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Current: Autumn at the National Museum of Ireland in Turlough Park

Autumn at the National Museum of Ireland in Turlough Park

Autumn days are made for Turlough Park! Explore heritage, culture and nature in the heart of Co. Mayo. Everyone is welcome and admission is free.

Free Admission

1. Midterm day out

Connect with heritage, history and fun for a great Midterm day out! Explore Ireland's National Folklife Collection to see how people lived long ago. Learn about age-old crafts, see the blacksmith's forge, farming equipment and what an Irish home would have looked like in the 19th century

2. Folklore of the Night Sky

Explore the Language and Folklore of the Night Sky with this curator led talk by Clodagh Doyle in association with the Mayo Dark Sky Fringe Festival. Booking required.

3. Samhain traditions

Did you know many of our modern Halloween celebrations are inspired by our ancient Celtic traditions? Learn more at the Halloween display in the Museum. See homemade masks from times gone by, Halloween games and our famous 'ghost turnip'!

4. Find Peadar and his Friends!

Pygmy Shrews are Ireland's smallest mammal and they usually live outdoors. But Peadar and his friends live at the Museum! They like to play hide and seek in the exhibition galleries. Pick up the free 'Find Peadar' activity sheet to see if you can locate their hiding spots!

5. Soapbox dreams in 1950s Ireland

Learn how children built and raced homemade 'soapbox' cars in 1950s Ireland and see the colourful example on display.

6. Ardagh Chalice replica

Learn more about the design and inspiration for the famous Sam Maguire Cup. There is a rare display of a 19th century silver chalice at Turlough Park to celebrate Mayo's historic All Ireland win.

7. Become a woodland explorer

The grounds of Turlough Park are home to lots of different habitats with woodland, gardens, lake and river areas. Explore the sounds and sights of autumn nature using the free 'Woodland Explorer' activity sheet available at Museum Reception.

8. Get up close to history

Get up close to history at the Discovery Station. Handle a selection of objects and see if you can figure out how our ancestors used them. Keep an eye out too for the green ‘Please Touch’ signs at some displays in the galleries.

9. Children's Corner

Take a break in the bright and cosy children’s corner on Level C of the exhibition galleries. With colouring activities, jigsaws, and books, it’s an ideal spot for families -complete with stunning views of the gardens, lake, and the historic Turlough Round Tower.

10. Get on your bike

For a perfect Midterm day out, combine a visit to the museum with a Greenway cycle for all of the family. The 10km Museum Greenway is classed as ‘easy to moderate’ and links Lough Lannagh in Castlebar with the grounds of Turlough Park.

11. Go wild in the adventure playground

Opened in 2018, the natural woodland playground is scenically located and a great place to blast off some energy. Have fun on the swings, slides, playhouses, monkey bars and natural stone climbing steps.

12. Enjoy autumn treats

Visit the café in the courtyard for some perfect autumn treats to round off your day. The café serves lunches, hot and cold snacks, a range of homemade desserts and speciality teas and coffees.

Turlough Park

Turlough Park,
Castlebar,
Co. Mayo,
F23 HY31

+353 94 903 1755