O Come, O Come to Collins Barracks and get into the Christmas spirit at the National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History for a special day of festive fun!
 
We will have a Christmas storytelling session with Karen Edwards at 1.30pm, a drop-in Christmas ornament making family art workshop starting from 2pm, and Christmas carols with the intergenerational ‘Lassos' choir in the main reception from 3.00pm, as well as tours throughout the day.
 
The Museum is open from 1pm until 5pm, and throughout the day you can follow our selection of activity books and trails available at reception.
 
Programme of Events

1:30 - 2:15pm
Recovered Voices tour
Taking off in the Museum Reception
Join Museum guide Declan on a tour of our Recovered Voices; Stories of the Irish at War, 1914-1915 exhibition, and learn about the lives of the Irish in WWI - from civilians on war service to Christmas in the trenches. Booking not required, limited spaces allocated on a first come, first served basis.

1.30 - 2.30pm
Christmas Storytelling wtih Karen Edwards
Out of Storage Gallery
Join storyteller Karen Edwards for a special Christmas storytelling session. Karen hails from the Glens of Antrim and will entertain her audience with a wide range of Christmas stories suitable for all ages and tunes on her Killarney whistle

2 - 4pm
Merry and Bright: Stained Glass Cellophanes: Christmas Ornament Making Family Art Workshop
Learning Resource Room
Join educator Courtney McKee for a drop-in family art workshop. Make your own Christmas decorations inspired by stained glass, seasonal colours and winter wonders. Free of charge, limited spaces allocated on a first come, first served basis. Last entry to workshop at 3.30pm. 

2:30 - 3:15pm
Eat, Drink and Be Merry! A History of Food and Drink Tour
Beginning in Main Reception
Feast your eyes on the NMI’s collections and discover some of its most famous food-related artefacts on our Eat, Drink and Be Merry tour. Join Museum guide Declan for a tour on the history of food and drink through the collections of Collins Barracks. Booking not required, limited spaces allocated on a first come, first served basis.


3.00 - 3.30pm, 3:45 - 4.15pm
Christmas Carols with The Lassus Scholars & Piccolo Lasso
Museum Reception
A seasonal performance of classic Christmas carols with The Lassus Scholars & Piccolo Lasso Choir.


But wait, there’s Myrrh!
At reception, don’t forget to pick up a ‘Past and Presents’ Christmas Trail to explore the Museum, discovering more about gift giving throughout history!

There’s no booking required for guided tours, but spaces are limited and allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please contact bookings@museum.ie for more information.