Make the final school term memorable with an engaging experience at the National Museum of Ireland! Whether for an end-of-year trip, a workshop, or interactive online resources, we offer a wide range of free programmes that bring history, culture, and heritage to life.
Our sessions complement the primary and post-primary curriculum, making learning both fun and meaningful. With summer around the corner, now is the perfect time to inspire your students—book your visit or online session today!
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What's on for Primary Schools at the National Museum of Ireland
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What's on for Post Primary Schools at the National Museum of Ireland
The National Museum of Ireland located at Merrion Street, also known as the 'Dead Zoo', closed on 2 September 2024, so a school visit is not possible at this location. However, teachers can still book a virtual session for your school and explore the fascinating Natural History Collections through a range of classroom activities and resources.
BOOKINGS & ENQUIRIES:
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To book a visit to one of our Dublin Museums, submit a Schools Enquiry Form and our Bookings Office will get back to you regarding availability for your chosen session. You can also email bookings@museum.ie or call (01) 648 6453.
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Enquiries regarding Bookings for Turlough Park can be directed to BookingsCountryLife@museum.ie or (094) 90 31751.
See the full schools programme for the NATIONAL MUSEUM OF IRELAND at:
Some highlights for PRIMARY LEVEL include:
Buttermaking Workshop
Tuesday 29 April & Wednesday 30 April
(National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo)
Join Fiona Deacy as she discusses the origins of buttermaking in Ireland and how our ancestors relied on the land and their animals for food. FIND OUT MORE
Orienteering Workshop
Thursday 22 May & Friday 23 May
(National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo)
Learn some basic map reading and navigation skills and complete an orienteering course around the grounds of the National Museum of Ireland at Turlough Park in Co. Mayo. FIND OUT MORE
Top 10 Tour: Highlights of the National Folklife Collection
Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays
(National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo)
Ever wondered what daily life was like for people in Ireland long ago? Travel back in time and explore how people lived, worked, and dressed in the past! FIND OUT MORE
Onsite Guided Tour: A Taste of the Past - The History of Food and Drink
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays
(National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7)
This interactive tour will give students a flavour of the wealth of artefacts on display in the Museum that show the continuity and change of food preparation over time and the fascinating insights dining can give us into life, society and culture in Ireland. FIND OUT MORE
Onsite Guided Tour: Game, Set, Match: The History of Sports in Irish Society
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays
(National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7)
From hair hurling balls dating from the 1500s to ladies camogie dresses from the 1960s, join Museum Guides on an engaging and interactive tour focuses on the development and evolution of Ireland's sociatal and sporting past. FIND OUT MORE
Online Workshop: Museum Explorers!
Online Facilitated Workshop
(National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7)
Students will be introduced to key artefacts from the National Museum’s collection, and through a series of fun activities will learn about how to analyse and interpret artefacts and appreciate their importance in shaping our knowledge of the past and the people who lived in it. FIND OUT MORE
Egyptian Workshop: Sacred Scarabs
Tuesday 29 April, Wednesday 30 April, and Thursday 1st May
(National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2)
Discover Ancient Egyptian beliefs, mummification, and the significance of scarab beetles. Explore the gallery with Museum experts, handle replicas, and create your own scarab amulet to take home. FIND OUT MORE
Classroom Activity: Seasonal Word Searches
(Natural History online)
Explore the collections of the National Museum of Ireland – Natural History using our new Irish activity sheets. Get your pupils to try out seasonal-themed word searches to improve vocabulary, spelling and concentration, while exploring nature in the Museum. FIND OUT MORE
Gníomhaíochtaí Seomra Ranga: Cuardach Focal Séasúracha
(Stair an Dúlra ar líne)
