 - Museums And Art Galleries
ANTRIM
The Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum: (Market Square, Lisburn):
At the end of the 17th century Ulster became important as a linen producer helped by French Huguenot weavers. The industry declined due to the expensive production process. In the Linen Centre you can follow the history of linen in its heartland, see how linen was made from flax and watch experts spinning and weaving. The visit finishes with an audio-visual presentation depicting life in 19th century linen factories. Open: April-September, Monday- Saturday 9.30am-5pm. Open Sundays 2pm-5pm. Tel: 048 92 663377 The Old Bushmills Distillery: (a mile from the Giant’s Causeway):
The permission to distil whiskey was given to Bushmills in 1608, which makes it the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery. Bushmills joined the Irish Distillers Group based at Midleton in Cork in 1974. Bushmills retains its own distinct flavour due to the water, the Irish barley, triple distillation in copper stills and a lying in period to age in oak casks. The guided tour ends with a whiskey with an ‘e’ tasting and a comparison between Irish whiskeys and other whiskeys. Open: April-October Monday-Saturday 9.30am-5.30pm, Sundays 12pm-5.30pm. November-March: Monday-Friday. Tours at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1.30, 2.30, 3.30. Tel: 048 207 31521. 
ARMAGH: Navan Fort/Emain Macha: (west of Armagh):
Interactive centre, which brings the archaeology and mythology of Ulster’s ancient capital to life. Navan Fort is a large earthwork on the summit of a hill. Emain Macha was its legendary name. It was an Irish Camelot and the ceremonial seat of the kings of ancient Ulster. It has links with Cuchalainn, Conor McNessa and the Red Branch Knights. Excavations have revealed evidence of Mesolithic hunters, Neolithic farmers and an aristocracy who lived here around the late Bronze Age. The Interpretative Centre blends in wonderfully with the landscape and interprets the site using interactive displays and a 25-minute film. Open: April, June, September 10am-6pm (Sunday: open 11am). July and August 10am-7pm (Sunday: open 11am). October-March 10am-5pm (Saturdays 11am, Sundays 12pm). Tel: 048 37 522323. Planetarium: (College Hill)):
Ireland’s only planetarium in the grounds of the 200 year old observatory. The planetarium offers multimedia shows. Exhibition areas include Hall of Astronomy, Eartharium Gallery. Open: September-March 10am-5pm (show at 3pm). Saturdays 1.30pm-5pm (shows at 2pm and 3pm). April-June open on Sundays 1.30pm-5pm (shows at 2pm and 3pm). In July and August there are shows on the hour on weekdays. Tel: 048 37 523689.
CLARE: Bunratty Folk Park :Limerick-Ennis Road):
The Folk Park recreates rural life in Ireland at the turn of the century. Farmhouses, town houses, a village street complete with pub, post office and shops have been reconstructed or built to show life during this period. Can get very crowded in high season but is well worth a visit. Open daily all year round 9.30am-17.30pm. June to August: open until 19.00. Tel: 061 360788
Burren Display Centre (Kilfenora):
Right beside a 12th century cathedral and a graveyard containing some interesting Celtic High crosses. An audio-visual presentation introduces the flora and fauna of the Burren which is a vast limestone plateau. A model of the Burren with accompanying commentary explains its origins and the impact man has had on the landscape. Small but interesting. Open: March-October: 10am-5pm. June-September: 9.30-6pm). Tel: 065 7088030.
