From interactive exhibits and hands-on workshops to captivating lectures and guided tours, the National Museum of Ireland has something for all ages to enjoy this National Heritage Week.
The Museum is once again delighted to participate in this vibrant and engaging initiative by the Heritage Council, celebrating Ireland's cultural, built, and natural heritage from 17 to 25 August 2024.
This year’s theme, 'Connections, Routes, and Networks', invites us to delve into the many different ways we are intertwined with one another, whether through shared histories, traditions, landscapes, or artefacts.
Take a look at some of our highlight events and be sure to visit one of our four Museum sites in Dublin and Mayo for National Heritage Week 2024.
HERITAGE WEEK WORKSHOP: Fun, Biodiversity & Art Afternoon
2pm - 4pm | Saturday 17 August | All Ages
National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Join Catherine O'Beirne, Environmentalist, and Cas McCarthy, Artist, as they explore the grounds and create art in response to The Murmur of Bees exhibition. BOOKING REQUIRED
HERITAGE WEEK DEMONSTRATION: Traditional Basketmaking
11am - 4pm | Saturday 17 August | All Ages
National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
The Folklife Division has a wonderful collection of traditional baskets. To celebrate basketmaking and its long tradition, join basketmaker Joe Hogan as he demonstrates making a Ciseog. This demonstration will be presented in Irish and English. No booking is required.
HERITAGE WEEK: Museum, House and Garden Tour
2pm & 3pm | Saturday 17 August | All Ages
National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Journey back in time and marvel at the innovation and endurance of our rural ancestors through the Irish Folklife Collection with an experienced Museum guide. To compliment the Traditional Basketmaking Demonstration at the Museum on the same day, this tour will focus on the art and craft of basketmaking. The tour will also explore the interesting history of the Fitzgerald family and Turlough Park House. No booking required.
HERITAGE WEEK: Conservation Tour
12.30pm | Monday 19 August | Adults
National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
This tour will showcase the ways in which the Museum protects and preserves the National Folklife Collection of c35,000 objects relating to Ireland’s traditional way of life. A member of the Conservation Department and a Curator from the Irish Folklife Division will discuss the preventive strategies involved with the display and storage of objects across the collection. This tour is organised in association with the Institute of Conservator-Restorers in Ireland (ICRI). No booking required.
HERITAGE WEEK: Turlough Story Sharing Evening
7pm - 9pm | Wednesday 21 August | All ages
National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Come along to an evening of story sharing and reminiscing with Abarta Heritage on behalf of Turlough Archaeological and Heritage Society. The event is an opportunity for people to hear about the work being undertaken as part of the Turlough Action Plan as well as an opportunity to share stories and memories about times past in the area. The wonderful history, folklore and archaeology of the area will also be discussed. No booking is required.
HERITAGE WEEK: The Murray Documents online exhibition and talk
1pm | Thursday 22 August | Suitable for adults
(Online event) National Museum of Ireland - Country Life
In 2023, the National Museum of Ireland acquired a donation of 40 documents belonging to the Murray family that lived in rural County Sligo. The well-preserved documents span 150 years from the early nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century and give a snapshot of the lives of a typical farming family. As part of the Museum's Heritage Week 2024 programme, a selection of those documents will be available to view as a new online exhibition, complimented by a series of three online talks, from 1pm on Thursday, August 22.
HERITAGE WEEK: A History of Beekeeping
12noon - 4pm | Saturday 24 August | Adults and Children 12+
National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
To celebrate The Murmur of Bees exhibition, the Museum is hosting a special day-long programme of talks and demonstrations exploring the topic of beekeeping, with the Federation of Irish Beekeepers Association (FIBKA).
BOOKING REQUIRED
HERITAGE WEEK: Curator's Talk - Ib Jorgensen: A Fashion Retrospective
2pm I Friday 16 August | All Ages
National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Curator Alex Ward will discuss the life and work of iconic Danish-born Irish designer Ib Jorgensen in this in-gallery talk. No booking is required.
HERITAGE WEEK: Hands-on History - Come Back to Erin
1pm - 3pm | Saturday 17 August | All Ages
National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
When tourists come to Ireland, what are they hoping to see? Join Museum educators for an interactive handling session with objects from the Museum’s handling collection that explore the history of travel and holiday-making in Ireland. No booking is required.
HERITAGE WEEK: Guided Tours - The Way We Wore
1pm & 2pm | Saturday 17 August | All Ages
National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Join us on free guided tours of The Way We Wore exhibition exploring the changing roles of women in Ireland as reflected by the history of their clothing and costume. No booking is required.