Cuir eolas ar bhailiúcháin Ard-Mhúsaem na hÉireann – Saol an Dúlra trínár mbileoga nua gníomhaíochta as Gaeilge. Iarr ar do dhaltaí triail a bhaint as na cuardaigh seo d'fhocail shéasúracha chun cur lena gcuid foclóra, agus an litriú agus an cumas díriú ar an obair a fheabhsú, agus iad ag cur eolais ar an dúlra sa Mhúsaem. TUILLEADH EOLAIS
VIRTUAL SESSION: Tales of the Dead Zoo
(Natural History online)
What secrets of the past and present are held in the collections and why are they important for the future? Discover tales of the Dead Zoo during a live virtual session, led by a Museum Educator and streamed straight to your classroom. FIND OUT MORE
SEISIÚN FÍORÚIL: Scéalta an Zú Mhairbh
(Stair an Dúlra ar líne)
Cad iad na rúin a bhaineann leis an am atá thart agus an am i láthair ata sna bailiúcháin agus cén fáth a bhfuil tábhacht leo don todhchaí? Foghlaim faoi scéalta an Zú Mhairbh le linn seisiún beo fíorúil, a stiúrfaidh Oideachasóir Músaeim, a sruthófar díreach chuig do sheomra ranga. TUILLEADH EOLAIS
VIRTUAL SESSION: Meet the Bears
(Natural History online)
How many different types of bears can be found in the world? Where do the live, what do they eat and who does big green poos! Discover this and more during a short online session, led by a Museum Educator and streamed straight to your classroom! FIND OUT MORE
Some highlights for POST PRIMARY LEVEL include:
Orienteering Workshop
Thursday 22 May & Friday 23 May
(National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Mayo)
Learn some basic map reading and navigation skills and complete an orienteering course around the grounds of The National Museum at Turlough Park House. This work in the Museum will be supported by staff and students from ATU’s Mayo campus and will coincide with World Orienteering day. FIND OUT MORE
Buttermaking Workshop
Tuesday 29 April & Wednesday 30 April
(National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Mayo)
Join Fiona Deacy as she discusses the origins of buttermaking in Ireland and explores the science, history, and cultural significance of dairy production. Students will get the chance to churn cream into butter using traditional methods and also gain insight into the processes our ancestors relied on. FIND OUT MORE
TOUR: Highlights of the National Folklife Collection
(National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo)
Gain a fresh perspective on society, economy, culture and politics in Ireland from 1850 to 1950 by examining the various objects on display in the National Museum of Ireland at Turlough Park. FIND OUT MORE
Onsite Guided Tour: Eileen Gray
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays
(National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7)
Wexford-born Eileen Gray (1879-1976) is now regarded as one of the most influential designers and architects of the 20th century. Students are introduced to her life and work through observation of her furniture, drawings and other artefacts. FIND OUT MORE
Onsite Guided Tour: Symbols of Ireland in the National Museum's Collection
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays
(National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7)
The harp is one of the most common symbols of Ireland, which we see on everyday objects such as coins, and the shamrock is synonymous with St Patrick’s Day, but did you know that there are lots of other symbols that designers and artists have used over the centuries to express Irish culture and history?. FIND OUT MORE
Virtual Tour: Bonnets, Bandoliers and Ballot Papers
Classroom Activity
(National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7)
Join Museum Guide Sheila Robinson for an engaging, informative and thought-provoking examination of the changing roles of women at the beginning of the 20th Century FIND OUT MORE
Resource: What are Natural History Scientific Collections
(Natural History online)
Discover the scientific Natural History collections and go behind the scenes of the Museum with talks from our Tales from the Decant Series. FIND OUT MORE
Resource: The Irish Coast Climate Change Virtual Visit
(Natural History online)
Discover the effects of climate change in Ireland using a 3D walkthrough of the museum from the comfort of the classroom. FIND OUT MORE
RESOURCE: Leaving Certificate Art History Presentation
(National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2)
Explore Irish art from the Neolithic to the 12th century, from Stone Age tombs to Early Christian treasures like the Tara Brooch. Tailored to the History of Art Leaving Certificate, it highlights Pre-Christian and Insular Art. FIND OUT MORE
RESOURCE: Leaving Certificate Art History Resources
(National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2)
The Museum offers online resources to support Leaving Certificate Art studies, with many objects related to Visual Studies on display at the National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology. FIND OUT MORE
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