CORK: Cobh Heritage Centre:
A multimedia exhibition centred at Cobh’s Victorian Railway Station. Excellently presented, The Queenstown Story, tells the history of Irish emigration, voluntary and enforced. Most emigrants left from Cobh on sailing ships, early steamers and great ocean liners. The centre recounts the tragedies of the Lusitania and Titanic and also documents the heyday of Cobh as a port of call for transatlantic liners. Open: February-December 10am-6pm daily. Tel: 021 4813591. Crawford Art Gallery: (Emmet Place):
Housed in the former Customs House the Crawford has works by Irish artists such as, Jack Yeats, Nathaniel Grogan, Walter Osborne, Paul Henry, Harry Clarke and Sean Keating. Contemporary Irish artists also feature, Tony O’Malley, Louis le Brocquy, Barrie Cooke and Robert Ballagh. The Gallery Café is recommended by Egon Ronay. Open Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm. Closed on Sundays. Tel: 021 4273377. Jameson Heritage Centre (Midleton):
Guided tours of the restored 18th Century distillery begin with an good audio-visual film which recounts the origins of the word ‘whiskey’, ‘uisce beatha’, ‘water of life’ and gives an account of the rise and decline in popularity of Irish whiskey over the years. The tour finishes in the Jameson Bar with a tasting session and a comparison of different whiskies. Open: March-October 10am-6pm daily. November-February, Monday-Friday tours at 12pm & 3pm only. Tel: 021 4613594.
DERRY: The Tower Museum: (Union Hall Place):
Multimedia displays illustrate the history of the city from prehistoric times up to the recent troubles. An exhibition of the Spanish Armada (1688) includes artefacts from ships that went down in Kinnagoe Bay. Open daily July and August: 10am-5pm. September-June, Tuesday-Saturday: 10am-5pm. Closed 17 March, Good Friday, 25 & 26 December. Tel: 048 71 372411.
DONEGAL: Glebe House and Gallery (6 kms south of Glenveagh National Park):
A Regency house, furnished and decorated with Victoriana, which was the home of the painter, Derek Hill who was an avid collector. The Gallery includes paintings by Tory Island primitive artists, Picasso, Renoir, Jack B. Yeats and others. Open: Easter-September Saturday-Thursday (closed Fridays). Tel: 07437071. Folk Village Museum (Glencolumbkille):
The lifestyle of people in rural Donegal is depicted throughout the ages by means of several thatched cottages, replicas of 18th and 19th century dwellings. The folk village is a co-operative, which was founded by Father James MacDyer during a time of massive emigration from the area in the 1950s. He encouraged the local people to set up craft co-operatives in the area. The Folk Village sells marmalade, fudge and local wine made from anything from seaweed to fuchsias. There is a nature trail behind the village. Open: Easter-Septembe: 10am-6pm Monday-Saturday. Sundays: 12pm-6pm. Tel: 073 21148.
DOWN: Ulster Folk & Transport Museum: (11 kms northeast of Belfast near Hollywood):
Farmhouses, churches, forges, corn mills, flax mills, terraces of Belfast houses have been reconstructed in a 60 hectare site to give an idea of life in Northern Ireland over the past few hundred years. In summer there are demonstrations of traditional crafts such as thatching and old farming methods. Across the road is the Transport Museum , which includes the Irish Railway Collection, machinery made in Ulster including a test model of a John De Lorean car and an exhibit on the Titanic. Open: July-August, Monday-Saturday: 10am-6pm, Sundays: 12pm-6pm. April-June and September: 9.30am-5pm, Saturdays: 10am –6pm. October-March: 9.30am-4pm, weekends 12.30-4.30pm. Tel: 048 90 428428
DUBLIN: Book of Kells (Trinity College):
The most important of Ireland’s national treasures is housed in the Treasury. The exhibition room explains the origins of the Book of Kells, how it was made and the dying techniques used by the monks during the 8th century. Other precious manuscripts are also on view. The Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript of the four gospels written in Latin. Above the exhibition room is the Long Room of the Old Library, which houses 200,000 antique texts encased in Irish oak. Open: Every day 9.30am-5pm. October-May: Sundays 12pm-4.30pm. June-September: 9.30am-4.30pm. Ceol Irish Traditional Music Museum: (Chief O’Neills Hotel, Smithfield Village):