HERITAGE WEEK: Guided Tours - Not Just Shamrocks & From Barracks to Museum
2pm & 3pm | Sunday 18 August | All Ages
National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Take a free guided tour to discover the history of Irish symbolism through objects in the Museum, and then discover the history of the Museum itself! No booking is required.
HERITAGE WEEK: Drop-In Handling Workshop: The Saints, Scholars, and Scribes of Ireland! Early Medieval
2pm - 4pm | Wednesday 21 August | Families
National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
This Heritage Week, 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. Learn about the coming of Christianity to Ireland, and the impact it had on the valley at Glendalough by exploring our Glendalough timeline banner. This event will take place in the Learning Resource Room, first floor, and is not wheelchair accessible. No booking required.
HERITAGE WEEK: Drop-In Workshop: Brilliant Brooches of Medieval Ireland
10.30am - 12.30pm | Thursday 22 August | Families 7+
National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Come to the Museum and discover some of the most impressive brooches from Medieval Ireland. From the famous 'Tara’ brooch to brooches worn by Viking women, and even brooches given as love tokens in Medieval Ireland. Learn all about the people who made and wore these brooches, and then make your own brooch to take home! This event will take place in the Learning Resource Room, first floor, and is not wheelchair accessible. No booking is required.
HERITAGE WEEK: Late Night Guided Tour: Prehistoric Ireland
6pm | Thursday 22 August | Families with children 7+
National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
On this tour, discover Mesolithic fish-traps, food of Neolithic Ireland, wonderful gold objects of the Irish Bronze Age, and artefacts from Iron Age Ireland. This tour weaves through the changes and continuity of prehistoric Ireland by using key objects from the Museum’s collection to inform us about the people and changes of each period. No booking is required.
HERITAGE WEEK: Free Guided Tours at the National Museum of Ireland Archaeology
Selected dates throughout Heritage Week
National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
This Heritage Week, join a Museum guide for a free and engaging tour of the collection of the National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology. See the full list of tours taking place during Heritage Week 2024.
Heritage Week Outreach: Aonach na nDéise - Woodstown Viking Site Heritage Festival, Co. Waterford
Sunday 18th August, General
Location: Aonach na nDéise - Woodstown Viking Site Heritage Festival, Co. Waterford
Bring a family picnic and enjoy kiddie viking games, battle re-enactments and browse the Viking Craft Village, at Woodstown Viking Site Heritage Festival, Co. Waterford. Try the Viking Artefact Challenge with the Education team from the National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, where you will have a chance to try the Museum’s hands-on activity ‘Viking Artefact Detective’ in which people will explore replica Viking objects to figure out what they were, how they were used, and how they were made.
HERITAGE WEEK: Pop Up Chats at the Dead Zoo with Irish Sign Language
10.30am - 11.15am & 11.45am - 12.30pm | Saturday 24 August | Families, Ages 7+
National Museum of Ireland - Natural History, Merrion Street, Dublin 2
Drop into the Wonder Cabinet at the Dead Zoo and join a free pop-up chat with ISL interpretation. Meet an Educator, ask some questions and maybe even get to touch a fossil, fur or skull from the handling collection! No booking is required.
HERITAGE WEEK: Talk: Become a Swiftie
6pm - 6.45pm | Thursday 22 August | Adults
National Museum of Ireland - Natural History, Merrion Street, Dublin 2
Drop into The Wonder Cabinet this Heritage Week and join Museum Educator, Geraldine Breen, for her talk on our most fascinating frequent flyers – the swift. Each spring swifts reappear in the sky above our city after their long migration from Africa. Join Geraldine as she takes you through the essentials of this species, with a peek behind the scenes and some stories about swifts in the city. Get ready to become a swiftie! No booking required.
Seacthain Náisiúnta na nOidhreachta: Cainteanna ar Líne: Ról Helga i Stair Dhúlra na hÉireann
17ú - 25ú | Mí Lúnasa | Daoine Fásta
Ard Mhúsaem na nÉireann - Stair an Dúlra, Sráid Mhuirfean, Baile Átha Cliath 2
Cuir feabhas ar do chúpla focal agus foghlaim níos mó faoi bhailiúcháin stair an dúlra an Seacthain Náisiúnta na nOidreachta seo! Féach siar ar fhíseáin le fotheidil as Gaeilge ar Chainéal YouTube an Mhúsaeim agus foghlaim faoin gcéad árthach eolaíochta de chuid na hÉireann.
- Browse our Late Night Opening Every Thrusday Programme of Events 2024
- Browse our Summer Programme of Events 2024
- Browse our Summer Programme of Family Drop-in Sessions & Activity Workshops at the National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology