Education Department National Museum of Ireland

Programme Highlights 2020 The National Museum of Ireland has Museums Open: four locations. Three sites are in Dublin Sunday and Monday, 1pm–5pm and one is in Mayo. Each Museum site Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–5pm specialises in a particular area of culture Admission Free at all four Museums and science. Accessibility varies according to each For more information on all of our Museum site. For more information exhibitions, events, activities and contact [email protected] or for information about our schools’ [email protected] programmes, visit museum.ie.

National Museum of Ireland — National Museum of Ireland — Archaeology Decorative Arts & History Kildare Street, Dublin 2 Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7 Booking Office Open: Booking Office Open: Tuesday–Friday; 9am–5pm; Monday–Friday; 9am–5pm; Call: +353 (01) 648 6396 Call: +353 (01) 648 6453 To book events for families and All bookings contact: adults: [email protected] [email protected] To book for schools’ programmes: [email protected]

National Museum of Ireland — National Museum of Ireland — Country Life Natural History Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo Merrion Street, Dublin 2 Booking Office Open: Booking Office Open: Tuesday–Friday; 10am–1pm; Tuesday–Friday; 9am–5pm; Call: +353 (094) 903 1751 Call: +353 (01) 648 6396 All bookings contact: To book events for families and [email protected] adults: [email protected] To book for schools’ programmes: [email protected] 07 Schools and Teachers 23 Families 39 Partners 41 Adults and Lifelong Learning 51 Local Communities 61 Special Projects 67 Handling Collections 73 Improving our Service IN 2019 The Education Department at the National Museum of Ireland has responsibility for developing learning programmes and 173,473 people participated services that are inclusive, responsive, relevant and stimulate in and engaged with learning people’s imagination and curiosity. Our learning programmes include tours, workshops, conferences and seminars, talks and programmes and services lectures, resources, special long-term projects and community exhibitions. We engage the widest range of people, both organised by the Education within and outside of the Museum, and online, in meaningful Department and innovative learning experiences, using the collections and exhibitions as inspiration. The collections at our Museums in Dublin and Mayo span a variety of disciplines, covering IN 2019 archaeology, decorative arts, history, ethnography, folklife and natural history. 104,016 young people from Most of our events and activities are free. Some events do not require booking while others do. Please contact us if the formal eduction sector you would like to book an event or check whether an event is participated in and engaged drop-in or not. Tá turasanna dhá-theangacha nó trí Ghaeilge ar fáil ach with learning programmes iad a lorg, agus bí ag faire amach d’imeachtaí dhátheangacha I rith na bliana. Tours are available in Irish or bilingually on and services organised by request, and look out for bilingual events throughout the year. the Education Department Irish Sign Language is provided for some events in 2020; see museum.ie or contact us. This booklet is only a snapshot of our learning IN 2019 programmes for 2020. More detailed information is available at museum.ie. All quotes in this publication are drawn from 450–500 enquiries received audience feedback and evaluation forms. Stay in touch with per week into the Education us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Department’s Information We look forward to seeing you in 2020. and Booking Offices in Dublin and Mayo

IN 2019 1,256 events and activities were organised by the Education Department 5 INTRODUCTION

Decade of Commemorations Programme In 2020 the Education Department is developing events and projects focused on themes related to the Decade of Commemorations. Some of these events are listed in this booklet and explore new perspectives on this significant period in Irish history, enabling participants to look with fresh eyes at familiar histories and allowing time for debate and discussion. Such events are targeted not just at the specialist but at a wider audience interested in Irish history and aim to be inclusive of many and divergent voices. As part of the Decade of Commemorations programme, we are also creating a publication with support from the Commemorations Unit of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. This publication is due to be launched in 2020 and reflects the diversity of learning programmes organised by the National Museum of Ireland to commemorate significate events in Irish history between 1913 and 1919. The publication will record participants’ and partners’ responses to their engagement in the Museum’s commemorative programmes and will be a valuable resource for a wide range of people and organisations.

Sustainablilty and Biodiversity Programme The National Museum of Ireland has a key role to play in valuing and protecting our natural and cultural environment and in contributing to the social, cultural and environmental life of local areas and the wider world. We respond to changing political, social, environmental and economic developments and aim to build and sustain relationships with individuals and communities. In 2020 the Education Department has designed a programme that reflects the themes of sustainability, biodiversity and the environment. This is part of our efforts to contribute to sustainable development by equipping individuals and communities with relevant knowledge and skills that will motivate and enable them to become more informed citizens and activists for a more sustainable future. This programme reflects the principles of ‘The National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development in Ireland, 2014–2020’. A visit to the Museum can be an inspiring, transformative and meaningful learning experience for primary and post-primary Schools and school students and teachers alike. Our learning programmes offer a wide range of curriculum-based activities designed to Teachers encourage participation, collaboration and exploration. We can help you to plan your tour or workshop or to visit as a self-guided group, or we can direct you to our online learning resources on key curricular themes. In this section you’ll find some of the highlights of our Schools’ Programmes for 2020. For more information about the Schools’ Programme contact museum.ie. Accessibility varies according to each Museum site. For more information, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]. 8 SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS

workshop workshop LIFE IN A MEDIEVAL TOWER HOUSE KNOT AGAIN! CELTIC KNOTWORK ON THE ARDAGH CHALICE Discover how archaeological evidence can help us understand life, death and power in To celebrate Math’s Week 2020, come join Medieval Ireland. How did Ireland change us in a special workshop to discover more after the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in about one of Ireland’s most iconic objects, the 1170s? Why was feasting so important the Ardagh Chalice. Learn about Early in medieval times? How did people defend Medieval Ireland and how the chalice was their homes 500 years ago? Learn how made. Take a closer look at the shapes and archaeologists use evidence to answer these lines used to make its interlacing knot designs questions, then put your new knowledge to and enamel boss. As a class, make your own the test and create your own mini medieval filigree pieces and enamel bosses and help Tower House! make the Museum’s giant Ardagh Chalice! National Museum of Ireland — National Museum of Ireland — Archaeology Archaeology Post-primary | 1st to 2nd Years | Primary | 3rd to 6th class | Term time from March 2020 Maths week during October 2020

workshop festival SCIENCE WEEK, BONE STORIES! MIDLANDS SCIENCE FESTIVAL During the month of November and to The Education Team at the National celebrate Science Week, we will be running Museum of Ireland - Archaeology will a special workshop examining how be in Athlone during Science Week 2020! archaeologists, through the study of bones Organised in collaboration with Midlands and human remains, can tell us how people Science, in association with the Heritage lived in the past and how they were buried. Office of Westmeath County Council, the Through experiments, the workshop will workshops offer an opportunity to explore the take a closer look at a Bronze Age burial, archaeological evidence of the Vikings a Bog Body and a Viking skeleton and in the Midlands, with a special focus on explore how bones are preserved in Westmeath. This is part of a three year different environments. partnership with Midlands Science, National Museum of Ireland — extending the Museum’s reach to Laois, Archaeology Offaly, Longford and Westmeath. Primary | 3rd to 6th class | See museum.ie and midlandsscience.ie Month of November 2020 this Autumn for more details. Athlone, Co Westmeath Science Week November 2020 11 SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS

activity tour SCHOOL TOUR AND EARLY MEDIEVAL IRELAND AND WORKSHOP PROGRAMME THE COMING OF CHRISTIANITY Throughout term time, come to the Museum Explore what the Museum’s collection can with your class for a specially designed tour tell us about the coming of Christianity to or workshop with your class. Our tours and Ireland in the 5th century and the impact it workshops are developed for Primary and had on Early Medieval people. Learn about Post Primary students and link to the Irish the cultural changes brought about by curricula and to the Museum’s collection. Christianity’s arrival and how these changes Learn about different time periods, from are reflected on artefacts from the time period. Stone Age people to the impact of Christianity Discover the newly developed art styles that and the arrival of the Vikings and later the were used on artefacts such as the Ardagh Anglo-Normans. Available during term Chalice and the Tara Brooch. time, contact [email protected] for National Museum of Ireland — all bookings and enquiries. Archaeology National Museum of Ireland — Post-primary | 1st to 3rd Years | Archaeology Term time from March 2020 Primary | All classes | Post-primary | All years | Term time

programmes trails and activity sheets HOME EDUCATED CHILDREN ACTIVITY SHEETS In 2020 there will be a number of tours There are a range of Activity Sheets available and workshops planned for children who to use by your class when exploring the are home educated. These programmes will Museum. You can choose from ‘Stone Age cover themes inspired by the archaeological Ireland’, ‘The Treasury Trail’, ‘The Viking collections at the Museum. Parents interested Challenge’, ‘Ancient Egypt’ and ‘My Favourite in attending a programme with their Object’. Contact the Bookings Office to children, please register interest by reserve Activity Sheets for your class and don’t emailing us at [email protected]. forget to bring your pencils! Our activity National Museum of Ireland — booklets are also available in Irish. Contact Archaeology [email protected] to have booklets Registration required reserved for your class. National Museum of Ireland — Archaeology Primary | 1st to 6th class | Post-primary | 1st year | During term time

IMAGES COURTESY OF PAUL SHERWOOD 12 SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS 13 SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS

trails and activity sheets resources workshop SEACHTAIN NA GAEILGE 2020 LEAVING CERTIFICATE “The children really ‘WOOL IN SCHOOL’ ART RESOURCES COMES TO THE MUSEUM Mar chuid de Sheachtain na Gaeilge 2020, enjoyed their visit Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme beimid ag seoladh ‘Naoimh, Scéalta agus When visiting the Museum with your to the Museum — Scríobhaithe na hÉireann,’ an bhileog class, engage with interactive displays and Did you know that wool is a sustainable ghníomhaíochta is nuaí dár gcuid, aistrithe resources in the galleries. In the Treasury our guide’s tour of material? Come to the Museum and meet go Gaeilge. Faigh amach faoi Naoimh na Ante-Room, check out the ‘Timeline of Irish with Museum Educators and ‘Wool in School’ hÉireann, Naomh Pádraig agus Naomh Art’ and use the interactive screen to look at the exhibits really educators and learn all about the properties, Bríd ina measc, agus faoi na rudaí sa some of the collection up close and explore brought the work uses and manufacturing of wool. See how Mhúsaem a bhaineann leo. the techniques and skills used to create people used wool in the past in Viking Dublin For Seachtain na Gaeilge 2020, we will be the objects. Encourage your students to we had done in the and Medieval Ireland and explore how wool launching our new Irish language activity use the interactives where you can make is used today and will continue to be used sheet ‘Irish Saints, Stories and Scribes’ and take home brass rubbings of the three classroom to life!” in the future as a sustainable material. translated into Irish. Discover the Saints of major art styles. National Museum of Ireland — Ireland including St. Patrick and St. Brigid National Museum of Ireland — PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER Archaeology and the objects in the Museum connected Archaeology Primary | 3rd to 6th class | May 2020 to them. Post-primary | Senior cycle | National Museum of Ireland — Leaving Certificate Archaeology Primary | 1st to 6th class | Post-primary | From Seachtain na Gaeilge onwards competition ARTICULATION IRELAND For the 2020–2021 academic year, the Museum will be hosting ‘ARTiculation’, a public speaking competition for students aged 16–18. Students will develop and deliver a ten minute presentation, inspired by art, architecture and artefacts, and will present to their peers and a wider audience. The Museum will be one of the locations of ‘Discovery Days’ where students can develop their public speaking skills and learn more about Museum artefacts, using this knowledge to inform their presentations. National Museum of Ireland — Archaeology Post-primary | TY to 6th year | Academic Year 2020–2021 14 SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS 15 SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS

