This summer, discover Ireland's rich heritage and vibrant culture at the National Museum of Ireland. We are delighted to announce our extensive programme of free tours, workshops, and trails, offering engaging activities for all ages to enjoy across our three museum sites in Dublin and Mayo.
Don’t miss this opportunity to explore, learn, and be inspired by Ireland’s fascinating history and heritage.
Admission is free | Summer 2026
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
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14:00 & 15:00 | Every Saturday 2026 | All Ages | Admission Free | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Take a tour and learn about key objects and stories in the Museum galleries, then discover more about the life of the Fitzgerald family and the history and architectural style of Turlough Park House and Gardens.
15:00 | Friday 26 June 2026 | Adults | Free Admission | Booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
This talk explores the legacy of Mayo born nun Sr Ignatia Gavin and her involvement in the development of the Alcoholics Anonymous movement
10:00 - 11:00 | Saturday 27 June 2026 | Families | Admission Free | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Museums can be busy and noisy, which can make them a stressful environment for many people. To help, we are offering a designated quiet hour to provide a calmer experience for visitors from 10:00 to 11:00 on Saturday, 27 2026.
14:00 - 15:30 | Sunday 28 June 2026 | All Ages | Free Admission | Booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Celebrate Insect Week in the beautiful grounds of Turlough Park with museum educator Fiona Deacy. Join us for a fun and educational family minibeast hunt and mini bug hotel construction workshop.
14:00 - 15:00 | Saturday 4 July 2026 | Adults & Children | Free Admission | Booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Join members of the Turlough Poetry Collective for a special afternoon of poetry reading accompanied with music by piper Diarmaid Moynihan.
11:00 - 13:00 | Saturday 18 July 2026 | All Ages - Adults and Children | Free Admission | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Have a game of outdoor boules with members of Castlebar Pétanque Club on the grounds of Turlough Park.
14:00 - 16:00 | Saturday 18 July 2026 | All Ages, Adults and Children | Free Admission | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Have you ever played Queenie I O, Snap the Bacon, Red Rover, or 5 Slates? Rediscover these classic games celebrating traditional Irish outdoor play. Whether you’re reliving fond childhood memories or trying these activities for the first time, experience the simple joy of traditional games passed down through generations in association with Mayo Sports Partnership.
Available during Museum opening hours | Summer 2026 | Families | Free Admission | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
There are five new and challenging orienteering courses to explore on the grounds of Turlough Park. Visit the Museum Galleries to pick up a map and download the MapRun app to track your progress.
Available during Museum opening hours | Summer 2026 | Families | Free Admission | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Pick up a ‘Woodland Explorer’ activity booklet from Museum reception to explore a self-guided nature trail through the grounds of Turlough Park.
Available during Museum opening hours | Summer 2026 | Families | Free Admission | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Peadar is a Pygmy Shrew who lives at the Museum with his seven friends. Can you find their hiding spots in the Museum galleries using our fun, self-guided activity sheet?
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Selected dates and times throughout July 2026 | Families | Free Admission | No booking required
Dead Zoo Lab, National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Dublin 7
Explore all things natural this summer at the Dead Zoo Lab! Drop into the Discovery Zone in the Dead Zoo Lab at Collins Barracks and meet some feathered friends. Bring the family along and join a short activity to learn more about birds.
Selected dates and times throughout June 2026 | All Ages | Free Admission | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
As the weather warms, get your weekly dose of history at Collins Barracks this June! Discover something new on our diverse range of free public tours.
18:00 | Thursday 25 June 2026 | All Ages | Free Admission | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Join curator Siobhán Doyle for a Dublin by Dusk evening tour of Harry Clarke’s Stained Glass at Collins Barracks, exploring the rich detail and imaginative vision of one of Ireland’s most renowned artists.
18:00 & 19:00 | Thursday 25 June 2026 | All Ages | Free Admission | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
During the PRIDE festival, join the Museum’s LGBTQIA+ tour which views the exhibitions through alternative lenses, bringing some hidden histories and perspectives to the fore. Focusing on objects and individuals from the 17th to the 21st century, the tour reveals a wide variety of identities, genders and sexualities along the way.
