A list of the Best free events in Dublin for all the family

family at event in Dublin
There are lots of events in Dublin for all age, tastes, for adults and all the family. Mots of them take place during spring and summer.
Are you looking for an idea for a day out, spend some quality time and for family fun?
Fun events in Dublin this weekend?
Family friendly attractions?
In Ireland’s capital Dublin everybody will find what to do and their favorite entertainment.
Keep reading on and find it out. Get out with the family and fave the best time ever!
It’s All About Books – Thursday Talk
WHERE: Drumcondra Road Upper, Drumcondra
WHEN: 14 March
PHONE: +353 1 8842175
E-MAIL: libraryevents@dcu.ie
Set in the wonderful contemporary glass architecture of the DCU Cregan Library these talks explore different aspects of ‘The Book’.
Alan Titley’s, ‘Lest We Remember: An Poll Sa Chuimhne’ is a bilingual talk suitable for both non-Irish speakers and Gaeilgeoirs of every level. He is an award-winning novelist, playwright, broadcaster and scholar who writes in Irish and English. He is a member of the Royal Irish Academy and Professor Emeritus of Modern Irish in UCC, and former Head of the Irish Department at St Patrick’s College, DCU. He currently writes a weekly Irish language column with the Irish Times and his latest novel, ‘Lámh, lámh eile’ was published in 2018.
Talk synopsis: Readers read hundreds of books, maybe thousands. And yet we retain only a tiny fraction of what we read. Or do we? This talk attempts to grasp at what passes through our minds when we read a book, and what stays there if anything. And if we forget most of what we read, which we do, what is the point of ploughing through any book at all. At all. At all. This bilingual talk will answer all of these pressing questions definitively for all time.
Cad a fhanann sa chuimhne tar éis na mblianta fada léitheoireachta agus staidéir? Mistéir de mhistéirí na cruinne é. Má tá eolas an domhain le fáil i leabharlanna an tsaoil, cén fáth a mbíonn daoine chomh hamaideach sin dua a chur orthu féin rudaí a fhoghlaim? Cé mhéid den leabhar a léigh tú an tseachtain seo caite a bhfuil meabhair agat air? Tabharfar aghaidh ar na ceisteanna seo le linn na cainte, agus cá bhfios, b’fhéidir go mbeadh freagra orthu?
Tanya Lokot is an Assistant Professor at the DCU School of Communications. One aspect of her research focuses on internet freedom and censorship in Ukraine and Russia, as well as media propaganda in conflicts and crises. A former journalist, her writing has appeared in The Guardian and The Moscow Times. Her forthcoming book on digital media and protest in Ukraine and Russia will be published in 2020.
Her talk, “Manuscripts Don’t Burn: Censorship, Samizdat and the Curious Life of Mikhail Bulgakov’s Master & Margarita,” examines the work of Russian writer Mikhail Bulgakov. Bulgakov was no stranger to state censorship, with many of his works in the 1920s and 1930s banned by Soviet authorities. His most famous novel, Master & Margarita, was published well after his death in the early 1960s – and was still censored. But determined readers devised ingenious ways to make the full text of the book available.
These talks are running in conjunction with Marie Hanlon’s ‘All About Books’ exhibition in Cregan Library, open to the public from February 23rd – March 15th.
Event Dates:
- Thu, 14 March 2019 18:00 – 19:00
Mother Tongues Festival
WHERE: Belgard Square East, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 NWN7, Tallaght
WHEN: 2-3 March
E-mail: info@civictheatre.ie
WEB: www.civictheatre.ie/whats-on/mother-tongues-fest
Phone: +353 1 4627477
A celebration of the thousands of languages that exist around the world, the unique Mother Tongues Festival is being held at the Rua Red Arts Centre and the Civic Theatre to mark UNESCO International Mother Language Day.
Enjoy colourful and diverse performances and workshops for all ages in over 20 different languages. Highlights include Fanzini’ circus, performance Roots made in collaboration with diverse community participants by Outlandish Theatre Platform and the world premiere of a composition from Irish musician Séan MacErlaine to accompany an interactive reading and illustration of Eoin Colfer’s graphic novel ‘Illegal’ and a lively concert by award winning ensemble Yurodny, who will perform contemporary interpretations of traditional music from around the world.
Wszyscy mile widziani
Va invitam cu mare drag sa fiti
alaturi de noi la acest eveniment
Todos são bem-vindos!
All Welcome!
This two day festival will see children, teens and adults involved in rap writing workshops, animal hunts, craft making and a wide range of multi-lingual interactive sessions from a variety of hosts including Irish Architecture Foundation and the Chester Beatty Library. The festival is funded by the Arts Council.
Volvo Dún Laoghaire Regatta 2019
WHERE: Dún Laoghaire Harbour, Dún Laoghaire
WHEN: 11 July- 14 July
WEB: dlregatta.org
E-Mail: sec@dlregatta.org
Offering four days of open-sea racing by Irish and international teams in one of the most picturesque areas of Dublin Bay, the Volvo Dún Laoghaire Regatta 2019 is a must-do.