workshop workshop country life programme workbooks and notes BIODIVERSITY WORKSHOPS REFUSE, REDUCE, REPAIR, SCHOOL TOUR AND STUDENT WORKBOOK 1 Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme RE-USE AND RECYCLE: WORKSHOP PROGRAMME AND TEACHERS NOTES GREEN DESIGN IN ACTION This interactive, hands-on STEM workshop Throughout term time, come to the Museum The Museum of Country Life is home to the Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme will explore the diversity and abundance with your class for a specially designed tour or Irish Folklife Collection, a collection of objects of life inhabiting our rivers, show how the As part of the ‘Kitchen Power’ exhibition, workshop. Journey back in time and marvel representing Irish rural life from 1850–1950. quality of their habitats are assessed, discover ‘Make Create Innovate’ is providing a series at the innovation and endurance of our rural ‘Student Workbook 1’ is a learning resource the threats to their habitats and talk about of hands-on STEAM workshops. Take some ancestors; discover a man trap, ghost turnips, that can be completed during your visit. We ways to protect them. Samples of life in the inspiration from our 1950’s kitchen to boys in skirts, harpoons and faeries. Spark the recommend that you go through the content river will be collected and you will have an prototype ‘smart homeware’ by combining imagination of children of all ages in an ‘out back at the classroom to further explore and opportunity to see everything up close with creative technology with re-usable materials. of classroom’ experience with a difference. discuss the topics. We also have Teachers’ the Mayo County Council Catchments Team. Come up with your green design solutions for National Museum of Ireland — notes that give additional background National Museum of Ireland — everything that endangers our environment, Country Life information, perfect for projecting onto Country Life from coffee capsule machines to tinfoil Primary | All classes | Post-primary | your whiteboard, also available in Irish Primary | All classes | Post-primary | baking trays. All years | Term time at museum.ie. All classes | Wednesday | 25th March, National Museum of Ireland — National Museum of Ireland — 22nd April and 27th May 2020 Country Life Country Life 16th Jan Jnr & Snr Infants | 17th Jan 1st Primary | 3rd to 6th class | Post-primary | to 4th class | 14th Feb Junior Cycle & TY | Junior Cycle | Term time 13th Mar Junior Cycle & TY

event workshop SPECIAL SCHOOLS FIGHTING WORDS MAYO PROGRAMMING Develop creative writing skills and explore Free special events are available, curriculum the love of language in a friendly and informal linked, covering a wide range of topics to storytelling workshop. Roddy Doyle and Sean all schools. Events may include storytelling, Love founded ‘Fighting Words’ in 2009, biodiversity themes, science week events, and Mayo was the first branch to open outside activities that change with the seasons and of Dublin. Sessions support the aims of the so much more. Department of Education and Skills Literacy National Museum of Ireland — and Numeracy Strategy, and are Dublin City Country Life University approved. For booking enquiries Primary | All classes | contact [email protected]. Post-primary | All classes National Museum of Ireland — Country Life Primary | Post-primary | 2hr sessions Twice a month during term time 16 SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS 17 SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS

workshop tour workshop tour CLEANING UP OUR ACT: BONNETS, BANDOLIERS ART AND PROPAGANDA FROM BARRACKS TO MUSEUM — GENDER IN THE KITCHEN AND BALLOT PAPERS Decade of Commemorations Programme EXHIBITION LAYOUT AND DESIGN Decade of Commemorations Programme As part of the ‘Kitchen Power’ exhibition, This workshop focuses on how people have This tour aims to give students the tools ‘Make Create Innovate’ is providing a series of Students explore how women’s roles changed used art in times of conflict to communicate with which to evaluate an exhibition hands-on STEAM workshops. These creative in the first decades of the 20th century in this or persuade, or to record key events. In this effectively. Students are introduced to the technology workshops invite you to look at guided tour taking in the exhibitions ‘The cross-curricular workshop students are transformation of Collins Barracks from the how products and appliances could be better Way We Wore: 250 Years of Irish Clothing and encouraged to explore how political ideas oldest Barracks in Europe to the National designed and marketed for a modern world Jewellery’, ‘The Irish Wars’ and ‘Proclaiming a and propaganda can be expressed through art Museum’s Museum of Decorative Arts & where gender equality is the best recipe. Republic: The 1916 Rising’. Museum Guides and design. The workshop stimulates critical History. Students are then encouraged to National Museum of Ireland — encourage students’ discussion and promote thinking, discussion and debate, and provides think critically about exhibition layout and Country Life critical thinking and learning by discovery opportunities for students to develop their design, examining aspects such as lighting, Primary | 1st to 4th class 29th April | 5th & amongst students. observational and drawing skills. Students are labelling and display in a number 6th class 30th April | Post-primary | Junior National Museum of Ireland — introduced to art in exhibitions, including of exhibitions, including the Eileen Cycle & TY 15th May Decorative Arts & History ‘Proclaiming a Republic: The 1916 Rising’, Gray exhibition. Primary | 5th & 6th class | Post-primary | ‘Soldiers & Chiefs’ and ‘Recovered Voices’, National Museum of Ireland — History at Junior & Senior cycle and TY | and to then respond by creating their own Decorative Arts & History Tuesday–Friday piece of art or record of conflict. Post-primary | Art, Craft, Design National Museum of Ireland — at Junior & Senior Cycle and TY | Decorative Arts & History Tuesday–Friday Thursdays | Junior and Senior Cycle and TY tour tour tour workshop RECOVERED VOICES PROCLAIMING A EILEEN GRAY ILLUMINATIONS — STORIES Decade of Commemorations Programme REPUBLIC — THE 1916 RISING OF COLOUR AND LIGHT Wexford-born Eileen Gray (1879–1976) Decade of Commemorations Programme This tour focuses on Irishmen and women is now regarded as one of the most influential This creative workshop introduces involved in World War I. Museum Guides An opportunity for schools to book a guided designers and architects of the 20th century. students to concepts such as colour, form demonstrate the all-encompassing nature of tour before this exhibition, ‘Proclaiming a Students are introduced to her life and and composition through exploration of the War through the stories of nurses, doctors, Republic’ closes on 19th April 2020. Students work through observation of her furniture, glass and ceramic artefacts on display in prisoners of war and ordinary soldiers. Hands get an overview of the key political, social drawings and other artefacts. the ‘What’s in Store?’ exhibition. on resources include a replica gas mask and and cultural events which led to the Rising, National Museum of Ireland — National Museum of Ireland — uniform jacket. Students are encouraged to the events of Easter Week in Dublin and the Decorative Arts & History Decorative Arts & History make connections to local history relating to aftermath of the Rising, through exploring Post-primary | Art, Craft, Design Primary | Visual Arts and SESE at 4th, the First World War and to learn about the a range of original artefacts, from the 1916 at Junior & Senior Cycle and TY | 5th & 6th class | Thursdays in 2020 changing role of women during this critical Proclamation of the Irish Republic to the Tuesday–Friday period of Irish history. Irish Republican Flag. National Museum of Ireland — National Museum of Ireland — Decorative Arts & History Decorative Arts & History Primary | 5th & 6th class | Post-primary | Primary | 5th & 6th class | Post-primary | History at Junior & Senior cycle and TY | History at Junior & Senior cycle and TY | Tuesday–Friday Tuesday–Friday up to 19th April 2020 18 SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS 19 SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS

online resource resource tour workshop ONLINE: 1916 OBJECT STORIES ACTIVITY BOOKS EXTINCTION, WHO’S TO BLAME? SKULLDUGGERY! Decade of Commemorations Programme Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme There are 12 activity books to encourage This online resource is a key learning students to learn through a self-directed Get your students thinking about and A hands-on, interactive experience resource for teachers and students. Students enquiry approach and explore themes within debating the issues surrounding climate investigating how scientists analyse skulls, can explore 10 key objects, with links to the exhibition ‘Soldiers & Chiefs’. Also change, sustainability and stewardship. and what teeth, eyes and skull shape can tell additional, related objects in the National available is a Teachers’ Guide to using the Students investigate case studies of us about an animal and their diet. Event held Museum’s Easter Week and Historical books with your class, providing practical endangered and extinct species within the at the new ‘Wonder Cabinet’. collections and downloadable teachers’ advice, curriculum links and follow-up Museum’s collection and increase their National Museum of Ireland — notes for primary and post primary schools. activities back in school. You can arrange to awareness of human impacts on the Natural History You can see most of the objects on display in have your choice of children’s activity books natural world. Primary | 3rd to 6th class | Term time the ‘Proclaiming a Republic: The 1916 Rising’ ready for you when you arrive at the Museum National Museum of Ireland — and in the ‘Soldiers & Chiefs’ exhibitions. by contacting the bookings office two Natural History National Museum of Ireland — weeks in advance of your visit at bookings@ Post-primary | 5th & 6th year | Term time Decorative Arts & History museum.ie. The activity books are also Online | Junior and Senior Cycle and TY available to download from museum.ie. National Museum of Ireland — Decorative Arts & History

activity activity tour workshop NATURAL HISTORY NATURAL HISTORY TRAIL THE TEDDY BEAR TOUR EXTINCTION: OUT OF THIS WORLD! SCHOOL TOUR AND Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme WORKSHOP PROGRAMME See the 10,000 animals and Irish wildlife This specially designed introductory tour A new hands-on workshop where students Book a free curriculum-linked tour or on display, learn about endangerment, encourages children to learn more about an will learn about incredible Irish animals that workshop! Get students exploring the unique extinction and biodiversity and discover animal’s diet, anatomy and where they live in are extinct or endangered or that have been collection of zoological and geological the conservation successes and challenges the wild. Each child can borrow a toy animal saved by conservation. Students will then specimens, debating science, sustainability, of animals and their habitats. to help them on their adventure. explore the galleries during a group activity, and their relationship to the natural world. National Museum of Ireland — National Museum of Ireland — followed by an opportunity to touch real furs, During workshops, pupils handle different Natural History Natural History fossils and bones. predator and prey skulls and bones at the Primary and Post-primary | Term time Primary | Junior Infants to 2nd class | National Museum of Ireland — new ‘Wonder Cabinet’ learning space. Term time Natural History Topics include current science and the Primary | 3rd to 6th class | Term time stories of zoological and geological specimens. Available during term time, contact [email protected] for all bookings and enquiries. National Museum of Ireland — Natural History Primary and Post-primary | Term time 20 SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS 21 SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS

open day special workshop trails and activity sheets “The boys had EARTH DAY AT 50 SOUTH AMERICAN ACTIVITY BOOKS Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme WILDLIFE EXPLORERS such a brilliant time Find out more about natural history Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme collections using activity sheets tailored and went home In 2020, Earth Day reaches its 50th year and Developed to coincide with a ‘Dora and for children and school groups. Pick up a the Museum is inviting schools to visit and the Lost City of Gold’ screening at the Irish trail and track down the animals to answer beaming — staff celebrate during a special open day. Students Film Institute, pupils embark on their own questions—just don’t forget to bring a pencil! will explore the collections, and discuss were so skilled adventure to the new ‘Wonder Cabinet’ Choose from ‘My Favourite Animal’ or topics including extinction, environmental learning space. Pupils discuss the film, seasonal trails, ‘Spring into Action’, ‘Summer at pitching to awareness and care for all species and the learn the importance of stopping illegal Sun’, ‘Busy Bees’, and ‘Do Not Disturb!’. planet! Curators, Conservators, Scientists, wildlife trade, and afterwards see rare animal For those interested in learning more about their level.” Educators and Artists will be on hand to specimens from South America. Places biodiversity, take a copy of the ‘Zoo in answer curious questions and explain limited, booking essential. This event My Garden’ or ‘Everything Counts’. important facts behind Earth Day. SCHOOL TEACHER was developed in partnership with the Booking is essential as slots are limited. National Museum of Ireland — Irish Film Institute. Natural History National Museum of Ireland — National Museum of Ireland — Term time Natural History Natural History Primary and Post-primary | Primary | 3rd to 6th class | Wednesday 22nd April 2020 | 10am–3pm Tuesday 3rd March 2020

activity activity COURTESY OF PAUL SHERWOOD SKETCHING AT THE DRAWING WEEK AT THE DEAD ZOO! MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY Calling art teachers and artists! Due to Artist or art student? Visit and be inspired by increasing demand for sketching and drawing our animal exhibits. Our collections provide of our zoological and geological collections, a rich source for sketching and research. As the Dead Zoo will host a special week of some can be easily damaged, we ask visitors prolonged visits for artists and students. to minimise the possibility of damage by Groups will be allocated longer periods in the following these guidelines: animals and cases galleries to observe and draw real skeletons, must not be touched, or used to lean against. fossils and dioramas of taxidermy. Booking The use of wet materials, spray paints, adhesives is required, as gallery space is quite limited. and fixatives is prohibited in all galleries. Stools Please email [email protected] from available, please ask at Reception. Pre-booking August 2020 for more details or check is an essential requirement for all groups of online at www.museum.ie. more than 10 people. National Museum of Ireland — National Museum of Ireland — Natural History Natural History Schools, Third Level & PLC | October 2020 Third Level and PLC A Museum visit for families can be many things, from an inspectorium at Natural History to storytelling at Country Life; from Families trying on uniforms at Collins Barracks to exploring a Viking Chest at Archaeology. The opportunities are endless. Our family programme is packed with events and includes drop-in events and activities you need to book. We also have resources you can pick up at our Museums or download before you arrive. We hope to meet you there. Accessibility varies according to each Museum site. For more information, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]. 24 FAMILIES 25 FAMILIES

open day open call event “Brilliant workshop. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE MY MUSEUM MEMORIES DROP-IN: EVENTS NATIONAL MUSEUM OF Very creative. As we celebrate the Museum’s 130th birthday, Our free drop-in events are educational and IRELAND — ARCHAEOLOGY Learning about the we would love to hear from you! What does created with family fun in mind. Developed The Museum at Kildare Street will be 130 this the Museum mean to you? Do you have a by our Museum Educators, these workshops Vikings while being summer! Drop into the Museum to help us favourite artefact or exhibition? How has use replica handling objects, crafts or games celebrate! Explore this beautiful Victorian the Museum changed since your first visit? to explore the Museum’s artefacts and creative — Amazing!” building, and look at some of the amazing This year, please feel free to send us a poem, exhibitions. Your family can drop in and archaeological objects. Learn more about the short story, sketch or painting about a time may spend as much time as you like at CHILD AND WORKSHOP work of the Museum and uncover the secrets when you visited the Museum — we would these events. PARTICIPANT of how archaeologists study the past. Take love to hear from visitors of all ages! Email National Museum of Ireland — part in fun activities for families of all ages [email protected] or post to Archaeology and make a craft to take home! See museum.ie Education Department, National Weekends and school holidays | for more details in Summer 2020. Museum of Archaeology, Kildare Street, No booking required National Museum of Ireland — Dublin 2, D02 FH48. Archaeology National Museum of Ireland — All ages | Saturday 15th August 2020 | Archaeology No booking required Until August 2020

trails and activity sheets activity DROP-IN: SEACHTAIN NA DROP-IN: MEGALITHIC DRAW! GAEILGE ACTIVITY SHEETS To celebrate the Spring Equinox, join in our Tar chugainn le trial a bhaint as Conair ‘Super Megalithic Big Draw’. Come decorate Gníomhaóichta trí Ghaeilge sa Mhúsaem, our GIANT megalithic stone with designs oirlúnach do pháistí idír 8–12 bhlian d’aois, and patterns seen on the megalithic tombs ar fail linn Seachtain na Gaeilge. I mí an of Ireland. Learn how to create wonderful Mhárta 2020 beimid ag seoladh ‘Naoimh, designs and patterns and create your own Scéalta agus Scríobhaithe na hÉireann,’ an cave hand print. Visit museum.ie for bhileog ghníomhaíochta is nuaí dár gcuid, more information. aistrithe go Gaeilge. Ná déan dearmad do National Museum of Ireland — pheann luaidhe a thabhairt leat! Archaeology Drop into the Museum during Seachtain na Saturday 21st March 2020 | 1.30pm–3.30pm | Gaeilge to pick up our trails in Irish, suitable No booking required for children aged 8–12. In March 2020 we will be launching our new Irish language activity sheet ‘Irish Saints, Stories and Scribes’. Don’t forget to bring your pencil! National Museum of Ireland — Archaeology 1st–17th March 2020 | No booking required 26 FAMILIES 27 FAMILIES

event trails and activity sheets outreach event VIKING OPEN DAY DROP-IN: TRAILS AND DROP-IN: OUTREACH TO GALWAY DROP-IN: SCIENCE WEEK 2020 ACTIVITY SHEETS CITY MUSEUM: PREHISTORY Come to the Museum and meet our Vikings! Each year, the Museum partners with MYSTERIES — THE BRONZE AGE Speak to our re-enactors and discover how Explore the exhibitions with children and experts in the world of science to offer events the Vikings lived in Ireland, from how they school groups using our specially designed The Education Team are at Galway City that look at the scientific methods used made their clothes, to what types of foods they activity sheets. You can choose from ‘The Museum as part of Galway 2020 and the in archaeology and how these help us to ate and which weapons they used going into Treasury Trail’, ‘The Viking Challenge’, new Galway City Museum exhibition, understand the lives of people in the past. battle. Learn more about the Irish monks and ‘Ancient Egypt’, ‘Winter Trail’, or ‘My ‘MONUMENT’. This exhibition explores Following on from a successful series of events other Irish people they encountered when Favourite Object’. We develop new trails to the Bronze Age communities who created in 2019 with archaeologists from Transport they first came to Ireland in the 8th century. reflect seasonal and festival themes such as the stone forts of the Aran Islands, such as Infrastructure Ireland, Queen’s University Visit museum.ie for more information. St. Patrick’s Festival and Heritage Week. Dún Aonghasa. Families can drop in to the Belfast and University College Dublin, we are National Museum of Ireland — You can pick up a free activity sheet at the Museum to discover some of the secrets planning more events for Science Week 2020. Archaeology Museum entrance area — don’t forget to of surviving in the past in Ireland and get See museum.ie in November for more details. Saturday 18th April 2020 | 11am–4pm | bring your pencil! Visit museum.ie for hands-on with some replicas of the National National Museum of Ireland — No booking required more information. Museum of Ireland’s artefacts. Please see Archaeology National Museum of Ireland — museum.ie or galwaycitymuseum.ie in March 8th–15th November 2020 | Booking required Archaeology for further information and information for some events During opening hours | No booking required on wheelchair accessibility. Galway City Museum Saturday 7th March | 2.30pm–4pm | No booking required open night activity event festival CULTURE NIGHT: ‘EXPERIMENTING DROP-IN: MARVELLOUS SEASONAL FAMILY EVENTS DROP-IN: MIDLANDS WITH THE PAST’ MUSEUM MID-TERMS SCIENCE FESTIVAL To celebrate the seasons, we host a wide This September, the National Museum is We will have a range of family activities variety of seasonal events connected to our The Education Team at the National Museum partnering with UCD School of Archaeology, during Spring and Autumn mid-terms in permanent collections. Whether it’s making of Ireland — Archaeology will be out and about Centre for Experimental Archaeology and 2020. Crafts and hands-on activities explore St Brigid’s Crosses, decorating Easter Cards this Science Week in Athlone! Organised Material Culture for a unique Culture new ways in which you and your family or hearing spooky Hallowe’en tales, there in collaboration with Midlands Science Night experience! Drop in and meet with can learn about the objects in the National is an extensive range of fun and exciting in association with the Heritage Office of archaeologists who are researching in the field Museum. Events will take place in the Kildare programmes for families all year round. Westmeath County Council, the programme of experimental archaeology. Examine replica Room, or our Learning Resource Room. Speak National Museum of Ireland — offers families the opportunity to explore artefacts, take part in hands-on activities and with our enthusiastic Museum educators Country Life the archaeological evidence of Vikings in the see demonstrations from flint knapping to about the collections, or take a closer look All year round | All ages Midlands and West of Ireland. This is part of prehistoric pottery production. For more at some of our Museum grade replicas. a three-year partnership with Midlands information see museum.ie and culturenight.ie. National Museum of Ireland — Science, extending the Museum’s reach to National Museum of Ireland — Archaeology Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath. Archaeology February and October 2020 | See museum.ie and midlandsscience.ie Friday 18th September 2020 | 5pm–8pm | No booking required this Autumn for more details. No booking required | All ages Athlone, Co Westmeath Tuesday 10th November 2020 | Suitable for children 7–12 years of age 28 FAMILIES 29 FAMILIES