11:00 & 13:00 | Friday 26 June 2026 | All Ages | Free Admission | BOOKED OUT!
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Join Dr Siobhán Doyle for a tour of the GAA: People, Objects, Stories exhibition at Collins Barracks, exploring the GAA’s impact through objects from the 15th century to today.
12:00 | Saturday 27 June 2026 | All Ages | Free Admission | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Join us for a reflective and slow-looking tour exploring how objects can tell us about ourselves and our history, and how movement – both in and out of Ireland – has shaped the country’s identity and everyday life.
10:00 - 11:00 | Saturday 27 June 2026 | Families | Free Admission | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Museums can be busy and noisy, which can make them a stressful environment for many people. To help, we are offering a designated quiet hour to provide a calmer experience for visitors from 10:00 to 11:00 on Saturday, 30 May 2026.
Selected dates and times throughout June 2026 | All Ages | Free Admission | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
This new guided LGBTQIA+ tour views the exhibitions through alternative lenses, bringing some hidden histories and perspectives to the fore. Focusing on objects and individuals from the 17th to the 21st century, the tour reveals a wide variety of identities, genders and sexualities along the way. This tour is not a complete or comprehensive LGBTQIA+ history of the collection at Collins Barracks, but an effort to highlight the rich diversity of lives and experiences on the island of Ireland across time.
15:30 | Sunday 27 September & Sunday 13 December 2026 | All Ages | No booking required
Dead Zoo Lab, National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Join us for a range of regular guided tours in Collins Barracks, interpreted in Irish Sign Language. These tours are for all visitors, creating a more inclusive and accessible experience for our Deaf and hard of hearing visitors.
14:00 - 16:00 | Wednesday 8 July 2026 | Families | No booking required
Dead Zoo Lab, National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Drop into the Discovery Zone in the Dead Zoo Lab at Collins Barracks this Summer school holidays. Bring the family along and join a short activity to learn more about fossils.
Selected dates throughout June | All Ages | Free Admission | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Explore the new Changing Ireland Galleries and encounter the everyday or extraordinary objects that witnessed or contributed to the transformation of Ireland over the last 150 years.
13:00 - 13:45 | Sunday 12 August 2026 | All Ages | Free Admission | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Enjoy a free lunchtime concert with the Army No. 1 Band at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks. Bring a picnic and relax in Clarke Square as Ireland’s senior military band performs a lively mix of music in a fun, family-friendly setting. No booking required—just arrive and enjoy live music in a unique historic surroundings.
17:30 - 19:30 | Thursday 24 September 2026 | All Ages | €30 | Booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Following in the tradition of Japanese Ukiyo-e printmaking -Mokuhanga (木版画) is the traditional Japanese art of water-based woodblock printing. Literally translating to "wood" (moku) and "print" (hanga), it is a non-toxic relief printing technique using water-based inks, brushes, and rice starch paste applied to handmade washi paper, all hand-printed without a press - only a hand-held baren. It is ideal printing process for anyone interested in an environmentally friendly and meditative approach to printmaking.
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Selected dates and times throughout June 2026 | All Ages | Free Admission | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Throughout the month of June, join a tour with a Museum guide for a free and engaging tour of the collection of the National Museum of Ireland Kildare Street about the Museum's archaeology collection.
17:00 & 18:30 | Thursday 25 June 2026 | All Ages | Free Admission | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Explore the exhibitions of glittering gold and silver artefacts, and the archaeological mysteries of Ireland’s national archaeological collection.Tours will discuss the stories of discovery of some of Ireland’s most famous objects, such as the Coggalbeg Lunula, Broighter Hoard and the ‘Tara' Brooch and some of the less well-known gems, such as the mysterious Corleck Head.
18:00 | Thursday 25 June 2026 | All Ages | €45 | BOOKED OUT! Waiting list available
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
This hands-on workshop introduces both the cultural heritage and contemporary applications of bojagi, guiding participants through a series of practical wrapping techniques using a variety of textiles. You will learn how to adapt these methods for everyday use—from gift presentation to functional carrying.
