Museum of Country Life
Coming up at the Museum in April/May
By Maeve McNicholas
14, Apr 2017 - 14:24

Family bird spotting adventure

Discover the amazing lives of Ireland's common birds at an Easter event for all of the family to enjoy, on Saturday, April 22, at 12 noon.

Participants will get outdoors and enjoy the beautiful gardens and grounds of historic Turlough Park House, on a talk and walk about with Jamie Durrant of Birdwatch Ireland. Learn about chicks, eggs and nests and see how you can identify common birds of the Irish countryside.

This is a free event, suitable for families with children aged seven years plus. Booking required. Telephone (094) 90 31751.

Easter at the museum

There is lots to see and do at the museum throughout the Easter holidays.

Pick up some special Easter activity sheets for children in the exhibition galleries; enjoy garden walks; discover woodland trails; or take a Greenway cycle to the museum.

The museum also has a display about Easter traditions in times gone by. See how our ancestors celebrated this important festival on Level C in the Life in the Community exhibition.

Dash of the churn

Join expert craftsperson Pat Broderick for a demonstration on the traditional skills involved in butter making, at the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, on Sunday, April 30.

This craft demonstration starts at 2pm and will run for about an hour. Pat will also explore some of the many customs associated with the month of May, which was a major seasonal marker for our rural ancestors in times gone by.

This is a free event suitable for people of all ages, but booking is required. Telephone (094) 90 31751 or email educationtph@museum.ie.

Get ready for Bealtaine

It is time to start getting ready for Bealtaine - the annual arts festival each May dedicated to celebrating creativity as we age.

The National Museum of Ireland - Country Life has a wonderful programme of events throughout May to mark Bealtaine and all events are free (although booking is required for some).

The programme includes an exhibition of photographs by the renowned photographer Jack Leonard (1882-1960); a talk on the work of Jack Leonard, by his grandson Anthony Leonard; a look at the ways in which the Post Office has shaped Irish life down through the centuries; and a special event about using DNA for family research. See the full Bealtaine programme at www.museum.ie/country-life.

Museum opening hours

The National Museum of Ireland - Country Life is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10am to 5pm, and on Sundays from 2 to 5pm. Closed Mondays, Good Friday and Christmas Day.

Brambles Café is open during museum opening hours with extended opening on Sundays from 12noon.