trails and activity sheets workshop event FAMILY FUN GENDER IN THE KITCHEN “Great to see an HERITAGE WEEK 2020 Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme Our worksheets and trails are a fun way to ‘Make Create Innovate’ presents a set of excellent outdoor discover and explore our collections and creative technology workshops that invite you event in Collins The National Museum is proud to be part galleries. Your family can choose from animal to look at how products and appliances could of National Heritage Week, a celebration of or seasonal trails reflecting Hallowe’en and be better designed and marketed for a modern Barracks for all Ireland’s rich cultural and environmental Christmas. Or you can help us find Peadar! world where gender equality is the best recipe. ages to enjoy” heritage. Coordinated by the Heritage All worksheets and resources are available National Museum of Ireland — Council, this year’s theme is Heritage and from our activity carts in the galleries. Country Life Education. We’re planning an exciting and National Museum of Ireland — Saturday 16th May 2020 | 12noon, PARENT AND PARTICIPANT diverse programme of events for all ages Country Life 1.30pm & 3pm | Booking Required for Heritage Week, including tours, talks All year round | All ages and hands-on workshops exploring our Decorative Arts & History collections! For up-to-date details, keep a look out for the full programme on the Museum’s website. National Museum of Ireland — Decorative Arts & History 15th–23rd August 2020

workshop event MAKE CREATE INNOVATE: BIRDS, BEES AND TREES: GREEN DESIGN CELEBRATING THE START Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme OF AN IRISH SPRING Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme Families participating in this workshop will take some inspiration from the 1950’s kitchen Spring into life in this two-day family event, to prototype ‘smart homeware’ by combining celebrating the traditional Irish spring season. creative technology with re-usable materials. Explore gardening, growing and nature and Come up with your green design solutions for learn some simple ways that you can promote everything that endangers our environment, biodiversity to help protect our natural from coffee capsule machines to baking trays. world. Hear from a range of gardening and National Museum of Ireland — nature experts, join a talk or walk, and see Country Life demonstrations and stands in the marquee. Saturday 14th March 2020 | 12noon, There will be a special focus on bees and other 1.30pm & 3pm | Booking required pollinators and why they are so important. National Museum of Ireland — Country Life Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th February 2020 | Saturday 11am–4pm | Sunday 1pm–4pm | No booking required 00 SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS 31 FAMILIES

resouce trails and activity sheets FAMILY GUIDE SEACHTAIN NA NGAEILGE 2020 Pick up a ‘Family Guide’ at the Museum Tar chugainn le trial a bhaint as Conair reception and find out what’s on for families Gníomhaíochta trí Ghaeilge sa Mhúsaem, at Collins Barracks. The Guide highlights oiriúnach do pháistí idir 8–12 bhlian d’aois, what you can see in the galleries, along with ar fáil le linn Seachtain na Gaeilge. objects that other families recommend. Drop in and try out a Museum activity trail in Find out where to go if you’re looking for Irish, suitable for children aged 8–12 years old, something to do like drawing, designing or available during Seachtain na Gaeilge. dressing up in one of our interactive spaces. National Museum of Ireland — We have a lot happening throughout the year Decorative Arts & History for intergenerational groups and families so 1–17 Márta 2020 | Ní gá aon áirithintí | check the Museum website to discover more 1st–17th March 2020 | No booking required about our highlights for 2020! National Museum of Ireland — Decorative Arts & History Events all year round | Events for all ages

bilingual tour workshop COURTESY OF PAUL SHERWOOD TURAIS DEARBHÚ NA NATIONAL DRAWING DAY 2020 POBLACHTA: ÉIRÍ AMACH 1916 Join award-winning animation company Glac páirt linn i Seachtain na Gaeilge, ar an ‘Paper Panther’ at the Museum, to celebrate turas dátheangach don taispeántas ‘Dearbhú National Drawing Day. In this family friendly na Poblachta: Éirí Amach 1916’, le teoir workshop, we will be looking at different ways an Mhusaem, staraí Déaglán Ó Brádaigh. of approaching drawing through animation, Déanfaimid leithroinnt d’áiteanna cúig taking direct inspiration from the Museum nóiméad déag sula dtosaíonn an turas. collections at Collins Barracks. Take part in Seachtain na Gaeilge, by joining National Museum of Ireland — Museum Guide Declan Brady on a bilingual Decorative Arts & History tour of ‘Proclaiming a Republic: The 1916 Saturday 16th May 2020 | Rising’ exhibition. Places allocated 15 minutes No booking required before tour starts. National Museum of Ireland — Decorative Arts & History Dé Domhnaigh 15 Márta 2020 | 3pm–4pm | Ní gá aon áirithintí | Sunday 15th March 2020 | 3pm–4pm | No booking required 32 FAMILIES 33 FAMILIES

festival festival workshop STONEYBATTER FESTIVAL OPEN HOUSE FESTIVAL “The Museum SMARTPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS WITH BRENDAN Ó SÉ At Collins Barracks we’re joining in this Ireland’s largest architecture and design staff were really fun-filled festival, now in its fourth year, festival invites all citizens to explore their lovely and the artist As part of our programme for the exhibition which unites our local community and city! We’ll be inviting budding designers and ‘Ireland in Focus’, multi-award winning showcases everything this great part of architects to take part in a family hands-on had an unbelievable fine art photographer, Brendan Ó Sé hosts Dublin has to offer! Check the Museum activity. Keep an eye out for further details! energy and a great two workshops dedicated to smartphone website for up-to-date information on National Museum of Ireland — photography for adults and young people our programme for this year’s festival, Decorative Arts & History manner with aged 12 and up. With more than 20 years of which will include events for all ages! 9th–11th October 2020 | Events for all ages experience, Brendan will lead a hands-on Stoneybatter, Dublin the kids” learning experience, enabling participants 20th–21st June 2020 | Events for all ages to immediately put into practice the tips and tricks covered during the workshop. PARENT AND Remember to please bring along your WORKSHOP PARTICIPANT smartphone and your charger! National Museum of Ireland — Decorative Arts & History Sunday 16th February & Sunday 26th April 2020 | 2–4pm | Admission free | Booking required workshop festival CHRISTMAS OPEN DAY DUBLIN FESTIVAL OF HISTORY COURTESY OF BRENDAN Ó SÉ FÉILE NA STAIRE BAILE This year our theme is ‘A Storybook ÁTHA CLIATH Christmas’ with drop-in workshops for families and adults to explore and enjoy We’re delighted to be a partner in Dublin City some festive stories while crafting up Council’s Festival of History, so keep a look your own Christmas tales! out for our programme, which will include a National Museum of Ireland — range of free events for families and adults! Decorative Arts & History National Museum of Ireland — Sunday, 6th December 2020 | Decorative Arts & History All ages | Admission free October 2020 | Events for all ages 34 FAMILIES 35 FAMILIES

open day trails and activity sheets programmes “Really lovely event FAMILY OPEN DAY: NATURE HEROES SEASONAL TRAIL HOME EDUCATED CHILDREN with excellent Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme engaging approach Drop in to the Museum this mid-term Keep an eye on the website for information In 2020 there will be a number of tours and and meet some real nature heroes from about seasonal trails, or pick up an activity workshops planned for children who are by staff. Really organisations such as BirdWatch Ireland, Irish sheet in the Museum. When exploring the home educated. These programmes will Whale & Dolphin Group, Seal Rescue Ireland, exhibitions, pick up a trail! Find the creatures cover themes inspired by the collections at great — my 10 year Inland Fisheries Ireland, The Herpetological on display for answers, just don’t forget to the Museum. Parents interested in attending old and us loved it! Society of Ireland and more! Discover and bring a pencil! Choose from ‘My Favourite a programme with their children, explore Irish nature, sustainability and how to Animal’, seasonal trails including ‘Spring please register interest by emailing Great knowledge.” be more environmentally friendly to wildlife. Into Action’, ‘Summer Sun’, ‘Busy Bees’ and us at [email protected]. Join different activities and short talks on the ‘Do Not Disturb!’. For biodiversity learning, National Museum of Ireland — day during this free, fun and educational event. take the ‘Zoo in My Garden’ or Natural History PARENT AND WORKSHOP ‘Everything Counts’. PARTICIPANT National Museum of Ireland — Registration required Natural History National Museum of Ireland — Saturday 22nd February 2020 | 10am–4pm Natural History All ages | No booking required | Partially All year round wheelchair accessible

lecture activity

COURTESY OF PAUL SHERWOOD KIDS SCIENCE LECTURES INCREDIBLE CROCS AND AMAZING ALLIGATORS A new series of talks at the ‘Wonder Cabinet’, designed especially for children and exploring Built-in goggles, an immune system that in a deeper way the world of Natural History. can kill off the deadliest of diseases, and the Held on Saturday mornings, these half hour strongest bite force in the animal kingdom! talks are for children who wish to learn more Hear from herpetological expert Rob Gandola about the collections of the Museums and the about the amazing adaptations of crocodiles environment. Kicking off in January there will and alligators that have kept them unchanged be one lecture per quarter. Keep an eye on the for millions of years and at the top of the Museum website for more information. food chain. Please phone (01) 6486 316 National Museum of Ireland — or contact [email protected]. Natural History National Museum of Ireland — Saturday mornings | Once per quarter Natural History Saturday 25th January 2020 | 10am–10:30am | Booking required 36 FAMILIES 00 SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS

activity activity NATIONAL DRAWING DAY: HERITAGE WEEK INSPECTORIUM: MY FAVOURITE ANIMAL GRAFFITI IN THE GARDEN Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme Claws, paws, or feathered friends that ‘caw’? On National Drawing Day, we invite visitors Drop in to the ‘Wonder Cabinet’ and touch of all ages to explore our collections and find and examine real endangered animals from their favourite animal. Drop into the ‘Wonder the handling collection, inspiring your inner Cabinet’ and take part in our ‘My Favourite artist-scientist to create your own piece of Animal’ drawing activity. Submit your nature art! Don’t forget to check out the artwork to vote for your favourite animal. ‘Graffiti in the Garden’ and see which animals Those animals drawn most on the day will were chosen most by the public for inclusion be included in a larger piece, part of ‘Graffiti in the artwork! in the Garden’, commissioned by the National Museum of Ireland — Museum for Heritage Week 2020. For Natural History more details and event time check Wednesday 19th & Thursday 20th August museum.ie from April. 2020 | 11am–1pm | Drop in activities National Museum of Ireland — Natural History Saturday 16th May 2020 | All ages

activity talk DROP-IN: WHAT IS CELTIC CALENDAR TALK SERIES: AN INSPECTORIUM? IRISH WILDLIFE AND THE SEASONS Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme An Inspectorium is a free, fun and educational drop-in activity. Meet a Museum Educator The Celtic calendar was linked to changes in and learn all about the animals and fossils nature, movements of the sun and moon, and that live at the Dead Zoo. Get a chance to do the seasons. This series, taking place over the some hands-on exploration with bones, fossils Celtic calendar year from 1st November 2019 or fur from the handling collection, or see to 31st October, celebrates native wildlife them up close under our microscope at special associated with different seasons in Ireland. Inspectoriums at the ‘Wonder Cabinet’! Some animals are traditionally associated You can stay for 15 minutes, or drop by with certain times of year through myths for five, to learn lots of exciting scientific and legends. Drop in to hear some of the information. Visit museum.ie for more old stories, and discover the real animal information about upcoming Inspectoriums. behaviours that inspired them! National Museum of Ireland — National Museum of Ireland — Natural History Natural History All ages | Admission free 1st February | 2nd May | 1st August | 31st October | 12pm & 2pm | Drop in activities No booking required 38 PARTNERS AND PARTNERSHIPS 39 PARTNERS AND PARTNERSHIPS

Partnership is at the core of how we work in the Education Department. Here are some of the partners we are working with in 2020.