An interactive celebration of Irish traditional music. Here one can listen to the different styles of Irish traditional music by using touch screen monitors. A singing session from sculpted robotic screens tells the story of different Irish songs. Learn how to do a Clare set in the dancing room. See the areas from which the musical traditions have emerged on the wrap-around screens in the Main Auditorium. A very rich and worthwhile visit. Open: 10am-6pm Monday-Saturday. Sunday: 12-6pm. Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday. Tel: 01 8173820. Collins Barracks Museum: (Benburb Streeet):
See the evolution of Irish furniture, silverware, glassware and clothing design, among other interesting objets d’art. The setting , in the first custom-built barracks in Europe is worth the visit. Open Tuesday-Saturday: 10am-5pm. Sundays: 2-5pm all year round except for Christmas Day and Good Friday. Tel: 01 6777444. Dublin Writer’s Museum: (18 Parnell Square):
Situated in an 18th century townhouse this museum celebrates Dublin’s reputation as a literary centre. A Gallery of Writers upstairs, displays busts and portraits of Ireland’s famous writers. Downstairs there are displays relating to Irish literature from the 10th century up to the present time. The exhibition contains letters, photographs, first editions and mementoes of some of Ireland’s best known writers. Open: 10am-5pm Monday-Saturday. 11030am-6pm Sundays and public holidays. Closed 25 & 26 December. Tel: 01 8722077 Guinness Storehouse: (St. Jame’s Gate):
A high-tech introduction to the making of the perfect pint. Hear the history of Arthur Guinness, the founder of the Guinness Brewery. See how the old Guinness casks used to be made, by looking into images in old barrels. Re-live the nostalgia of the old Guinness advertising campaigns. See the extent of Guinness sales world-wide. Enjoy your pint in the Gravity Bar on the sixth floor overlooking Dublin. Open daily: 9.30am-5pm. Closed Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Good Friday. Tel: 01 4084800. The National Gallery (Merrion Square):
An oasis of peace from the bustling Dublin streets. Very acessible. Paintings are representative of all the major schools of European art. Major Irish artists are also represented. Must see paintings are those of Jack B. Yeats, ‘The Taking of Christ’ by Caravaggio and ‘The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife’ by Daniel MacLise. Open: Monday-Saturday: 10am-5.30pm. Thursdays: 10am-8.30pm, Sundays 2pm-5pm. Closed Good Friday and December 24, 25, 26. Tel: 01 6615133. National Museum (Kildare Street):
Extremely compact museum, which houses a super collection of Irish Bronze Age gold-work, such as the Glenisheen collar. Other national treasures are to be found here;the Ardagh Chalice, the Tara Brooch, the Cross of Cong. The upstairs area tells the story of Dublin’s Viking era displaying artefacts found during excavations of Wood Quay. An audio-visual film shows the national treasures in more detail. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm. Sundays: 2-5pm all year round except Christmas Day and Good Friday. Tel: 01 677444.
FERMANAGH: Enniskillen Castle Regimental Museum: (Enniskillen Castle):
The Regimental Museum of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers is in the castle along with the Fermanagh History & Heritage Centre. The Regimental Museum contains medals, guns and uniforms of both the fusiliers and the dragoon guards. Open: May-September 10am-5pm Tuesday-Friday. Saturdays and Mondays: 2-5pm. July and August: Sundays 2-5pm. October-April: Mondays 2-5p. Tuesday-Friday: 10am-5pm.Tel: 048 66 325000.
KERRY: Kerry County Museum (Ashe Memorial Hall, Denny Street, Tralee):
With the theme title of "Kerry the Kingdom" the museum offers three exhibitions; an audio-visual tour of Kerry, showing the spectacular scenery of the county. The Museum area tells the history of Kerry from the Stone Age to Kerry today. Finally visitors enter a ‘time-car’ and travel through life-size reconstructed streets and houses of Tralee in 1450 AD complete with smells. Excellently done. Open: March-October: 10am-6pm daily. November and December: 2pm-5pm. Tel: 066 7127777.