11:00 | Friday 26 June 2026 | All Ages | Free Admission | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
This slow looking tour will take a handful of artefacts on display from the Museum’s collection and take the time to pause, look closely and reflect on the artefacts. Explore artefacts from Stone Age to Early Medieval Ireland to see how life adapted and changed from prehistoric to historic Ireland. It is gentle-paced and conversational tour that invites attendees to slow down from the hustle and bustle of life to enjoy the Museum in a mindful and relaxed way.
14:00 - 16:00 | Wednesday 1 July 2026 | Families | Free Admission | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Discover the different types of objects that people in the past used to source their food. See our mesolithic fishtrap, flint scrapers and arrowheads, and prehistoric clay pots. Take part in some relaxing colouring activities, read through our many books about archaeology, and make sure to explore the Museum's galleries afterwards.
11:00 - 13:00 | Thursday 2 July 2026 | Families | Free Admission | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Discover all the patters, shapes and decorations that were used to decorate passage tombs in Ireland, including Newgrange and Knowth, and decorate your own ‘megalithic stone’ to bring home with you. You can also have a go at creating your own cave art handprint!
14:00 - 16:00 | Wednesday 8 July 2026 | Families | Free Admission | No booking required.
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Come to the Learning Resource Room and learn how to think like an archaeologist! Try to solve the puzzle of some mystery replica Bronze Age objects during this drop-in session and see if you can figure out what each of them were used for.
11:00 - 13:00 | Thursday 9 July 2026 | Families | Free Admission | No booking required.
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
In the Early Bronze Age Ireland, people made beautiful gold discs that looked like the sun. Drop in to find out more about these precious objects and make your own shining sun disc to bring home with you.
14:00 - 16:00 | Wednesday 15 July 2026 | Families | Free Admission | No booking required.
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
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 Ireland. Take part in some relaxing colouring activities, read through our many books about archaeology, and make sure to explore the Museum's galleries afterwards.
11:00 - 13:00 | Thursday 16 July 2026 | Families | Free Admission | No booking required.
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
During this craft drop-in workshop, experience what it was like to be a scribe in early medieval Ireland by using vellum, a quill, and oak gall ink, to write your secret message in ogham on a mini bookmark to take home with you.
14:00 - 16:00 | Wednesday 22 July 2026 | Families | Free Admission | No booking required.
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Take a close look and handle each of our Viking replica artefacts. Figure out what they are, how they were used and what they are made from. Use the Viking Age Artefact Detective activity sheet to fill in all of the answers.
11:00 -13:00 | Thursday 23 July 2026 | Families | Free Admission | No booking required.
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Explore the lives of Viking warriors and their swords at this drop-in workshop. Craft and decorate your own mini paper Viking sword and mark it with a secret message in Viking runes to take home with you.
11:00 - 13:00 | Wednesday 29 July 2026 | Families | Free Admission | No booking required.
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Discover the different types of objects that people in the past used to source their food. See our mesolithic fishtrap, flint scrapers and arrowheads, and prehistoric clay pots. Take part in some relaxing colouring activities, read through our many books about archaeology, and make sure to explore the Museum's galleries afterwards.
14:00 - 16:00 | Thursday 30 July 2026 | Families | Free Admission | No booking required.
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Discover all the patters, shapes and decorations that were used to decorate passage tombs in Ireland, including Newgrange and Knowth, and decorate your own ‘megalithic stone’ to bring home with you. You can also have a go at creating your own cave art handprint!
Top Exhibitions to see at the Museum this Summer 2026
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The Murmur of Bees | National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
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Antique Veterinary Objects | National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
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'Róidín' in the Courtyard Gallery | National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
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Harry Clarke’s-Stained Glass | National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
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Beyond the Surface | National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
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A New Form of Beauty | National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
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The Weight of Words | National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
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Eva Lynch - Anthropoware | National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
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GAA: People, Objects & Stories | National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
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Glendalough: Power, Prayer and Pilgrimage | National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Plan your perfect day out at the National Museum of Ireland
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Plan your perfect day out | National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
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Plan your perfect day out | National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
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Plan your perfect day out | National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2