

See the remains of the original Fitzgerald residence, built in 1722 by Thomas Fitzgerald. The family lived there until 1786 and it was also the home of the infamous George Robert 'Fighting Fitzgerald'.

Country Life

Turlough Park,
Castlebar,
Co. Mayo,
F23 HY31

+353 94 903 1755