KILDARE: The Horse Museum (National Stud, Tully, Co. Kildare):
Housed in an old stable block, the Museum is small and illustrates the importance of horses in Irish life over the centuries. The skeleton of Arkle who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup three times in the 60s can be seen here. More interesting are the guided tours of the National Stud, the state-run blood-stock farm. Open: mid-February-mid-November, 9.30am-6pm. Tel: 045 521617/522963.
LIMERICK: The Hunt Museum: (Rutland Street, Limerick):
The collection in this museum is the personal collection of John and Gertrude Hunt which they donated to the Nation. Material on display includes objects from the Stone Age right up the present time. Objects of special interest include the Cashel Bell, the Mary Queen of Scots Cross, a bronze horse by Leonardo da Vinci, the Galway Chalice, a coin reputed to be one of the ‘30 pieces of silver’. Tours are available. Open: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm. Sundays: 2pm-5pm. Tel: 061 312833.
MAYO: The Granuaile Visitors Centre: (St. Catherine’s Church, Louisborough):
Granuaile or Grace O’Malley in English, was Ireland’s notorious female pirate who ruled the waters around Mayo in the 1550s. When her husband, Donal O’Flaherty was murdered by a rival clan Granuaile established a base on Clare Island, protected by forts around Clew Bay. From Clare Island her galleys constantly attacked cargo vessels. The Centre recounts the story of Granuaile by means of an audio-visual display. Open: June-mid September Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm. Tel: 098 257 11/66341. The Céide Fields (8 kms (5 miles0 west of Ballycastle, Co. Mayo):
What could be seen as just a heap of stones is a paradise for the archaeologist. Europe’s largest Stone Age land enclosure. 10 square kilometres (4 square miles) enclosed by walls constructed to contain grazing cattle and to surround growing wheat and barley over 5,000 years ago. The enclosures and remnants of farm buildings demonstrate that this was an extensive community, which was gradually buried under the creeping bogland. The guides are excellent and bring to life this ‘heap of stones’. Open: mid-March-November daily. 9.30am-6.30pm, 10am-5pm in March, May, October and November. Tel: 096 43325.
MEATH: Brú na Bóinne: (8 kms, 5 miles East of Slane):
Brú na Bóinne means ‘the Palace of Boinn’.The area is dotted with Neolithic monuments in the the form of passage tombs. These are to be found at Newgrange, Dowth and Knowth. Newgrange, the biggest of the passage tombs, was restored as near as possible to its original state in 1975. It is older than the Pyramids and was built around the year 3200 BC. Once a year at the winter solstice (21 December) the rising sun enters the tomb and lights up the burial chamber. To gain access to the tomb visitors have to go to the nearby Interpretative Centre. Those lucky enough to get tickets go by bus to the tomb where a guide reveals some of the mysteries of the site. Those who don’t get tickets can see a replica of the tomb in the Centre. Open: November-February: 9.30am-5pm. March-April: 9.30am-5.30pm. May: 9am-6.30pm. June-mid-September: 9am-7pm. Mid-end September: 9am-6.30pm. October: 9.30-5.30pm. Tel: 041 24488. Hill of Tara: (Near Kilmessan village, Co. Meath): The ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland, Tara is a site of mythical importance as it was the political and spiritual centre of Celtic Ireland. A small Interpretative Centre gives a short audio-visual film. To the naked eye Tara is merely a grassy mound but with the expert guides the place really comes to life. They will point out the Royal Enclosure, the Mound of the Hostages, the Rath of the Synods and the ‘Stone of Destiny’, the inauguration stone of the High Kings of Tara. Open: May-September: 9.30am-6.30pm. Tel: 046 25903.
