Need some inspiration on ways to keep the whole family entertained this Easter midterm? The National Museum of Ireland has a great range of new events and activities especially designed for children across our four Museum sites in Dublin and Mayo.
Highlight events include egg hunts, viking workshops, wildlife detective activity trails or celebrating the magic of Ireland’s bees!
We are open to visitors for much of the Easter break from 10am to 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday, and 1pm to 5pm on Sundays and Mondays with the exception of Good Friday (closed).
Admission is free.
1. Get Crafty - Easter Egg Decoration Workshop
Sunday, 31 March, 1.30pm - 3.30pm | Families
National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
This Easter Sunday, join us for an egg-decoration workshop inspired by Annemarie Reinhold's Spoon Garden art installation. Paint and decorate your own vegetable-inspired easter egg decoration to celebrate springtime and the renewal of life. No booking is required. FIND OUT MORE
2. Join the Big Barracks Egg Hunt
Sunday, 31 March, 1pm - 3pm | Families
National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Follow the object trail around the Museum to solve the riddles, hunt out the artefacts, then come back to Reception for an eggs-cellent surprise! The Big Barracks Egg Hunt will begin in Reception at Collins Barracks. Booking is not required. FIND OUT MORE
3. Hands-on History: Fact or Fiction?
Monday, 1 April, 11am - 3pm | Families
National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
This April Fool’s Day, join Museum Educators for a special handling session and see if you can tell the fact from the fib. Keep your wits about you as we try to fool you with tall tales about some of our more mysterious handling objects. No booking is required. FIND OUT MORE
4. Take a tour of Collins Barracks!
Throughout the Easter midterm
National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Discover appetising histories of wining and dining across the ages or delve into the fascinating range of symbols used to represent Ireland in a free guided tour on either Saturday or Sunday, 30 or 31 March. No booking is required. FIND OUT MORE
Saturday, 30 March
1pm A Taste of the Past: The History of Food & Drink in the Museum's Collections
2pm Ireland, Then and Now: Irish Symbolism in the Museum's Collections
Sunday, 31 March
2pm A Taste of the Past: The History of Food & Drink in the Museum's Collections
3pm Ireland, Then and Now: Irish Symbolism in the Museum's Collections
5. Join a pop-up chat at the Wonder Cabinet
Throughout the Easter midterm
National Museum of Ireland - Natural History, Merrion Street, Dublin 2
Drop into The Wonder Cabinet and join a pop-up chat over the Easter midterm. Meet an Educator, ask some questions and maybe even get to touch a fossil, fur or skull from the handling collection! FIND OUT MORE
6. Become a Wildlife Detective!
Throughout the Easter midterm
National Museum of Ireland - Natural History, Merrion Street, Dublin 2
Challenge yourself to an activity sheet at the Dead Zoo! Activity sheets are a great way to learn, explore and enjoy the collections of the Museum by yourself or as a family group. FIND OUT MORE
7. Handle Medieval Objects!
Wednesday, 27 March, 10.30am -12.30pm | Families
National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Drop into the Learning Resource Room and find out more about the lives of people in Early Medieval Ireland. During this handling workshop, discover replicas of jet crosses from Yorkshire, early medieval leather shoes, and brooches for cloaks and clothes. Take part in some relaxing colouring activities, read through our many books about archaeology, and make sure to explore the Museum's galleries afterwards. FIND OUT MORE
8. Explore Viking Ireland
Throughout the Easter midterm
National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Join a family tour of the Viking Ireland exhibition at the Museum to learn all about the Vikings in Ireland. See a replica fishing boat, examine the beautiful oval brooches worn by Scandinavian women, and discover ice skates made of bone! Discover what life was like in Viking Dublin, and see the wider impact that the Vikings had on Ireland. FIND OUT MORE
9. See replica Viking Artefacts
Wednesday 3 April, 10.30am - 12.30 pm. Families
National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Find out about life in Viking Dublin by visiting the Learning Resource Room at the Museum to see some replica Viking Artefacts! Take a look at Viking swords and axes used for raiding, a Viking brass scales for trading, and clothes worn by men and women who lived and settled in Viking Dublin. FIND OUT MORE
10. Become a Viking Detective
Thursday 4th April, 2pm - 4pm. Families 7+
National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Drop-In to the Learning Resource Room at the Museum and learn how to think like an archaeologist by solving our puzzle. Look and handle our Viking replica artefacts and figure out what they are and how they were used. FIND OUT MORE
11. Design your own Easter card!
BOOKED OUT...National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Saturday 30 March, 2pm & 3pm | Families
The build-up of eggs and dairy produce during Lent provided for a welcome breakfast and there were usually enough eggs for children to decorate and use in Easter games. Have a go at designing some Easter cards similar to those used in Easters past, examples of which are now part of the Irish Folklife Collection. This is a self-directed activity with resources supplied by the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life. BOOKING REQUIRED
12. Calling all GAA fans!
During opening hours
National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Wear your county colours and see objects dating from the 15th century to the present day. The GAA: People, Objects & Stories exhibition illustrates the influence of the GAA through the lens of social history, design and popular culture. FIND OUT MORE
13. There's a Murmur of Bees in Mayo!
During opening hours
National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Did you know there are more than 100 different bee species in Ireland, but only one that makes honey? Or that bees were so important throughout Irish history, they even have their own patron saint? Join us in celebrating the magic of Ireland’s bees, their vital role in nature, and the special bond they share with us. FIND OUT MORE
14. A flag for Ireland
During opening hours
National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
More than 300 participants were invited by artist Anthony Haughey in a series of artist led workshops to reimagine a flag for Ireland, one hundred years on from the foundation of the state, which might represent people from all cultures and traditions. In we make our own histories exhibition, see all 306 flag designs in a series of specially made books, as well as engage with 40 life size flags displayed on flagpoles. Why not create your own flag design in the exhibition reflection space. FIND OUT MORE
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Top things to do for families at the National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
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Top things to do for families at the National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History
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Top things to do for families at the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life
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Museum at Home with the National Musuem of Ireland - Natural History