AP + E Architects GMIT Letterfrack National College of Art and Design Irish Community Archive Network (iCAN) ATECI — Education Centre Network Galway City Museum National Gallery of Ireland County Clare Arts and Cultural in Education Galway County Council National Parks & Wildlife Service Clarecastle & Ballyea Heritage Group Research Repository Galway Mayo Institute of Technology OUTing the Past Kilkee Heritage Group Acrewood Geological Survey of Ireland Pavee Point Scattery Island Heritage Group Age and Opportunity Grangegorman Development Agency Phizzfest Shannon Historical Society An Síol Community Development Project Greening Stoneybatter Poetry Ireland County Galway Bat Conservation Ireland Heritage Council Queen’s University Belfast Abbey & District Heritage Group BirdWatch Ireland History Teachers’ Association of Ireland Royal Irish Academy Claregalway Historical Society Bricks 4 Kids Hugh Lane Gallery Royal Irish Academy of Music Killererin Heritage Group Clare County Council Inland Fisheries Ireland Science Foundation Ireland Milltown Heritage Group Commemorations Unit, Department Seachtain na Gaeilge Moycullen Heritage Group of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Irish Architectural Foundation Seal Rescue Ireland Moylough Heritage Society Council of National Cultural Institutions Irish Film Institute Stoneybatter Festival Skehana & District Heritage Group Creative Ireland Programme Irish Herpetological Society Stoneybatter Pride of Place Woodlawn Heritage Group Department of Education and Skills Irish Whale and Dolphin Group Storytellers of Ireland County Mayo Detail. Design Jackie Clarke Library TCD Department of Zoology Ballinrobe Archaeological & Dublin 7 Children & Youth Action Group Kids Own TU Dublin Historical Society Dublin City Arts Office Kilmainham Gaol Tipperary County Museum Louisburgh-Killeen Heritage Group Dublin City Council Culture Company Make Create Innovate Transport Infrastructure Ireland County Wicklow Dublin Festival of History Makermeet Maths Week Ireland UCD Centre for Experimental Delgany Heritage Village Dublin Port Company Archaeology and Material Culture Mayo County Council Donard Imaal History ESB Archives UCD School of Archaeology Mayo ICA Glendalough Heritage Forum Education Centre Network University College Cork Mayo Intercultural Action Glens of Lead Encountering the Arts Ireland Westmeath Heritage Office Midland’s Science Festival The Medieval Bray Project Fighting Words Mayo Wicklow County Council NUI Galway Wicklow’s ancient hidden heartland Foxford Riverfest Committee Wool in School 00 SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS

If you are a young adult or young at heart, engage your curiosity and stimulate your creativity by participating in our adult Adults programmes. Inspired by the Museums’ exhibitions and collections, they include conferences, seminars, talks, tours and and workshops, all designed to be relevant, accessible, sociable and enjoyable. We work with communities and partners across a Lifelong range of sectors to design and develop programmes, and we value collaborating with people to evaluate impact. Accessibility varies according to each Learning Museum site. For more information, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]. 42 ADULTS AND LIFELONG LEARNING 43 ADULTS AND LIFELONG LEARNING

tour tour lecture lecture RECENT FINDS AND NEW SOLSTICES AND EQUINOXES IRISH SHEELA NA GIGS WITH CLIMATE CHANGE DISPLAYS AT THE MUSEUM EAMONN P KELLY, FORMER AND ARCHAEOLOGY We see how people marked and measured KEEPER OF IRISH ANTIQUITIES Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme Come and see some of the newly displayed time in Stone Age and Bronze Age Ireland artefacts at the Museum, including the through the monuments they built, and how Eamonn P Kelly, former Keeper of Irish These lunchtime talks will explore how Prosperous Crozier from Kildare and four they aligned to key celestial events. Many Antiquities, will discuss the competing discoveries of archaeological sites and gold Bronze Age Rings found in Donegal, objects also feature imagery that reflects theories about the meaning and significance artefacts, and the preservation of Ireland’s June 2018. Throughout the tour, learn more solar symbols, especially the Bronze Age of Sheela na Gigs sculptures. About 100 archaeological landscape and built heritage, about some of the more recent research and gold found in Ireland. Join our special tours examples are recorded in Ireland and their will be impacted on by climate change. developments in the field of archaeology. at the Solstices and Equinoxes to see how main distribution is co-extensive with areas Speakers will include members of staff of Please see museum.ie for details. people celebrated these in Prehistoric Ireland. of Anglo-Norman settlement. The figures the National Museum of Ireland, National National Museum of Ireland — Visit museum.ie for listings. To book, email appear on parish churches and monastic sites Monuments Service and OPW staff who Archaeology [email protected]. associated with continental religious orders, are part of the Climate Change Advisory All year round National Museum of Ireland — while examples found on medieval castles and Group for Built & Archaeological Heritage. Archaeology tower houses may be later in date. To book, To book, email [email protected] March, June, September and December | email [email protected] from April. from August. Places limited | Booking required National Museum of Ireland — National Museum of Ireland — Archaeology Archaeology Wednesday 27th May 2020 | Lunchtime | Autumn | Lunchtime | Booking Required Booking Required workshop lecture lecture exhibition BEALTAINE WORKSHOP: GLENDALOUGH: POWER, MIDLANDS SCIENCE FESTIVAL: ELECTRIC IRISH HOMES VIKING NEEDLE BINDING PRAYER AND PENANCE THE VIKINGS IN THE WEST TEXTILE PROJECT WITH ELLEN HAGEN A new exhibition, ‘Glendalough: Power, This talk by Maeve Sikora, Keeper of Irish This project is a collaboration between artist As part of the Bealtaine festival celebrating Prayer and Penance’, will open later this year Antiquities at the Museum, will discuss finds Anna Spearman and a group of women creativity as we age, Ellen Hagen from the at the Museum of Archaeology. The curator relating to the Vikings from the Shannon exploring and responding to the themes of Museum of Archaeology at the University of the exhibition, Matthew Seaver, Museum River basin and west of Ireland. Organised the ‘Kitchen Power’ exhibition. The women’s of Stavanger, Norway, will explore the skill Archaeologist in the Irish Antiquities in collaboration with Midlands Science artworks are on display at the Museum. of ‘Nålbindning’ or needle binding, which Division, will deliver a lecture discussing in association with the Heritage Office of Events include a talk with Dr Caitriona the Vikings used in the fabrication of their the artefacts, excavations and history of Westmeath County Council, this is part of a Clear on modernisation in Irish Women’s clothes. Ellen will give an overview of the this hugely important archaeological and three-year partnership with Midlands Science, magazines, a seminar with international history of needle binding, then demonstrate ecclesiastical site. Places must be booked. extending the Museum’s reach to Laois, speakers looking at national parallels of and teach the technique. To book, Please check the museum.ie for more Offaly, Longford and Westmeath. modernising the traditional home and a email [email protected] or information later in spring 2020. Athlone, Co Westmeath celebration of the textile project for Bealtaine. call (01) 6486 334 from April 2020. National Museum of Ireland — 10th November 2020 National Museum of Ireland — National Museum of Ireland — Archaeology Country Life Archaeology Booking required Until July 2020 | Booking required for talks Friday 8th May 2020 | Places limited | Booking required 44 ADULTS AND LIFELONG LEARNING 45 ADULTS AND LIFELONG LEARNING

exhibition exhibition festival SÉAMUS MAG UIDHIR MAYO A MODERN EYE — HELEN “This was a really OUTING THE PAST FOLKLORIST (1902–1969) HOOKER O’MALLEY’S IRELAND interesting, OUTing the Past: The International Festival To mark the 50th anniversary of the death This exhibition of photography by artist challenging and of Lesbian Gay Bisexual & Trans History is an of Mayo folklorist and writer, Séamus Mag Helen Hooker O’Malley will go on display international celebration of events, taking Uidhir (1902–1969) from Doohooma, Erris, in the Museum’s Courtyard Gallery. A encouraging seminar.” place throughout the year, bringing together a panel-based exhibition commemorating programme of mid-week talks will take place academics and activists. The Museum his life and work will go on display in the based on this exhibition, with speakers: joins the National Gallery of Ireland and Museum of Country Life. As part of this Nicola Ralston from the National Library in PARTICIPANT AT A SEMINAR Kilmainham Gaol, in hosting this three-day HELD IN OCTOBER 2019 exhibition, Dr Ríonach uí Ógáin will give a February; Orla Fitzpatrick from the National celebration of LGBT+ History, with events talk on the earliest collecting of folklore, Museum in March; and Cormac Hooker happening at Collins Barracks on Sunday, with a Mayo focus, on 27th January 2020. O’Malley in April. 22nd March. Check the Museum website National Museum of Ireland — National Museum of Ireland — for a full programme across all three Country Life Country Life cultural institutions. January to April 2020 | No booking required 27th January to 27th April 2020 | Booking National Museum of Ireland — required for talks | Courtyard Gallery Decorative Arts & History Sunday 22nd March 2020 | 1pm–5pm | Booking required | Admission free

workshop lecture IMBOLC — A MODERN MYTHOLOGY AN OUTSIDER’S EYE? COURTESY OF PAUL SHERWOOD Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme PHOTOGRAPHING 1950S IRELAND Join internationally renowned designer and This seminar brings the curator of the textile artist Alison Conneely in a storytelling exhibition ‘Ireland in Focus’, Dr Fidelma and textile workshop celebrating cultural Mullane, together with Dr Orla Fitzpatrick, diversity and inspired by the first traditional John Minihan, and Dr Dragana Jurisic, to Gaelic festival of the year, St Brigid’s Day. explore the Ireland of the 1950s that was The workshop is part of a major design depicted by Henri Cartier Bresson, Dorothea project involving Conneely and the United Lange and Robert Cresswell. With curator Nations. All are welcome, near and far, Valerie Connor as chair, the panel discussion to participate in swapping traditions, rituals will also look at the photographer as an and beliefs around springtime and renewal. outsider and explore the relationship between National Museum of Ireland — the subject and the photographer and how Decorative Arts & History this has changed since the 1950s. Saturday 1st February 2020 | 10am–1.30pm | National Museum of Ireland — Booking required | Admission free Decorative Arts & History Saturday 15th February 2020 | 2pm–4pm | Booking required | Admission free 46 ADULTS AND LIFELONG LEARNING 47 ADULTS AND LIFELONG LEARNING