OFFALY: Shannonbridge Bog Railway: (5 kms (3 miles) East of Shannonbridge):
A 45 minute tour run by Bórd na Móna, the Irish Peat Board. The tour covers an area of 9 kilometres of the Blackwater bog on a narrow gauge railway. The tour is fascinating as the guide explains the origins of bogs, the flora and fauna, the future of bogs, the uses of turf and old and modern methods of ‘saving’ the turf. Visitors get a chance to cut turf by hand, using the traditional tool known as a ‘sleán’. Open: end of March-end of October: 10am-5pm. Tel: 0905 74114/74172/74121.
ROSCOMMON: The Famine Museum (Strokestown):
In the old stable yard of Strokestown House, the Famine Museum is to be found. The Museum uses the Strokestown archives to tell the story of tenants and landlords during the potato famine of the 1840s. The landlord of Strokestown Estate, Major Denis Mahon, was assassinated when he attempted to evict 8,000 of his starving tenants. Some of the exhibition stands are inclined to be a bit wordy but otherwise worth a visit. Open: Easter-end of October daily 11am-17.30pm. Tours can be pre-booked outside of the open season. (Tel: 078 33013)
SLIGO: Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery:
The largest megalithic cemetery in Europe with over 60 tombs. The oldest of the tombs predates Newgrange by 700 years, which makes it over 4,000 years old. Many of the stones were removed over the years and used in buildings. Some are on private land. It does take a great leap of the imagination to try and envisage what this cemetery would have looked like in Neolithic times. Guided tours are available and worthwhile. Open: May-September: 9.30am-6.30pm everyday. Tel: 071 61534. Sligo Cunty Museum and Art Gallery (Stephen Street):
A small, compact museum with a selection of Yeats memorabilia, including his Nobel Prize winning medal. There is also some Sligo landscapes by Jack B. Yeats and portraits by John B. Yeats. One of the most interesting exhibits is a firkin of bog butter. Open: April-October, Monday-Saturday. Tel: 071 42212.
TIPPERARY: Rock of Cashel:
An impressive limestone outcrop that rises majestically above the Tipperary plain. It was the seat of the Munster kings from the 4th to the 12th century. It was handed over to the church in 1101 and was a religious centre until besieged by the Cromwellian army in 1647. Brian Ború was crowned king of Munster here. Huge stone walls encircle the site which contains, a 28 metre round tower, the ruins of a cathedral, a 12th century Hiberno-Romanesque chapel and the Hall of the Vicars’ Choral built in the 15th century for the choristers. A small museum contains the original St. Patrick’s Cross, rare silverware and some stone carvings. The Rock can become very crowded at high season. Looks very impressive from the Dublin Road at night when it is floodlit. Open: mid-June-mid-September 9am-730pm daily, mid-September-mid-March, 9.30am-4.30pm, mid-March-mid-June, 9.30am-5.30pm. (Tel: 062 61437).
TYRONE: Ulster American Folk Park:
An outdoor museum, which tells the story of emigration to North America in the 18th and 19th centuries. History comes alive in the ‘living museum’ which illustrates the various aspects of emigrant life on both sides of the Atlantic. You can visit authentically furnished thatched cottages of rural Ulster and log cabins of frontier America. Guides in costume and various craftspeople explain the arts of weaving, spinning, and candle making. There is an impressive array of life-size exhibits; a replica of a Presbyterian Church, a Mass House, an Ulster Street, an American Street, a herb garden and so on. Open: Easter-September: Monday-Saturday: 11am-6.30pm. Sundays and Public Holidays: 11.30am-7pm. October-Easter: Monday-Friday: 10.30am-5pm. Closed Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays. Tel: 048 82 243292
WATERFORD: Waterford Treasures at the Granary: (Merchants Quay):
A series of interactive and audio-visual presentations takes you through a 1000 years of Ireland’s oldest city. See how Georgian society lived and things they sought after such as the finest Waterford Glass. See the marriage of Aoife and Strongbow, who were married in the town, a fact which sealed the fate of the Irish chieftans in the 12th century. Open June, July and August seven days a week: 9.30am-9pm. September-May: 10am-5pm. Tel: 051 304500. Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre: (Kilbarry, just outside Waterford on the Cork Road):
Crystal was first made in Waterford in 1783. The tradition is still carried on today. The tour is somewhat noisy but interesting for all that. Here you can see the gestation of a Waterford Crystal piece from the first stages of transforming the crystal mix into molten crystal to blowing, shaping , cutting, engraving and sculpting. Master craft pieces are on exhibition. Pride of place goes to the Waterford Crystal grandfather clock. Open for tours: April-October 8.30am-4pm. November-March: 9am-3.15pm. Showrooms are open April-October 8.30am-6pm seven days a week. November-March 9am-5pm, Tuesday to Saturday. Tel: 051 373311.