Welcoming back many old friends from previous regattas, as well as plenty of newcomers, Dún Laoghaire will be the centre of great racing and a lively social scene, with entertainment for all ashore.
The sea will be carpeted with up to 470 bobbing boats; cruisers, keelboats and dinghies from all over the UK and Ireland will be hitting the water.
For Dubliners who haven’t found their sea legs, a trip out to the south coast during the regatta will mean a fun crowd, stunning views, great food and family events all along the water.
Admission
Free for spectators
It’s All About Books
WHERE: Drumcondra Road Upper, Drumcondra
WHEN:
WEB: www.eventbrite.ie/e/its-all-about-books-an-exhib
PHONE: +353 1 8842175
Combining Marie Hanlon’s literary and visual interests, IT’S ALL ABOUT BOOKS is a visual art installation set in a library while raising questions about the role of the book in our culture: as artefact, object, document, resource, entertainment and concept. The pieces engage with the materiality of books, their history and their future in a technology driven world. They explore points of intersection between writer and reader, reader and fellow reader.
At the heart of Marie Hanlon’s exhibition is the interchange between the ideas of the book and other artforms.
Works such as “Alas, poor YORICK!” (a direct reference to Laurence Sterne’s novel The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman), “Black Book” inspired by Samuel Beckett’s The Calmative or “Ulysses Bolted” based on James Joyce’s Ulysses, intertwine references from literature with the exploration of form giving us different ways to open up the ideas contained between the covers.”Book of Mirrors”, “Obsolete” and “Ghost” play with physical form and raise questions on self obsession, how ideas develop, authenticity.
Other works explore how language evolves and the advances of technology and leads us to consider how we the readers engage.
Overlooking Dublin city, a place strongly associated with literature, Cregan Library on DCU’s St Patrick’s Campus is a fitting venue for Hanlon’s exhibition.
Material Memories – a workshop using drawing and light
With artist Sophie Behal
WHEN: Saturday 9 March 2019 | 3pm – 4pm
WHERE: Location: Temple Bar Gallery + Studios
Free admission, click here to book your ticket.
Is your head chock-a-block with memories? From the big things like your first day at school, to the little things like what you had for breakfast this morning, there are so many memories crammed into everyone’s mind, some hazy and some moments stay crystal clear.
In this workshop for all ages we will explore TBG+S’s current exhibition Efference Copy Mechanism by Ronan McCrea. We will draw out our memories on plastic and project them large-scale onto the gallery walls. Using coloured-lighting gels and moving elements we will animate them and add to them, weaving different peoples memories together, looking at similar events from different angles.
Sophie Behal is a visual artist working mainly in sculptural installation, which can include audio, text, photographic and performative elements. Her work is characterised by an attention to the inherent qualities of materials and their relationship to time. It strives to sit in a space between thinking, language and making. Sophie recently completed an MA in Art + Research Collaboration through IADT, and has recently undertaken residencies in the Mustarinda, Northern Finland and the Impilinna residency in the Finnish archipelago.
Making Connections
Do you live or work in the Temple Bar area? Are you interested in talking about art, visiting exhibitions, meeting artists, or learning about art making? Would you like to meet other people who work or live in the area? Then join us at Temple Bar Gallery + Studios for our FREE Making Connections Programme. These early morning, evening and weekend family events are for everyone – no previous experience required.
About Temple Bar Gallery + Studios
Founded in 1983, Temple Bar Gallery + Studios supports 30 artists in studios and stages an innovative programme of exhibitions and events throughout the year.
KidsFest in RDS
WHEN: April 7, 2019
WHERE: Anglesea Road , Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Dublin
PHONE: +353 (0)1 668 0866
Primary Times KidsFest, exciting family fun event at the RDS Dublin, where parents of all children from 0-16 can meet a host of parenting and lifestyle exphereerts as well as education specialists and representatives from Ireland’s leading entertainment, learning & leisure industries.
The Serpentin Hall of just over 1,000 Sq. metres will be the main exhibitor area with approx. 40 stands and free entertainment. The day long programme of special talks and workshops on the main stage will run for one day with some well known authors and celebrity guests.
Rockin’ Food Festival
WHERE: Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
WHEN: 2nd – 5th August 2019
WEB: rockinfoodfestival.com
After a hugely successful 2018 Festival, we are delighted to announce that #rockinfood2019 will be taking over the streets of Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford once again from August 2nd -5th 2019.
Wexford’s ultimate Summer festival blends the perfect mix of the things we love most about summer – delicious food, great music and family fun.
So, what to expect at Rockin’ Food?
Check out some the amazing Rock ’n’ Roll bands taking to our Outdoor Main Stage & Dancefloor or maybe catch some cookery demos and food talks in the Food Marquee for absolutely FREE.
Relax with a nice cool drink from the Drinks Marquee and catch a bite to eat from some of the first-rate food vendors from the Artisan Food & Crafts Market.