symposium tour conference REIMAGINING THE DECADE: CONSERVATION STUDIO TOURS “The conference MEMORY AND THE MUSEUM NEW RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM Decade of Commemorations Programme Every quarter we open up the doors of our was first class… Decade of Commemorations Programme Conservation Studios and invite the public in informative and This conference aims to explore how This symposium will present new research in to take a behind-the-scenes tour and meet our Museums exist as spaces that embody both the areas of Public History, Design History conservators. Join us on one of the 2020 tours thought-provoking, memory and history. Bringing together a and Heritage Studies, reflecting artefacts and to discover more about the important work broad range of academics, curators, artists and collections from the Museum of Decorative they do for the conservation of objects in addressing writers, we aim to examine how museums, Arts & History around the themes of War our collections. important topics their objects and collections reflect personal of Independence, Partition, Civil War and National Museum of Ireland — and collective memory in the context of the the founding of the Free State. See Eventbrite Decorative Arts & History rarely discussed” current decade of centenaries, including the for details. Thursday 13th February | Thursday 14th War of Independence, Partition and the Civil May | Thursday 20th August | Thursday War, as well as more recent Irish history. National Museum of Ireland — CONFERENCE PARTICIPANT Decorative Arts & History 12th November | All tours at 2.30pm–4pm | The conference will also address the wider Saturday 29th February 2020 | Booking Booking required | Admission free European and global context. required | Admission free National Museum of Ireland — Decorative Arts & History 7th November 2020 | Booking required | Admission €20 / €15

festival tour DUBLIN FESTIVAL OF HISTORY PUBLIC TOURS Decade of Commemorations Programme We are delighted to partner with Dublin City Council to celebrate the Dublin Festival of Join us for a free public tour on the last History. Our programme includes a range of Sunday of the month. It’s a great opportunity free events for adults. to explore the Museum with one of our National Museum of Ireland — knowledgeable and friendly tour guides. Decorative Arts & History Check museum.ie for up-to-date information October 2020 | Booking required | on tour topics and times. Admission free National Museum of Ireland — Decorative Arts & History Last Sunday of the month | Admission free 48 ADULTS AND LIFELONG LEARNING 49 ADULTS AND LIFELONG LEARNING

lecture lecture debate WONDER CABINET LUNCHTIME WONDER CABINET LUNCHTIME SCIENCE WEEK 2020: TALKS: AOIBHEANN GAUGHRAN TALKS: JAMIE DURRANT THE EXTINCTION DEBATE What do badgers get up to in the dark? Watch the Skies! Ireland is a haven and hub What does Ireland’s extinction record look Badgers are elusive animals, living in for key migratory bird species. In this talk like? Are Irish extinctions preventable, or underground setts and only coming out at learn about the everyday miracle of bird even reversible? At ‘The Extinction Debate’, night. Discover more about this iconic native migration and the enormous distances the topical subject will be discussed in an species, their biology and behaviour, and birds travel to spend summer on the Island. Irish context, with reference to historic what signs to look out for if you think you Discover how to identify birds and help them extinction events and the current sixth mass might have badgers in your area. Please when they arrive, with bird expert Jamie extinction. The panel of guest speakers will email [email protected] or Durrant. For more details phone (01) 6486316 include experts from the fields of zoology, phone (01) 6486316. or email [email protected]. environmental science and geology. For National Museum of Ireland — National Museum of Ireland — more details check online at museum.ie Natural History Natural History or email [email protected] from Thursday 30th January 2020 | 1.15pm–1.45pm | Thursday 27th February | 1.15pm–1.45pm | August 2020. Booking required | Wheelchair accessible Booking required | Wheelchair accessible National Museum of Ireland — Natural History Saturday 16th May 2020 | All ages | Booking required | Wheelchair accessible

lecture lecture WONDER CABINET LUNCHTIME AUTUMN LECTURE SERIES: TALKS: ROB GANDOLA PRESERVING AND PROTECTING DUBLIN PORT AND BAY Crocodiles, Chameleons and Forest Spirits: A Herpetologist’s Dream! Madagascar has From its historic construction, to the an incredible diversity of reptile species accidental creation of the globally important with an equally colourful array of associated wildlife habitat of Bull Island, Dublin Port superstitions. With herpetological expert is home to important built and natural Rob Gandola find out about some of the heritage. This series explores how this more unusual Malagasy reptiles, the folklore heritage is protected, and discusses Customs’ associated with them and how they could aid role in preventing illegal wildlife trade. conservation efforts on this enigmatic island. Organised in partnership with Dublin Port For more details phone (01) 6486316 or email Company. For more details check online [email protected]. from August 2020 at museum.ie or email National Museum of Ireland — [email protected]. Natural History National Museum of Ireland — Thursday 12th March | 1.15pm–1.45pm | Natural History Booking required | Wheelchair accessible Autumn | Booking required 00 SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS

Building sustainable relationships with our local communities is important to us. We want our learning programmes to reflect the Local diversity within our local communities. We want people living and working close to each of our four Museum sites to see us as their Communities ‘local museum’. Our aim is to open up the Museum as a space where people can share their stories and interpretations of the objects they see on display, with each other and with Museum staff. Accessibility varies according to each Museum site. For more information, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]. 52 LOCAL COMMUNITIES 53 LOCAL COMMUNITIES

talks and tour tour outreach public engagement CULTURE CLUB IRISH SIGN LANGUAGE MUSEUM OF COUNTRY DROP-IN: MUSEUM GROUPS INTERPRETED TOURS LIFE ON TOUR Join our Culture Club talks and tours for The Museum of Country Life is a fantastic residents of the wider Dublin area in Spring Irish Sign Language interpretation will be The Education team love to bring the place to meet likeminded people with similar and Autumn 2020. Get to know your National provided for a number of our public tours Museum of Country Life on tour. We visit interests. The Connacht Textile Crafters, Museum, speak with curators and Museum in 2020. These tours will examine some of schools, community groups, adult education Mayo Genealogy Group, Knitting & Crochet educators and explore the collections of the the beautiful and fascinating artefacts in sessions, festivals, nursing homes and national Circle, Museum Writers Group and Music Museum from prehistoric to medieval times. the Museum of Archaeology’s collection, events, including the National Ploughing Circle meet regularly to pursue their own Talks and tours will be 30–45 minutes in ranging from Stone Age to Medieval times. Championships. Check museum.ie for interests as well as engage with Museum staff duration, followed by informal tea and chats. Uncover the stories of how the artefacts were dates and times. and the public. These groups are core to our Organised in cooperation with Dublin City discovered and explore how they can help National Museum of Ireland — public engagement programme and we really Council Culture Company. For more details us understand life in Ireland in the past. Country Life value them as participants, content creators, email [email protected] or Email [email protected] for disseminators, consumers and collaborators. call (01) 6486 334. more details. National Museum of Ireland — National Museum of Ireland — National Museum of Ireland — Country Life Archaeology Archaeology All year round | Drop-in | No booking required 2nd Friday of each month | 11.30am | Each quarter throughout 2020 | Booking required Booking required | Partially Wheelchair Accessible

festival culture club culture club talk MIDLANDS SCIENCE FESTIVAL COMMUNITY ARCHAEOLOGY CULTURE CLUB AT ST. BRIGID’S DAY COLLINS BARRACKS WITH JONNY DILLON The Education Department of the National The Museum will be reaching out to and Museum of Ireland — Archaeology is out and working with local groups and organisations Produced in collaboration with Dublin City The first Culture Club of 2020 is a talk with about this Science Week in Athlone. Join in the coming years, in recognition of the Council’s Culture Connects, the National Jonny Dillon, archivist with the National workshops and events exploring the impact histories and knowledge held by communities Museum of Ireland’s Culture Club series Folklore Collection, who will be discussing of the Vikings on the River Shannon area. about archaeological sites and artefacts. includes guided tours of our exhibitions, St Brigid’s Day in folk tradition. There will Organised in collaboration with Midlands followed by a relaxing and friendly tea and be an opportunity to have a go at making GLENDALOUGH Science, in association with the Heritage chat session. Tours span a range of themes and your own St. Brigid’s cross during the COMMUNITIES PROJECT Office of Westmeath County Council, these enable communities to dig deep and discover tea and chat session. events are part of a three year partnership As part of the development of a new more about the Museum’s collections with National Museum of Ireland — with Midlands Science, extending the archaeology exhibition during 2020, our Museum educators, curators and visiting Decorative Arts & History Museum’s reach to Laois, Offaly, Longford ‘Glendalough: Power, Prayer and Penance’, artists. Tours are approximately 45–50 31st January 2020 | 11.30am | Booking required and Westmeath. See museum.ie and the Museum will be working with minutes long. Advance booking required midlandsscience.ie this Autumn for Glendalough Heritage Forum and other at [email protected]. more details. communities living in the area on a National Museum of Ireland — Athlone, Co Westmeath number of projects and events to reflect Decorative Arts & History 10th November 2020 exhibition themes. Last Friday of every month | 11.30am | Booking required 54 LOCAL COMMUNITIES 55 LOCAL COMMUNITIES

partnership culture club talk culture club tour “This partnership MAYO GENEALOGY GROUP BACHELOR’S DAY IRELAND IN FOCUS: allows us to assist Decade of Commemorations Programme WITH ORLA FITZPATRICK PHOTOGRAPHING THE 1950S WITH FIDELMA MULLANE family historians The Mayo Genealogy Group meet regularly On the day before the 29th February, to undertake research. The Museum and traditionally a time when women would Join Dr Fidelma Mullane, curator of the and create diverse the group will organise a series of talks, propose marriage, National Museum librarian ‘Ireland in Focus: Photographing the 1950s’ workshops and other events reflecting and design historian, Dr Orla Fitzpatrick will exhibition, for a tour focusing on the programming” themes in the Decade of Commemorations, talk about an Irish wedding dress dating photography of Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert in particular how the War of Independence, from 1880s, brought out of storage especially Cresswell, and Dorothea Lange, who all visited CHAIRPERSON OF THE Partition and the Civil War impacted on for Culture Club. Ireland in the 1950s, capturing images of daily MAYO GENEALOGY GROUP people’s lives. Check museum.ie for National Museum of Ireland — life around the country. more details. Decorative Arts & History National Museum of Ireland — National Museum of Ireland — 28th February 2020 | 11.30am | Decorative Arts & History Country Life Booking required 27th March 2020 | 11.30am | Booking required Second Saturday of the month | 11.30am–1pm

