SUMMER is well and truly here – which means more time to get out and about and explore.
If you’re planning your next day trip in Ireland why not sample one of the many museums the island has to offer.
There is a wonderfully diverse collection of museums on offer here, boasting everything from the oldest Claddagh Ring to Ireland’s only dinosaur bones, all you have to do is decide which one to tackle first.
Here are ten of the best museums to be found on the Emerald Isle…
1 National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology, Dublin
Explore 9,000 years of history through fascinating archaeological artefacts that include Irish bog bodies, the Ardagh Chalice, the 'Tara' Brooch and the famous Derrynaflan Hoard. The museum is housed in a beautiful Palladian-style building that is a Dublin landmark.
The National Museum of IrelandThere is something for every interest in this award-winning museum with collections of art, natural science and history. Delve into the history of Northern Ireland, see Ireland’s only dinosaur bones, admire the many pieces of applied art and view the special collections of work by female artists and the LGBT+ community.
In Ireland’s oldest city you get not one museum but a whole quarter with four world-class museums – the Medieval Museum, the Irish Silver Museum, the Irish Museum of Time and the Bishops Palace – within minutes of each other. Bookable on one ticket, they take you back to Waterford’s Viking roots, through the treasures of the medieval age and into Georgian and Victorian times.
Medieval Museum in Waterford Museum of Treasures in Co. WaterfordIn this modern museum you can browse a fascinating collection of cultural heritage objects related to the city of Galway and its people. The oldest known Claddagh ring, war memorabilia, sports souvenirs and medieval gun money are just some of the wide variety of items on display.
Belfast’s multi-award-winning visitor attraction, which tells the story of the tragic liner and the city that built her, recently reopened with four new galleries and a superb replica model of the ship. It also displays a number of extremely rare artefacts which are of great historical significance including the world-famous violin belonging to the ship’s hero musician.
The Titanic Museum, Belfast6 National Famine Museum, Roscommon
Featuring a world-class multimedia exhibition, the museum tells the story of Ireland’s Great Famine through the personal tragedies of the tenants and landlords on the Strokestown Estate. It explains the events that led to the forced emigration of 1,490 people from the estate in 1847 and is also the starting point for the National Famine Way, a walking and cycling trail from Roscommon to Dublin.
7 Ulster American Folk Park, Tyrone
The Ulster American Folk Park tells the story of Ulster people’s emigration to North America in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. In this part outdoor, part indoor museum, you’ll learn about life in rural Ireland, the hardships endured on the journey across the Atlantic and how migrants built new lives in a new land.
Inside the Mellon Homestead at the American Folk Museum8 National Museum of Country Life, Mayo
Step back into daily life in rural Ireland in days gone by at the National Museum of Country Life. With exhibitions of household objects, trades and crafts, bicycles and more, you’ll discover how people lived, worked, celebrated and how their traditions sustained them.
Housing over 2,000 works of art and antiquities from the estate of John and Gertrude Hunt, this museum exhibits ancient treasures, as well as paintings by Picasso, Renoir and Jack B Yeats. The collection spills into the outdoors continuing in the Museum in a Garden, where some of the museum’s key artefacts are reproduced at large scale.
The Hunt Museum in Limerick CityWith two permanent exhibitions – The Story of Derry and An Armada Shipwreck – La Trinidad Valencera – and frequently updated temporary exhibitions, the Tower Museum in the walled city of Derry is a top visitor attraction. The museum also boasts an open-air viewing facility with panoramic views of the city and River Foyle.
For further Ireland travel inspiration visit www.ireland.com