WESTMEATH: Lockes Distillery: (Main Street, Kilbeggan):
Founded in 1757 Locke’s Distillery went bankrupt in 1954 as it was unable to compete with Scotch whisky manufacturers. It was re-opened as a museum in 1987. A guided tour explains the Irish whiskey making process from start to finish. The tour finishes with a whiskey tasting session in the bar. Locke’s whiskey can be bought but it is no longer distilled in Kilbeggan but in Dundalk. Open: April-October seven days a week 9am-6pm. November-March: seven days a week 10am-4pm. Tel: 0506 32134.
WEXFORD: Irish National Heritage Park (Ferrycarrig):
An open-air theme park, which recreates Irish history from ancient times. The visit shows replicas of a Mesolithic cyst burial tomb, a stone circle, a ring fort, a crannóg, a Norman castle, a round tower and a Viking boatyard. Open: March-October 10am-7pm daily. Guided tours are available. Tel: 053 20733. 1798 Visitor Centre (Enniscorthy):
A fascinating study of the 1798 Rebellion and its aftermath using multi-media and interactive comput1ers. An excellent audio-visual presentation places the Rebellion in an international context and gives a glimpse of Ireland’s journey to democracy. Open: March-September 9.30am-5pm to 6pm in high season Monday-Saturday. 11am-6pm Sunday. Tel: 054 37596/7
WICKLOW: Beit Art Collection (Russborough House): Russborough House: (Blessington):
Russborough House was bought in 1952 by Sir Alfred Beit as a home for the Beit Collection of paintings. Beit inherited his wealth and the art collection from his uncle, who was co-founder with Cecil Rhodes of De Beers diamond mines. The Beit Collection contains masterpieces by Goya, Velasquez, Vermeer, and Rubens, among others. Part of the collection was presented to the National Gallery of Ireland in 1986 and the other part remains in Russborough. In 1974 and again in 1986 some of the paintings were stolen. Those stolen in 1974 have been recovered. The guided tours are excellent. Open: June-August 10.30am-5.30pm. In May and September, it closes at 2.30pm except on Sundays. In April and October, it’s open Sundays and bank holidays only. Tel: 045 865239) Glendalough Monastic Site Visitors’ Centre:
The Monastic site was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. From early Christian times monastic sites welcomed visitors. All those entering within the monastic enclosure were guaranteed sanctuary. The stone buildings on the site date from the 10th to the 12th centuries. The enclosure contains a perfect example of an Irish round tower, the ruins of a cathedral, an Irish high cross and a tiny oratory, with a pitched stone roof. Glendalough, which means, the valley of the two lakes, is in a magical setting. It is not hard to imagine why this setting would have attracted holy men, wanting to lead an ascetic life, close to nature. Guided tours are available from the Visitors’ Centre, which also has a small museum. The excellent 20-minute audio-visual presentation tells of the influence of Irish missionaries during the Dark Ages when Ireland earned the title of the island of saints and scholars. Open: all year round 9.30am-6pm. Closed 23-31 December. Tel: 0404 45325.
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