Our younger festival goers can look forward to lots of fun activities, events and workshops in the Kids Marquee or spend some time at the Kid’s Play Zones or Ferris Wheel.
Once the little ones are all tired out, the adults can enjoy some of the exclusive Food & Drink Fringe Events.
There’s something on offer for all ages, tastes and budgets at Rockin’ Food Festival so save the date and start planning your trip to Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford this August Bank Holiday Weekend 2019. A weekend you don’t want to miss.
FREE EVENTS for all the Family at Ireland’s National Botanic Gardens
DATE | EVENT | DETAILS |
February 20, 2019 @ 7:45 pm – 9:00 pm | 25 Years of the Irish Wetland Bird Survey
| BirdWatch Ireland: 25 Years of the Irish Wetland Bird Survey, by Brian Burke and Niamh Fitzgerald Organised with BirdWatch Ireland. Free Lecture, No Booking. Auditorium, Education & Visitor Centre. |
February 23, 2019 @ 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm | Planting with Bees (and Other Pollinators) in Mind
| No matter how small a space you may have to plant flowers, Mary Montaut aims to help you choose plants which will encourage both honey bees and wild pollinators to visit. Mary will show how attracting bees and other pollinators to your garden will have the added benefit of increasing your yield of crops of soft and tree fruits too. Mary Montaut has been keeping honey bees in her garden in Wicklow for the past twenty years. Her passion for gardening began as a child when Mary was inspired by her favourite aunt who lived close to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. Mary is currently editor of An Beachaire, the Irish beekeeping journal. Organised with the Irish Garden Plant Society. All welcome. |
February 27, 2019 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Wild Plants of Oman – Discovery and Cultivation
| Darach Lupton – Head of the Department of Botany and Conservation at Oman Botanic Garden – will take us on a journey across the Arabian sands – describing the challenges faced by historic and contemporary plant collectors in Oman’s often extreme landscape. The talk will highlight how the emerging Oman Botanic Garden is combining botanical science and horticultural skill to cultivate, conserve and showcase Oman’s rich botanical heritage. 3.00pm, Education & Visitor Centre. Free lecture, no bookings. |
March 7, 2019 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Horticulture Open Day
| The Teagasc College of Horticulture at the National Botanic Gardens, in conjunction with Waterford Institute of Technology, will hold a Horticulture Open Day on Friday, 7 March 2019. Prospective students interested in a career in horticulture and can learn more about WIT’s BSc in Horticulture degree programme on the day. |
March 7, 2019 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Urban Forestry and GIS databases for Dublin’s Trees
| Augustine Henry Memorial Lecture: Urban Forestry and GIS databases for Dublin’s Trees Urban trees are gaining increasing attention for their environmental, social, economic and health benefits and services to society. In this lecture, Dr Tine Ningal, UCD Ireland School of Geography, will outline the creation of a city scale urban trees GIS database from scratch for Dublin, its benefits and vulnerabilities, while also taking a broader look in the context of global warming and climate change. |
March 8, 2019 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Magic and Medicine – Women and the history of healing plants
| For this illustrated talk, Charlotte Salter-Townshend, guide at the National Botanic Gardens, will focus on women’s cures for female concerns such as fertility. Women healers and their knowledge of local flora were a mainstay of health for generations of communities around the world. However, wise women were frequently feared and painted as witches. This talk attempts to untangle fact from fiction and highlight an important part of Ireland’s cultural heritage which has largely been forgotten. |
March 14, 2019 @ 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm | Expanding the Collections at Mount Stewart
| Neil Porteous is head of all National Trust gardens in Northern Ireland. He is also Head Gardener in Mount Stewart where he has overseen the restoration and replanting of the garden originally laid out by Lady Edith Londonderry. Neil will be speaking to us about his travels and how these relate to the expansion of the collections at Mount Stewart. |
March 21, 2019 @ 7:45 pm – 9:00 pm | Bird Migration – A Mystery Solved?
| Irish Ornithologist and Author, Anthony McGeehan, discusses the updates on this age-old enigma. Migration is a way of life for most birds found in Ireland. Our nation sits with its back to the Old World and its face to the New World, so the variety of bird species reaching our shores is derived from two hemispheres. From across the planet, ‘our’ birds come – to breed, stop off, or spend the winter. How these visitors reached our shores puzzled us for centuries. So how do birds navigate so successfully over enormous distances and make a return trip to the same nesting site each year? Modern tracking results are revealing journeys once thought impossible – such as sustained flight for days at a time. Feats of endurance are one thing but their homing ability is even more impressive. Most of the youngsters fly solo to faraway winter quarters they have never seen. The evidence – and some of the history behind its discovery – is pieced together in a simple way that brings a new coherence to the complex ways that birds navigate, the preparations they make before departure, and their decisions en route – such as when drifted off course by inclement weather. In a nutshell, birds’ array of sense far exceeds our own. Rather than relying purely on the sun and the stars for guidance, birds make use of something we cannot sense – the Earth’s magnetic field. Overall they integrate a range of global phenomena, including patterns of polarised light visible (to their specially tuned vision) in the sky.