culture club talk culture club tour COURTESY OF BRIAN CREGAN IEPER AND THE IRISH IN IB JORGENSEN WITH ALEX WARD WWI WITH DIARMUID BOLGER Join Alex Ward, Keeper of the Museum’s Decade of Commemorations Programme Art & Industrial Collections, for a tour of For the 105th anniversary of the Second the exhibition ‘Ib Jorgensen – A Fashion Battle of Ieper, Diarmuid Bolger, Education Retrospective’, exploring the works of the Assistant at the National Museum, will Danish designer, who was one of Ireland’s discuss the experiences of Irishmen and leading fashion designers from the Irishwomen in Belgium during the First 1950s to 1990s. World War. Diarmuid will also talk about National Museum of Ireland — the current efforts being made in Ieper Decorative Arts & History to identify the Irish who died there. 29th May 2020 | 11.30am | Booking required National Museum of Ireland — Decorative Arts & History 24th April 2020 | 11.30am | Booking required 56 LOCAL COMMUNITIES 57 LOCAL COMMUNITIES

culture club talk culture club talk culture club tour culture club tour 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST THE BIODIVERSITY OF COLLINS THE IRISH WARS INFORM WITH EDITH ANDREES PRIDE PARADE WITH TONIE WALSH BARRACKS WITH LORRAINE BULL WITH DECLAN BRADY Join Dr Edith Andrees of the National Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme Decade of Commemorations Programme To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Museum of Ireland’s Art & Industry first Pride march, join Tonie Walsh, writer, Celebrate the summer by joining a walking To mark the centenary of the War of Department for a tour of the ‘InForm’ archivist and activist, who will be discussing tour of Collins Barracks with Lorraine Independence, join Historian and Museum exhibition, a contemporary metalwork and his work in creating the Irish Queer archive, Bull, Biodiversity Officer with the Dublin Guide Declan Brady for a tour of the ceramics exhibition, in collaboration with the as well as his experiences as an activist in City Council, who will be discussing the Museum’s ‘Soldiers and Chiefs’ exhibition, Design & Crafts Council of Ireland, featuring Ireland over the last half-century. biodiversity in the area, as well as other which covers the period 1913–1923 in the work of graduates from the Skills and National Museum of Ireland — important environmental topics. Ireland, with a particular focus on the War of Design Courses in Kilkenny alongside historic Decorative Arts & History National Museum of Ireland — Independence and the events of late–1920. objects from the Museum’s collections that 26th June 2020 | 11.30am | Booking required Decorative Arts & History National Museum of Ireland — inspired their work. 31st July 2020 | 11.30am | Booking required Decorative Arts & History National Museum of Ireland — 30th October 2020 | 11.30am | Decorative Arts & History Booking required 27th November 2020 | 11.30am | Booking required

culture club talk culture club talk activity tour SILVER IN GEORGIAN DUBLIN GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF IRELAND SEACHTAIN NA NGAEILGE IRISH SIGN LANGUAGE WITH ALISON FITZGERALD WITH MATTHEW PARKES Decade of Commemorations Programme INTERPRETED TOURS AND EVENTS Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme Join Dr Alison FitzGerald from Maynooth Tar chugainn le trial a bhaint as Conair Each quarter throughout 2020, we University, for a talk considering the This month, visit the National Museum of Gníomhaíochta trí Ghaeilge sa Mhúsaem, will provide Irish Sign Language (ISL) importance of silver goods in Georgian Ireland’s new ‘Exploring the Earth’ exhibition, oiriúnach do pháistí idir 8–12 bhlian d’aois, interpretation for one of our guided tours, Ireland. Focusing on the practical and which celebrates the 175th anniversary of the ar fáil le linn Seachtain na Gaeilge. starting with our guided tour on Sunday, 29th symbolic use of silverware, and using artefacts Geological Survey of Ireland. Join co-curator Drop in and try out a Museum activity trail in March. Visit the Museum website for more ISL from the Museum’s collection, along with Dr Matthew Parkes from the Museum’s Irish, suitable for children aged 8–12 years old, tour information. All tours start at 3pm and evidence from contemporary accounts, Natural History Division, who will be available during Seachtain na Gaeilge. take approximately 45 minutes. Dr FitzGerald explores what these objects discussing the various environmental themes National Museum of Ireland — National Museum of Ireland — meant to those who bought, sold and explored in the exhibition, as well as the Decorative Arts & History Decorative Arts & History converted them during the period. history of the Geological Survey of Ireland. 1–17 Márta 2020 | Ní gá aon áirithintí | Sunday 29th March | Sunday 28th June National Museum of Ireland — National Museum of Ireland — 1st–17th March 2020 | Booking required Sunday 27th September | Sunday 6th Decorative Arts & History Decorative Arts & History December 2020 | 3pm 28th August 2020 | 11.30am | 25th September 2020 | 11.30am | Booking required Booking required 58 LOCAL COMMUNITIES 59 LOCAL COMMUNITIES COURTESY OF KEITH HENEGHAN

festival festival STONEYBATTER FESTIVAL PHIZZFEST: GENERATION GAMES At Collins Barracks we’re joining in this fun- We are delighted to be bringing our filled festival, now in its fourth year, which ‘Generation Games’ workshop to Phizzfest unites our local community and showcases 2020. Phizzfest is an annual community everything this great part of Dublin has to arts festival celebrating artistic life around offer! Check the Museum website for up-to- Phibsborough, highlighting the rich diversity date information on our programme for this of culture within the community and year’s festival, which will include events for providing a showcase for local talent. This all ages! May Bank Holiday, make a date with your National Museum of Ireland — child, nan, great-auntie, or grandchild, and Decorative Arts & History explore games, toys and other objects relating 20th–21th June 2020 to childhood, from the Museum’s handling collection. Join Museum educators in an immersive workshop, where you can find out about the games we played in the past! An intergeneration workshop, for families with children aged 7+. Check museum.ie for more. National Museum of Ireland — Decorative Arts & History 2nd May 2020 | 11am–12.30pm COURTESY OF PAUL SHERWOOD activity DROP-IN: GRAFFITI IN THE GARDEN Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme Watch the garden of Dublin’s ‘Dead Zoo’ come to life with the creation of a graffiti mural. A graffiti artist will create a living artwork in the garden of the Museum, drawing inspiration from the natural history collections and visitors’ own artwork of their favourite animals! Themes of endangerment, extinction and sustainability will be under the spotlight. Visit museum.ie in April for details of event time. National Museum of Ireland — Natural History No booking required | All ages Wheelchair accessible 00 SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS

While our learning programmes can be one-off events organised on a small or large scale, we also engage with people on longer- Special term projects. The duration of the project can vary according to the project aims and purpose, with some lasting six months, while Projects others may last a number of years. Such projects facilitate communities to get to know new people, generate new ideas and connect on a deeper level with the Museum’s collections. Working with people over a long time gives Museum staff and communities space and time to know each other, to create work and to learn together. Accessibility varies according to each Museum site. For more information, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]. 62 SPECIAL PROJECTS 63 SPECIAL PROJECTS

community archiving festival tour “Everyone is great THE IRISH COMMUNITY ARCHIVE MIDLANDS SCIENCE FESTIVAL NEW INTERACTIVE TOUR in supporting each NETWORK: SHARING OUR LOCAL Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme HISTORY AND HERITAGE ONLINE The Education Team at the National Museum other. We are of Ireland - Archaeology is out and about this We are responding to key environmental The Irish Community Archive Network Science Week in Athlone. Join workshops and issues within society by developing a range of all learning and (iCAN) draws on the knowledge, skills events exploring the impact of the Vikings learning programmes for diverse audiences and expertise of heritage professionals and on the River Shannon area. Organised in linked to the National Biodiversity Action work on helping experienced volunteers to guide and support collaboration with Midlands Science, in Plan. This interactive tour will explore the each other out, heritage groups in the development of association with the Heritage Office of diversity and abundance of life inhabiting digital archives. Over 2020, we will continue Westmeath County Council, these events are our rivers and woodlands, create awareness anywhere and in to expand and grow this project through a part of a three year partnership with Midlands of these habitats, discover the threats and partnership between the National Museum Science, extending the Museum’s reach to explore ways in which everybody can help any way we can.” of Ireland, the Creative Ireland Programme Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath. to protect them. of the Department of Culture, Heritage and See museum.ie and midlandsscience.ie National Museum of Ireland — MEMBERS OF iCAN the Gaeltacht, and the Heritage Council. This this Autumn for more details. Country Life partnership aims to encourage and facilitate Athlone, Co Westmeath From May 2020 | Booking required more communities to reflect on and record Tuesday 10th November 2020 | Suitable their history, heritage and culture online. To for children 7–12 years of age find out more, visit ourheritage.org or contact [email protected]. National Museum of Ireland

event project COURTESY OF OCEAN MEDIA FINDING VOICE: INTERGENERATIONAL CREATING CHOICE LIFE STORY PROJECT Decade of Commemorations Programme Celebrate International Women’s Day where women of all nationalities are invited to come This collaborative project intends to connect together to share stories that transformed and build bridges between generations their lives. There will be poetry, music, by exploring themes such as identity, dance, fashion and discussion about skills conflict, creating borders and the concept of needed for health and wellbeing. The event nation against a background of the War of will be interspersed with plenty of tea, Independence, Partition, the Civil War and coffee and cakes. the establishment of the Free State. Objects National Museum of Ireland — will form a critical part of this project through Country Life a series of carefully planned and facilitated Saturday 7th March 2020 | 12noon–4pm conversations using the collections in the Booking required Museum of Country Life as inspiration. To find out more, visit museum.ie or contact [email protected]. National Museum of Ireland — Country Life 64 SPECIAL PROJECTS 65 SPECIAL PROJECTS

activity carts exhibition event “My granddaughters THE WONDER CABINET INFORM MUSIC AND THE COLLECTIONS: AND THE DISCOVERY ZONE THE ALBERT BENDER COLLECTION loved opening one InForm, a contemporary metal and ceramic Sustainability and Biodiversity Programme of the small doors exhibition, will go on display at the National Taking place during the Dublin Chinese New Hundreds of years ago, cabinets of curiosities Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks Year Festival, this concert in the series, ‘Music to see the little were collections of remarkable objects from September 2020. The exhibition is the and the Collections’, takes its inspiration from used to tell stories of the natural world. culmination of a 2 year long collaborative Albert Bender, the Irish American donor of rabbit family, and Inspired by these, the exciting ‘Wonder project between NMI and the Design & Crafts the Museum’s Asian art collection. Presented stroking the soft Cabinet’ interactive exhibit opened in 2019. Council Ireland (DCCI). InForm displays in partnership with the Royal Irish Academy We are working with architects AP+E and the work of 24 graduates from the Kilkenny of Music (RIAM) and in association with the rabbit fur.” master cabinetmakers Acrewood to add based Skills & Design Courses in Jewellery Dublin Chinese New Year Festival. Visit RIAM three interactive display activity carts with and Goldsmithing and Ceramics, next to Eventbrite for details. taxidermy and skeletons that will be unveiled historic objects from the NMI collections GRANDPARENT AND VISITOR National Museum of Ireland — this Spring. Drop in and explore hands-on that inspired the contemporary designs. Decorative Arts & History this revamped and expanded Discovery Zone! This exhibition aims to showcase new and Sunday January 26th 2020 | 3pm | National Museum of Ireland — upcoming designers’ work, and encourage Booking required | Admission €8 / €5 Natural History fresh perspectives into artefacts from All ages the Museum’s collections. National Museum of Ireland — Decorative Arts & History September 2020

