Escape the hustle and bustle of pre-Christmas preparations with a visit to the National Museum of Ireland and recapture the rich traditions and wonders of the festive season with family and friends.
We are delighted to present an exciting Christmas programme of seasonal talks, events and activities for all ages to enjoy across our Museum sites in Dublin and Co Mayo.
Nollaig Shona daoibh go léir!
Opening hours for Christmas and New Year
We are closed to visitors at 1pm on Christmas Eve (Tuesday, 24 December); Christmas Day (Wednesday, 25 December); St Stephen's Day (Thursday, 26 December).
Normal opening hours resume from 10am on Friday, 27 December.
Highlight Events:
Experience the Magic of Dublin City Council Dublin Winter Lights at the National Museum of Ireland: A Dazzling Display for All Ages
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Friday 29 November to Sunday 15th December. All Ages. Booking Required
Artists from all over the world were invited to submit applications for their work to feature on the National Museum of Ireland Collins Barracks building, as part of this year’s ‘Dublin City Council Dublin Winter Lights’ programme. The competition will be judged by an esteemed panel of internationally-recognised judges. Experience 360-degree video mapping and soundscapes in the historic Clarke Square of the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks. Booking Required
Christmas Market at Turlough Park
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
1pm to 5pm, Sunday, 15 December. All Ages
Visitors can browse a range of beautiful crafts from local and regional makers and artists, including candles, calligraphy, art, cards, textiles and more. FIND OUT MORE
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Christmas Tales at Turlough Park
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
1pm to 5pm, Sunday, 15 December. All Ages
Feel the magic of Christmas come alive with festive stories by storyteller, Fiona Dowling. Sessions are available at 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm. FIND OUT MORE
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Family workshop: Cosy Christmas Crafts
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
2pm to 4pm, Sunday, 15 December. All Ages
Have fun using natural and recycled materials to make unique, Christmas decorations with crafter Isolde Dingerkus. There are two workshop sessions available at 2pm and 3pm. This is a free family event. Booking required. FIND OUT MORE
Guided Tour: Let the Sun Shine Winter Solstice Tour
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Friday 20 December at 10.30am and Saturday 21 December at 12pm and 2pm. All Ages. Suitable for children 8+
Celebrate the rising sun of the Winter Solstice at Newgrange with our special tours at 10.30am on Friday, 20 December and 12pm and 2pm on Saturday, 21 December, at the National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology. FIND OUT MORE
Live crib at Turlough Park
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
1pm to 5pm, Sunday, 15 and 22 December. All Ages
Join Kiltimagh Pet Farm in the Courtyard to learn about animals such as sheep, goats, cows and donkeys which formed an important part of the nativity story as well as other traditions associated with Christmas. FIND OUT MORE
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Pop-up display: Homemade Toys
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
1pm - 3pm, Sunday, 22 December. All Ages
Join Museum Curator Tiernan Gaffney to learn about homemade toys in the Irish Folklife Collection. Find out how some of these toys were made and have a go at playing with a selection from the Museum’s handling collection. No booking required. FIND OUT MORE
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Past and Presents Christmas Trail
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Throughout the month of December
Join us at Collins Barracks during Museum opening hours for a self-guided trail looking for objects that were gifts, presents or precious items passed on through generations. FIND OUT MORE
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Decoration Trail
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Available from Saturday, 7 December
Go on a festive and fun, treasure-hunt style activity in the museum galleries. This is a self-guided trail - meaning visitors pick up an activity sheet at any time during Museum opening hours and enjoy the trail at your own pace. The clues will lead visitors through three floors of exhibition galleries to find 12 decorations hanging in the displays. FIND OUT MORE
Winter Nature Scavenger Hunt
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Available from Saturday, 7 December
Pick up an activity sheet at Museum Reception to go on a winter nature scavenger hunt through the gardens and woodland at Turlough Park. See if you can tick off each of the winter nature sightings on the list. This is a self-guided trail - meaning visitors pick up an activity sheet at any time during Museum opening hours and enjoy the trail at your own pace.
Irish Sign Language Guided Tour: Let the Sun Shine Winter Solstice Tour
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Friday 20 December at 2pm. All Ages. Suitable for children 8+
Celebrate the rising sun of the Winter Solstice at Newgrange with our special tours at 10.30am on Friday, 20 December and 12pm and 2pm on Saturday, 21 December, at the National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology. An interpretor will be present on this tour to provide Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation. FIND OUT MORE
Christmas carols in the galleries
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
2.15pm to 4pm, Sunday, 22 December, All Ages
The Mayo Male Voice Choir and the Cill Aodain Choral Society make a welcome return to the Museum for an atmospheric afternoon or Christmas carols and choral pieces in the galleries. FIND OUT MORE
New Year's Tours at Collins Barracks
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
2pm & 3pm, 31st December, 2024 and 1st January, 2025
To round out 2024, enjoy an insightful New Year's Eve by learning about the Barracks and it's history, followed by exploring an important era in Irish military history in 1913 - 1923: Decade of Conflict. Then join us on New Year's Day to learn about the fascinating representations of Irish Symbolism across our Military History and Decorative Arts collections. FIND OUT MORE
Drop-In Workshop: Ancient Board games of Viking and Medieval Ireland
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
10am to 12.30pm, Friday, 3 January. Families 8+
Learn how to play Hnefatafl and Nine Men's Morris and even make your own board games and counters to bring home with you. FIND OUT MORE
Activity Sheet: The Winter Trail
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Throughout the month of December. Children Age 7-14
Challenge yourself to complete our Winter Trail activity sheet and discover how Medieval lords, Viking children and Stone Age farmers passed the time and celebrated feasts in winters past. FIND OUT MORE
Christmas Decoration Hunt
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
During Museum opening hours, 6 December 2024 to 5 January. Families, Children 5+
We have lost our Christmas decorations in the exhibition galleries! Can you help us find them? Pick up this fun and festive activity sheet at Museum Reception and use the clues to complete the treasure hunt style activity. FIND OUT MORE
Online Activity: Festive Fossil Decorations
National Museum of Ireland - Natural History Online
Throughout the month of December
Watch the craft video below and make some sustainable winter decorations, inspired by the fossils collections at the Dead Zoo! FIND OUT MORE
Watch Back: The Bear Family Christmas
National Museum of Ireland - Natural History Online
Throughout the month of December
Meet all eight different species or types of bears in the Museum, as we watch back "The Bear Family Christmas" FIND OUT MORE
Gift ideas from our Musuem Shops
Located in Kildare Street, Collins Barracks and Turlough Park, Castlebar, Mayo
For gift ideas with a difference, browse a unique range of books and crafts this Christmas in the Museum Shop. There is a beautiful selection of craft and giftware to choose from, including jewellery, ceramics, natural skincare products, artisan chocolate, candles, textiles, knitwear, toys and more.
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