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March 29, 2019 @ 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm | Con Arte e Maestria – Masterpieces of the 17th-century Vasa’s Court
| Chant21 is coming back this spring to please your soul with the finest selection of early 17th-century Italian and Polish music composed under the King Vasa’s patronage. For generations, the Vasas were true music lovers, securing the best musicians and composers at their court. Come along to continue this centuries long tradition and let our music speak to you! Jacek WISŁOCKI • tenor Note: Free parking will be available at the Gardens for your convenience To book your ticket, and for more info visit: https://bit.ly/2HPMJJA
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March 31, 2019 @ 9:30 am – April 7, 2019 @ 4:00 pm | National Tree Week Tree Walks for Schools
| Did you know we offer Free tours to Primary & Secondary school groups? This National Tree Week discover the iconic trees and remarkable specimens of the National Botanic Gardens. On this tour you will hear some fascinating facts and tales about native and exotic trees alike, and also learn how to identify some of our most popular trees. National Treek Week is organized by Tree Council of Ireland Suitable for 1st class and up. |
FREE EVENTS for kids and all the Family at Ireland’s National Museums
Location | Date | Events | Detail |
---|---|---|---|
Collins Barracks (Decorative Arts & History) | 17/01/2019 – 23/02/2019 During Museum Opening Hours | Exhibition: ODG: Kingdom of Dust This temporary exhibition of photographs and video by Mark Harmon and Aoife O’Connor of the MOST Garda Youth Diversion Project, working with Shireen Shortt, celebrates the community of O’Devaney Gardens in Dublin 7. In this project the artists capture the flat complex, close to Collins Barracks, in its final days and juxtapose these images with portraits of current, former and local residents. The exhibition includes a series of interviews with residents, who discuss the portrayal of O’Devaney Gardens in the media, their hopes for the future and their memories of O’Devaney Gardens as a vibrant community. The artists’ aim with this exhibition is to show, in their words, that “ODG” wasn’t a bad place to grow up. | Temporary Exhibition – All Ages |
Merrion Street (Natural History) | 01/02/2019 – 28/02/2019 During Opening Hours | Seasonal Activity Sheet- Spring Into Action! Spring has sprung so why not drop in to the museum and try our Spring Activity Trail. Copies of this activity sheet trail are available at the stand in the Irish Room. Don’t forget your pencil! Wheelchair accessible. | Drop-in Activity – Families |
Turlough Park (Country Life) Turlough Park | 01/02/2019 – 28/02/2019 During opening hours | Travellers’ Journey Travellers’ Journey is a temporary exhibition exploring the rich culture, traditions and crafts of the Traveller community in the west of Ireland. It aims to showcase and encourage discussion and appreciation of the unique heritage and ethnicity of Travellers. The exhibition has been co-curated with the Western Regional Traveller Health Network. | Temporary Exhibition – All Ages |
Turlough Park (Country Life) | 01/02/2019 – 28/02/2019 During opening hours | The Enemy Within – the Spanish Flu in Ireland 1918-19 This temporary exhibition explores the folk medicines and rudimentary cures used by the public to combat the flu epidemic. It will be on Level A in the Museum of Country Life until April 2019. | Temporary Exhibition – All Ages |
Collins Barracks (Decorative Arts & History) | 20/02/2019 – 20/02/2019 2.30 – 3.30pm | Jurassic Skies: Midterm Family Art Workshop Join us for a mid-term Art workshop for families exploring the Jurassic Skies exhibition – learn about the Archaeopteryx, an animal known from fossils dating from the Jurassic age, approximately 150 million years old and create a creature of your own design! Booking required. Art materials provided. | Workshop – Families |
Turlough Park (Country Life) Turlough Park | 21/02/2019 – 21/02/2019 2pm – 3pm | Look to the Lights Before electricity people used tallow candles, rushlights and paraffin lamps to light their homes. Join the Education Team to learn more about how people lit their homes and then with artist Veronika Straberger make and decorate your own lantern. | Workshop – Adults & Children 7+ |
Merrion Street (Natural History) | 21/02/2019 – 21/02/2019 12pm & 2pm | Made to Measure? Are you the height of a beaver? Are you as long as a moose? Join zoologist Catherine McGuinness to learn how we measure animals and guess their sizes. You might be surprised by your animal height! No booking required, places limited and allocated on a first-come basis 15 minutes before tour starts. Not wheelchair accessible. | Tour – Families |