event programme COURTESY OF PAUL SHERWOOD MUSIC AND THE COLLECTIONS: INTERGENERATIONAL NMOI MUSICAL INSTRUMENT LEARNING PROGRAMMES COLLECTION Following the success of the ‘Stories Musicians from the RIAM’s Historical Between Us’ intergenerational public art Performance Department celebrate the rich project and exhibition, which featured musical instrument collection at Collins tours and workshops through our schools Barracks. Under the directorship of Claire and public programmes, we’re delighted Duff, with the RIAM’s Head of Historical to announce we’ll have more opportunities Performance, David Adams, the vibrant for intergenerational learning in 2020. musicians will present a number of short We’re planning workshops through the pop-up performances in the Museum, Culture Club programme, and other ahead of an hour-long concert featuring lively events throughout the year in our public vocal and instrumental music performed engagement programme. For up to date on period instruments. Visit RIAM information check the Museum’s website. Eventbrite for details. National Museum of Ireland — National Museum of Ireland — Decorative Arts & History Decorative Arts & History All ages Sunday 19th April 2020 | 3pm | Booking required | Admission €8 / €5 00 SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS

Handling objects has the power to stimulate memory, foster historical empathy and encourage interactivity using all our senses. Handling Handling objects also stimulates people’s curiosity and interest in the past and provides the opportunity to place history Collections in your hands. At our four Museum sites, the Education Department has curated collections of ‘handling objects’ for use in tours, workshops and other programmes. 00 SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS COURTESY OF PAUL SHERWOOD 69 HANDLING COLLECTIONS

resource resource THE BRONZE AGE MUSEUM QUALITY REPLICAS HANDLING BOXES IN THE HANDLING COLLECTION Based on the Museum of Archaeology’s Our handling collection consists of Bronze Age collections, handling boxes are handcrafted museum-quality replicas, created filled with replica artefacts and raw materials, using the same raw materials and dimensions making learning fun, active and thought as the original artefacts. Recently, the provoking. This handling resource tells the Museum Education Team has worked with story of the Bronze Age in Ireland. A variety experimental archaeologists to create new of learning materials accompany each box, replica objects. These objects, along with raw including a Resource Book providing teachers materials, are used as teaching aids as part of with a range of pedagogical strategies to family workshops, drop-in activities, school enhance the teaching of archaeology. There workshops and tours, highlighting the depth are 42 handling boxes located in Education and range of information we can gather about Centres throughout Ireland, available on the past from artefact analysis. loan to primary and post-primary schools. National Museum of Ireland — National Museum of Ireland — Archaeology Archaeology

event resource GALWAY 2020: PREHISTORY GLENDALOUGH MYSTERIES – THE BRONZE AGE AND EARLY CHRISTIAN We are working with our Education As part of the development of a new colleagues at Galway City Museum on the exhibition at the Museum of Archaeology, development of workshops about the Bronze ‘Glendalough; Power, Prayer and Penance’, Age for spring 2020. High quality replicas the Museum will be expanding their replica from the Museum archaeology handling collection relating to the Early Christian collection will be loaned to Galway City period in 2020. Museum for use during workshops and National Museum of Ireland — events, including a family event in March with Archaeology staff from the National Museum of Ireland. Initiative is part of Galway 2020, linking with the new Galway City Museum exhibition, ‘MONUMENT’. Galway City Museum All Ages | Saturday 7th March 2020 70 HANDLING COLLECTIONS 00 SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS

resource resource HANDLING TABLE CLOTHING COLLECTIONS The handling table is full of interesting Experience what clothing in 19th century objects to touch and interact with, including rural Ireland was really like. Investigate a hen’s nest, butter prints, strawboy hats and authentic materials and traditional styles a new heather lobster pot made by Joe Hogan. by trying on our collection of Irish clothing This bespoke resource holds fact sheets to based on the Museum’s collections. Some help you discover fascinating stories behind examples include pampooties, tweed trousers, these objects and can be downloaded from shawls and much more. In 2020 we plan to museum.ie. develop and expand our clothing collection. National Museum of Ireland — National Museum of Ireland — Country Life Country Life

events resource resource event DROP-IN: EVENTS DISCOVERY BOX OF HANDLING COLLECTION PLOUGHING CHAMPIONSHIPS OBJECTS FOR HANDLING Throughout the year you can drop in to The handling collection consists of specimens In 2020, Museum of Natural History participate in free events suitable for all ages Explore costumes, raw materials and that reflect the breadth of the Museum’s Educators will be at the Ploughing such as our ‘Hands on History’ sessions, accessories in the exhibition ‘The Way collection. The collection includes taxidermy Championships with unique specimens from where you can explore objects from our We Wore: 250 Years of Irish Clothing and and skeletal material, bio-facts that are key the handling collection. Come visit them at collection of objects for handling, or explore Jewellery’ through handling objects. The box tools in Museum learning programmes. the ‘Cultural Institutions’ stand and learn the exhibitions with Museum Guides in a is an engaging and thought provoking way Also included are Museum casts of specimens, more about Ireland’s wonderful animals range of family tours. You can also engage for students to explore the exhibition through and replicas, that enable continuous hands-on and biodiversity. with handling objects in the ‘Asgard’ and hands-on learning. Referencing both old and learning for the 300,000 plus visitors to the National Museum of Ireland — ‘Soldiers & Chiefs’ exhibitions, the ‘Barracks new, the handling box contains raw fibres, Museum. This extensive collection is used Natural History Life Room’ and other exhibitions across samples of textiles, small frame loom with in drop-in Inspectoriums for families, school Tuesday 15th September – the Museum. yarns for weaving, gloves, shoes and materials workshops and tours. In 2020 one of the Thursday 17th September 2020 National Museum of Ireland — used to make jewellery which students largest items, the Brown Bear, will return in Decorative Arts & History can handle and investigate. To find out a new display close to the ‘Wonder Cabinet’. All ages | Year round | Admission free more, contact the bookings office at National Museum of Ireland — [email protected] or (01) 6486543. Natural History National Museum of Ireland — Decorative Arts & History 00 SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS

We are always looking at ways that we can become more efficient and deliver a better service to the public. The National Museum Improving of Ireland’s Education team has expertise in developing learning programmes, resources and services for families, schools and our Service teachers, adults, young people and diverse community groups. We plan on improving our public offer and service across our four Museum sites in 2020 by undertaking special initiatives that are listed in this section. 00 SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS 75 IMPROVING OUR SERVICE

Your Museum Team The Education Department collaborates with our colleagues across all Museum departments: Commercial, Corporate Affairs, Conservation, Curatorial, Design, Facilities, Finance, IT, Marketing, Photography, Registration, Retail. All of us are working together to make a difference to your Museum experience!

Your Education Department Team at the Museum includes: Aisling Dunne, Annie Birney, Brendan McDonnell, Caragh May O’Mahony, Diarmuid Bolger, Emma Murphy, Geraldine Breen, Helen Beaumont, Lorna Elms, Lorraine Comer, Patricia Ryan, Sheila Stenson, Siobhan Pierce, Suzannah Vaughan and Tom Doyle. Grace O’Sullivan is contracted to work on the Information, Advice and Bookings at the Dublin sites.

Audience Research Schools Understanding the needs of primary and post- primary schools who visit us, and who don’t visit us, is important to us. We carried out audience research over a number of months to identify ways in which we could improve our offer and service to schools. The knowledge gained from this research project serves as a building block to understanding the learning needs and interests of schools and helps us to foster a closer relationship with this key audience. We are rolling out a number of recommendations from this study in 2020 across our four Museum sites. 76 IMPROVING OUR SERVICE 00 SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS COURTESY OF PAUL SHERWOOD

Freelance Tour Guide Panel Policies Guided tours of our exhibitions In 2020, the Education are a core part of our education Department will develop a service. They enable as many diverse Community Engagement Policy. audiences as possible to discover This will form a useful tool in and enjoy the Museum. Owing to helping us to provide a more demand from schools and families, cohesive and strategic approach to we established a Freelance Tour how we work with communities. Guide Panel at the Museum of We will also develop implementation Decorative Arts & History in 2016. plans for our recently developed We are establishing three more Learning Policy and Handling Freelance Tour Guide Panels at the Collections Policy. Museums of Archaeology, Country Life and Natural History in 2020. Arts and Culture in This will enable us to provide Education Research Repository more tours to the many different In collaboration with the communities we serve. Department of Education and Museums Standards Skills and other partners in the Programme of Ireland (MSPI) cultural education sector, we are working towards creating an The Education Department open access research repository. COURTESY OF MICHAEL MCLOUGHLIN continues to work closely with This repository will bring many colleagues across all Museum benefits to the cultural sector. departments to meet the standards of the Heritage Council’s MSPI.

New Booking System Our new online booking system is in development and is due to go live in 2020. This new system will allow users to book events in a more effective and streamlined way. PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER “Just want to thank you for such an excellent and enjoyable tour. The children loved it and the guides were all so helpful and informative. ”

COURTESY OF PAUL SHERWOOD

PARTICIPANTS IN ‘HANDS ON HISTORY’ “It’s really interesting in the Museum, a sign saying please touch, that was wonderful”

GROUP MUSEUM VISITOR “The group thoroughly enjoyed their visit, our Guide was very professional and passionate and gave an excellent tour despite being bombarded by questions from the group!”

INDIVIDUAL MUSEUM VISITOR “I’ve enjoyed the chat as well as the chance to handle the artefacts, it really brings the history to life” National Museum of Ireland — National Museum of Ireland — Archaeology Decorative Arts & History Kildare Street, Dublin 2 Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7

Sunday and Monday, 1pm–5pm Sunday and Monday, 1pm–5pm Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–5pm Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–5pm

National Museum of Ireland — National Museum of Ireland — Country Life Natural History Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo Merrion Street, Dublin 2

Sunday and Monday, 1pm–5pm Sunday and Monday, 1pm–5pm Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–5pm Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–5pm All information correct at time of printing. However, events and programmes can change at short notice, so please do phone ahead or check museum.ie. All images courtesy of National Museum of Ireland unless otherwise indicated. Produced by the Education Department. With thanks to AAD design. Special thanks to the Photography and Marketing Departments for all their support with this publication.