SCIENCE WEEK AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM IRELAND

The National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar will run a variety of events as part of this month’s Science Week, which is running throughout the country from 9-16 November.  These events include a new temporary exhibition looking at Planet Earth, and a range of activities for primary and post-primary students. 

NEW TEMPORARY EXHIBITION

 “Planet Earth: Our Place in Space” is a new temporary exhibition based on the geological collections of the National Museum Ireland – Natural History, Dublin and will run in Turlough Park until the end of February 2009. This exhibition provides an opportunity to see at first hand some of the most important rocks and minerals that make up our home. It includes a collection of meteorites, many of which fell in Ireland, that tell us more about the origins of our planet.

One of the exhibition highlights is the Limerick Meteorite that fell near Adare, County Limerick in 1813 , Ireland's largest ever meteorite weighing in at 27 kilos.  These specimens will be used to explain what meteorites tell us about the early solar system and also what we know about the earth as a planet. Mineral and rocks will further illustrate what the earth is made of and its nature as a planetThe exhibition will also feature some of the folk traditions associated with the moon and the stars.

PRIMARY PROGRAMME

Tuesday 11^th, Thursday 13^th & Friday 14^th November: 10.00am

Workshop. Nature Activities for Children 1^st & 2^nd Class

Learn about Irish wildlife through games and role-playing. 

Tuesday 11^th, Thursday 13^th &  Friday 14^th November: 11.30am & 2.00pm 

Science Tour. Behind the Glass Case   5^th & 6^th Class

Why does a museum look like it does? Come on a ‘science’ tour and find out how and why the buildings and exhibition cases are designed to protect the museum objects.

Tuesday 18^th & Thursday 20^th November: 10.00am & 11.30am

Winter Nature Walk. 1^st to 6^th Class  FULLY BOOKED

Join Lorna Elms for a winter nature ramble. Discover how to identify trees without their leaves and find out how winter affects woodland plants and animals and why.

POST-PRIMARY PROGRAMME

Tuesday 11^th & Thursday 13^th & Friday 14^th November:  11.30am & 2.00pm

Science Tour: Behind the Glass Case

Come on a ‘science’ tour and find out how and why the buildings and exhibition cases are designed to protect the museum objects. 

Wednesday 12^th November: 11.30am & 2.00pm

Talk & Workshop. Traditional Natural Dyeing

Join June Bourke as she uses natural materials to create colours for dyeing wool and cloth.