Turlough Park (Country Life) Turlough Park | 21/02/2019 – 21/02/2019 10am – 1:30pm | CAMP Project: Magical Moving Images As part of the Travellers’ Journey CAMP arts project, artist Brid Murphy will lead this workshop in Video Mapping and Interactive Video Projection. Discover how to make magical moving image installations to project images on to the front of buildings and interventions in space. Find out how moving image can be a powerful tool to activate conversations on how to challenge prejudice and can give a voice to the marginalised. Booking required. | Workshop – Adults & Children 14+ |
Kildare Street (Archaeology) | 21/02/2019 – 21/02/2019 11.30am-1.30pm | Medieval Love Tokens In Medieval times a lady would give a knight a love token to carry into ‘battle’ for good luck. Pop in and join us to find out more about love and courting in Medieval times and to make your own love token to bring home.No booking required. Located in the Learning Resource Room, First Floor. Not wheelchair accessible. | Drop-in Activity – Families with children 8+ |
Turlough Park (Country Life) Turlough Park | 22/02/2019 – 22/02/2019 2pm-3pm | Junior Event: Create Your Own Family Tree Join artist Nuala Clarke for a fun and interactive workshop exploring family connections and use natural materials from the Museum grounds to create your own family tree. Booking required. | Workshop – Adults & Children 3-6yrs |
Collins Barracks (Decorative Arts & History) | 22/02/2019 – 22/02/2019 11.30am – 1pm | Culture Club: Jurassic Skies Culture Club invites members to explore and enjoy the collections through a series of specially arranged guided tours and activities in the company of Museum staff followed by ’Tea & Chat’ and an opportunity to mingle. In February join the curators of the Jurassic Skies exhibition, Matthew Parkes and Paolo Viscardi to hear about the Archaeopteryx, an animal known from fossils dating from the Jurassic age, approximately 150 million years old. This was the first animal with feathers that is suspected to have been capable of flight and is a ‘missing link’ between dinosaurs and birds. Booking Required. | Talk – Adults |
Turlough Park (Country Life) Turlough Park | 23/02/2019 – 23/02/2019 2pm – 5pm | I am Traveller: Our Histories and Heritage Meet with guests Brigid Carmody, Hugh Friel, Michael McDonagh, Mary Collins and Oein DeBhairduin, representing Traveller groups from Cork, Donegal, Meath, Mayo and Dublin. The panel will share their insights on traditional and contemporary Traveller culture and interesting community initatives. Chaired by Senator Collette Kelleher. Booking | Talk – Adults & Children 14+ |
Kildare Street (Archaeology) | 23/02/2019 – 23/02/2019 2.30-4.30pm | Prehistory Mysteries! Humans and the Natural World Pop into the Museum and have a chat with our Museum Educators who will have an array of replica artefacts and raw materials, which you can pick up and examine. Discover how humans cleverly used antler, wood, and clay in centuries past – long before there was plastic! No booking required. Located in the Prehistoric Ireland exhibition, Ground Floor. Wheelchair accessible. | Drop-in Activity – All Ages |
Collins Barracks (Decorative Arts & History) | 24/02/2019 – 24/02/2019 3pm – 4pm | Family Tour – An Introduction to Collins Barracks Join an introductory tour to learn about the history of Collins Barracks, from the 1700s to the present day and its transition from Barracks to Museum, taking in some of the highlights from the Museum’s military history or decorative arts exhibitions. Admission free, places allocated on a first-come basis 15 minutes before tour starts. | Tour – Families |
Turlough Park (Country Life) Turlough Park | 28/02/2019 – 28/02/2019 2pm – 3:30pm | Happy Days & Hard Times Following on from the publication of ‘Happy Days and Hard Times’, a collection of visitor memories, join editor Joanne Hamilton for a reminiscence workshop. Using the book and looking at specific objects in the exhibits to facilitate reminiscence, you will be invited to record your own memories and add them to the growing archive held at the Museum. Booking required. | Workshop – Adults |
Turlough Park (Country Life) Turlough Park | 01/03/2019 – 31/03/2019 During opening hours | Travellers’ Journey Travellers’ Journey is a temporary exhibition exploring the rich culture, traditions and crafts of the Traveller community in the west of Ireland. It aims to showcase and encourage discussion and appreciation of the unique heritage and ethnicity of Travellers. The exhibition has been co-curated with the Western Regional Traveller Health Network. | Temporary Exhibition – All Ages |
Turlough Park (Country Life) Turlough Park | 01/03/2019 – 31/03/2019 During opening hours | The Enemy Within – the Spanish Flu in Ireland 1918-19 This temporary exhibition explores the folk medicines and rudimentary cures used by the public to combat the flu epidemic. It will be on Level A in the Museum of Country Life until April 2019. | Temporary Exhibition – All Ages |
Turlough Park (Country Life) Turlough Park | 01/03/2019 – 01/03/2019 11am – 1pm | Knitting & Crochet Circle: Springtime Patterns Update your style for Spring. Join the group to work on your knitting and crochet skills, swap patterns and get advice. Beginners welcome. No booking required. | Drop-in Activity – Adults & Children 7+ |
Kildare Street (Archaeology) | 01/03/2019 – 17/03/2019 Le linn uaireanta poiblí / During opening hours | Thóg trál!- Take a Trail! Chun Seachtain na Gaeilge 2019 a cheiliúradh, ar mhaith leat bualadh isteach agus tabhairt faoi cheann dár mbileoga oibre Gaeilge? Beidh rogha agat idir Éire na Lochlannach, An Déantán is Fearr Liom, Éire sa Chlochaois agus Slí na Seodlainne.Gheofar na bileoga ag an deasc fáiltithe agus sa charr gníomhaíochta ag an Músaem. To celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge 2019, why not drop in and challenge yourself to our worksheets in Irish? Choose from Viking Ireland, My Favourite Object, Stone Age Ireland or the Treasury Trail. No booking required. These worksheets will be available in the reception area and the activity cart in the Museum. | Drop-in Activity – Ages 7-12 |
Merrion Street (Natural History) | 01/03/2019 – 01/03/2019 During Opening Hours | Seasonal Activity Sheet- Spring Into Action! Spring has sprung so why not drop in to the Museum and try our Spring Activity Trail. Copies of this activity sheet trail are available at the stand in the Irish Room. Don’t forget your pencil! Wheelchair accessible. | Drop-in Activity – Families |
Collins Barracks (Decorative Arts & History) | 01/03/2019 – 17/03/2019 During opening hours | Seachtain na Gaeilge Tar chugainn le trial a bhaint as Conair Gníomhaíochta trí Ghaeilge sa Mhúsaem, oiriúnach do pháistí idir 8 -12 bhlian d’aois, ar fáil le linn Seachtain na Gaeilge. Drop in and try out a Museum activity trail in Irish, suitable for children aged 8 – 12 years old, available during Seachtain na Gaeilge. No booking required. | Drop-in Activity – Ages 8-12 |
Turlough Park (Country Life) Turlough Park | 03/03/2019 – 03/03/2019 1:30pm – 4:30pm | Engineers Week with Bricks 4 Kidz Explore our collections in a very different way. Join the Bricks 4 Kidz team to celebrate Engineers Week and discover the engineering behind some of our artefacts using LEGO©. No booking required. Spaces given on a first come first served basis | Workshop – Adults & Children 5+ |
Kildare Street (Archaeology) | 08/03/2019 – 08/03/2019 11.30am-12.30pm | Culture Club: Bicycle Wheels and Slavery Explore the relationship between the rubber that was used for bicycle wheels and Slavery in a tour with Fiona Reilly, Assistant Keeper, Irish Antiquities Division. Fiona is curator of Voice of the Voiceless, an exhibition dealing with Roger Casement’s humanitarian work in Africa and South America. Booking Required and places are limited, Please email educationarch@museum.ie or call 01 648 6334. Wheelchair Accessible. | Tour – Adults |
Turlough Park (Country Life) Turlough Park | 09/03/2019 – 09/03/2019 10am – 2pm | Leaving Certificate Revision Day Late Modern European History. Join Dr. Yvonne McDermott, History Lecturer, GMIT, Castlebar for a session on Dictatorship and Democracy, 1920-1945 and The United States and the World, 1945-1989. There is no charge for this session. Booking required. | Talk – Students |
Turlough Park (Country Life) Turlough Park | 09/03/2019 – 09/03/2019 11:30am – 1pm | Mayo Genealogy Group If you have an interest in finding out about your family history come along and meet the Mayo Genealogy Group for free practical tips. New researchers welcome. No booking required. | Drop-in Activity – Adults |
Merrion Street (Natural History) | 09/03/2019 – 09/03/2019 11am – 1pm | Inspectorium: Record Breakers! What animal has the largest appetite or best sense of smell? Drop into the Discovery Zone to find out more and see up close some animal record breakers from the handling collection! No booking required but there may be short waiting time. | Drop-in Activity – All Ages |
Turlough Park (Country Life) Turlough Park | 09/03/2019 – 09/03/2019 2:30pm – 3:30pm | CAMP Project: In Conversation With Louise Wallace and Ian McDonagh As part of the Travellers’ Journey CAMP arts project, artist Louise Wallace and Ian McDonagh will discuss their collaboration on the CAMP project. The event will be chaired by Aideen Barry, artist and lecturer at Limerick Institute of Technology. Ian will discuss his role in the creation of some of the works in the CAMP project as well as life as a young Traveller person in contemporary Ireland. Louise will also discuss her collaboration with young Irish Travellers and how her project developed. Booking required. | Talk – Adults & Children 12+ |
Collins Barracks (Decorative Arts & History) | 10/03/2019 – 10/03/2019 3 – 4pm | Bilingual Tour: Turas Dearbhú na Poblachta: Éirí Amach 1916 Glac páirt linn i Seachtain na Gaeilge, ar an turas dátheangach don taispeántas Dearbhú na Poblachta: Éirí Amach 1916,le treoir an Mhusaem, staraí Déaglán Ó Brádaigh.Ní gá aon áirithintí, déanfaimid leithroinnt d’áiteanna cúig nóiméad déag sula dtosaíonn an turas. Take part in Seachtain na Gaeilge, by joining Museum guide Declan Brady on a bilingual tour of Proclaiming a Republic: The 1916 Rising exhibition. No booking required, places allocated 15 minutes before tour starts.
| Tour – Families |
Kildare Street (Archaeology) | 15/03/2019 – 18/03/2019 During opening hours | The Trail of St. Patrick and the Saints of Ireland To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, drop by the Museum and join in our special trail! Follow St. Patrick’s trail through the museum and discover all about the Patron Saint of Ireland; the myths, the legends and the objects. Find out more about the many other saints associated to Ireland. No booking required, trails will be available at the reception area of the Museum. Partially wheelchair accessible. Don’t forget to bring your pencil! | Drop-in Activity – Ages 8+ |
Turlough Park (Country Life) Turlough Park | 15/03/2019 – 15/03/2019 11am – 1pm | Knitting & Crochet Circle: Springtime Patterns Update your style for Spring. Join the group to work on your knitting and crochet skills, swap patterns and get advice. Beginners welcome. No booking required. | Drop-in Activity – Adults & Children 7+ |
Turlough Park (Country Life) Turlough Park | 16/03/2019 – 16/03/2019 2pm – 4pm | Music Circle Dust down that fiddle, polish that whistle and join the music circle to practice, share, play tunes and songs. No booking required. | Drop-in Activity – Adults & Children 12+ |
Kildare Street (Archaeology) | 16/03/2019 – 16/03/2019 11.00am-11.45am | St. Patrick and the Saints of Ireland Join Museum Educator, Trisha Ryan, on a specialised tour exploring the Patron Saints of Ireland. Come and see the relics of St. Patrick including St. Patrick’s Bell Shrine and Tooth Shrine and other relics of saints in Ireland such as St. Brigid’s Shoe Shrine and the Crozier of St. Columba. No booking required. Meet at Reception. Limited places will be allocated on a first come Basis. Partially wheelchair accessible. | Tour – Adults |
Kildare Street (Archaeology) | 16/03/2019 – 16/03/2019 2.30pm-3.15pm | St. Patrick and the Saints of Ireland Join Museum Educator, Trisha Ryan, on a specialised tour exploring the Patron Saints of Ireland. Come and see the relics of St. Patrick including St. Patrick’s Bell Shrine and Tooth Shrine and other relics of saints in Ireland such as St. Brigid’s Shoe Shrine and the Crozier of St. Columba. No booking required. Meet at Reception. Limited places will be allocated on a first come Basis. Partially wheelchair accessible. | Tour – Adults |
Collins Barracks (Decorative Arts & History) | 18/03/2019 – 18/03/2019 2.30pm and 3.30pm | Bilingual Tour: Turas Dearbhú na Poblachta: Éirí Amach 1916 Glac páirt linn i Seachtain na Gaeilge, ar an turas dátheangach don taispeántas Dearbhú na Poblachta: Éirí Amach 1916,le treoiraithe an Mhusaem, staraithe Déaglán Ó Brádaigh agus Caitlin White. Ní gá aon áirithintí, déanfaimid leithroinnt d’áiteanna cúig nóiméad déag sula dtosaíonn an turas. Take part in Seachtain na Gaeilge, by joining Museum guides Declan Brady and Caitlin White on a bilingual tour of Proclaiming a Republic: The 1916 Rising exhibition. No booking required, places allocated 15 minutes before tour starts. | Tour – Families |
Kildare Street (Archaeology) | 20/03/2019 – 20/03/2019 1pm-1:45pm | New Discoveries from Ancient Ireland: ‘The Mooghaun hoard – making Clare great in the Bronze Age’ In 1854 the greatest hoard of Bronze Age goldwork ever found in Ireland was discovered during the construction of the Limerick to Ennis railway. One hundred and sixty years later this lecture by Mary Cahill, Adjunct Professor, School of Geography and Archaeology at NUI Galway; former Keeper of Irish Antiquities National Museum of Ireland looks at what happened at the time of discovery, the dispersal of the hoard, the finders and significance of the hoard in terms of Irish and European Late Bronze Age gold hoards. Booking required, please email educationarch@museum.ie or call 01 6486 332. Located in the Kildare Room, Ground Floor. Wheelchair accessible. | Lecture – Adults |
Turlough Park (Country Life) Turlough Park | 23/03/2019 – 23/03/2019 2:30pm – 3:30pm | Folk Cures and Irish Traveller Herb Lore Oein DeBhairduin returns to talk about folk cures and Irish Traveller/ Minceir herb lore, exploring the importance of folk medicine in the past and the ongoing attempts to record and protect these disappearing traditions for the future. Booking required. | Talk – Adults & Children 12+ |
Kildare Street (Archaeology) | 23/03/2019 – 23/03/2019 2.30-3.30pm | A History of Falconry in Ireland and Norway Falconers Ellen Hagen from the Museum of Archaeology at the University of Stavanger, Norway, and Hilary White of the Irish Hawking Club will explain the archaeological and historical evidence for falconry in Norway and Ireland, from medieval to modern times. Booking required, please email educationarch@museum.ie or call 01 6486 334. Located in the Kildare Room, Ground Floor. Wheelchair accessible. | Talk – Ages 7+ |
Merrion Street (Natural History) | 23/03/2019 – 23/03/2019 10am – 12:30pm | Falconry & Falcons Drop-in and meet falconers, Ellen Hagen from the Museum of Archaeology at the University of Stavanger, Norway and Hilary White from the Irish Hawking Club. See up-close a real live falcon, discover this predator’s top hunting techniques and learn about the different types of birds of prey in Ireland, during this drop-in event. No booking required. This event will take place outside the Museum and elements are weather dependant. Wheelchair accessible. | Demonstration – All Ages |
Turlough Park (Country Life) Turlough Park | 23/03/2019 – 23/03/2019 10am – 2pm | Leaving Certificate Revision Day Late Modern Irish History. Join Dr. Fiona White, History Lecturer, GMIT, Castlebar for a revision course focusing on late modern Irish history. There is no charge for this session. Booking required. | Talk – Students |
Kildare Street (Archaeology) | 27/03/2019 – 27/03/2019 1pm-1:45pm | New Discoveries from Ancient Ireland: The Beaker Phenomenon? Understanding the character and context of social practices in Ireland 2500-2000 BC In 1854 the greatest hoard of Bronze Age goldwork ever found in Ireland was discovered during the construction of the Limerick to Ennis railway. One hundred and sixty years later this lecture by Mary Cahill, Adjunct Professor, School of Geography and Archaeology at NUI Galway; former Keeper of Irish Antiquities National Museum of Ireland looks at what happened at the time of discovery, the dispersal of the hoard, the finders and significance of the hoard in terms of Irish and European Late Bronze Age gold hoards. Booking required, please email educationarch@museum.ie or call 01 6486 332. Located in the Kildare Room, Ground Floor. Wheelchair accessible. | Lecture – Adults |
Collins Barracks (Decorative Arts & History) | 29/03/2019 – 29/03/2019 11.30am – 1pm | Culture Club: The 100th anniversary of the War of Independence Culture Club invites members to explore and enjoy the collections through a series of specially arranged guided tours and activites in the company of Museum staff followed by ‘Tea & Chat’ and an opportunity to mingle. Join us for the March Culture Club to hear about The 100th anniversary of the War of Independence on a tour highlighting the stories and key artefacts with Irish History curator Sandra Heise. Booking required. | Talk – Adults |
Turlough Park (Country Life) Turlough Park | 30/03/2019 – 30/03/2019 11:30am – 3pm | Connacht Textile Crafters Come along and meet the talented Connacht Textile Crafters (CTC) for St. Brigid’s themed open sessions. The CTC work in a range of textile crafts, using both traditional and contemporary techniques. No booking required. | Drop-in Activity – Adults |
Collins Barracks (Decorative Arts & History) | 31/03/2019 – 31/03/2019 3 – 4pm | Tour – Recovered Voices – Ireland and World War One Join a tour of the exhibition Recovered Voices which explores the experience of Irish men and women during World War One.Admission free, places allocated on a first-come basis 15 minutes before tour starts. | Tour – Adults |
Kildare Street (Archaeology) | 10/05/2019 – 10/05/2019 11.30am-12.30pm | Culture Club: Early Bronze Age Metalworking and the Story of the Doonour Mould The Doonour stone mould was found by a farmer in 1966 while he was tilling in a field. Today, this mould is recognised as one of the most significant artefacts for early Bronze Age metallurgy in the National Museum’s collections. Sharon Weadick, Curator in the Irish Antiquities Division, will retell the story of its discovery and explain how it adds to our knowledge and understanding of early Bronze Age metalworking.Booking required and places are limited. Please email educationarch@museum.ie or call 01 6486 334.Wheelchair accessible. | Talk – Adults |
Collins Barracks (Decorative Arts & History) | 16/05/2019 – 16/05/2019 2.30 – 4pm | Tour of the Conservation Studios Go behind the scenes at the Museum and take a tour of the conservation studios. A great opportunity to meet Museum conservators to see and hear about the important work that they do for the conservation of objects in our collections and on exhibition. Booking Required. | Tour – Adults |
Collins Barracks (Decorative Arts & History) | 22/08/2019 – 22/08/2019 2.30 – 4pm | Tour of the Conservation Studios During Heritage Week, get behind the scenes at the Museum and take a tour of the conservation studios. A great opportunity to meet Museum conservators to see and hear about the important work that they do for the conservation of objects in our collections and on exhibition. Booking Required. | Tour – Adults |
Collins Barracks (Decorative Arts & History) | 14/11/2019 – 14/11/2019 2.30 – 4pm | Tour of the Conservation Studios Get behind the scenes at the Museum during Science Week in a tour of the conservation studios. It’s a great opportunity to meet Museum conservators to see and hear about the important work that they do for the conservation of objects in our collections and on exhibition. Booking Required. | Tour – Adults |