National Museum of Ireland – Country Life facts for kids
| Ard-Mhúsaem na hÉireann – Saol na Tuaithe | |
Landlord's old house next to the museum
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| Established | September 2001 |
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| Location | Turlough Park, Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland |
| Type | National museum |
| Visitors | 100,000 |
| Architect | Thomas Newenham Deane, Dublin |
| Public transit access | Castlebar railway station  Bus Éireann routes: 52, 60, 440, 456 |
| National Museum of Ireland network | |
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The National Museum of Ireland – Country Life is a super cool place to learn about how people lived in rural Ireland a long time ago. It's in a village called Turlough, which is about 8 kilometers (5 miles) from Castlebar in County Mayo, Ireland. This museum opened in 2001 and is part of the National Museum of Ireland. It's special because it's the only national museum that isn't in Dublin!
The museum shows what life was like for Irish people in the countryside between 1850 and 1950. You can explore displays about homes, nature, different jobs, and how communities worked together. You'll also see how people worked on the land and on the water. The museum is located on the beautiful grounds of Turlough Park House.
Contents
History of the Museum
Turlough Park House
The main building, Turlough Park House, was designed by an architect named Thomas Newenham Deane. He also designed another part of the National Museum in Dublin. The house was built between 1863 and 1867. It used to belong to the Fitzgerald family of Turlough.
Becoming a Museum
In 1991, the house and its surrounding 36 acres were bought by the Mayo County Council. The old house was fixed up, and a new museum building was built right next to it. This new building is cleverly tucked into the side of a hill, overlooking a pond. The Country Life Museum officially opened its doors in September 2001. The upstairs of the old house is now used as offices for the museum staff. The downstairs rooms are open for everyone to explore and enjoy.
Exploring the Gardens
The amazing gardens at Turlough House are looked after by the Office of Public Works and the local council, Mayo County Council. You can find all sorts of interesting things there. There's a special greenhouse called a vinery, which is used for growing grapes and other fruits. You can also enjoy many walking paths, pretty terraces, and a sunken garden. Look out for the old ruins of the very first house that stood here, which was used from 1722 to 1786. A part of the Castlebar River flows through the grounds, forming an artificial lake with islands and even a cool round tower!
What You Can See
The museum has a huge collection of items from Irish country life, about 37,000 pieces! Only a small part of this collection is on display at Turlough Park. Many items are stored there, and larger machines are kept at another storage place in Daingean, County Offaly, or near Dublin. There's also a library and an archive where you can learn even more. If you want to see items not on display, you can ask for special access.
Cool Exhibitions
The museum has both permanent displays that are always there and temporary ones that change over time. These exhibitions are spread out over four floors and cover different themes.
Some of the exciting things that have been on display include:
- Michael Davitt Exhibition: This display celebrated the life of Michael Davitt. He was a very important person who started the Irish National Land League.
- The Cross of Cong: This is a super old and important cross from the 12th century. People believed it held a piece of the True Cross, which is a big deal in history! It's one of Ireland's most valuable medieval art treasures. The cross was kept in Cong Abbey in County Mayo for a long time. In 2010, it was brought back to County Mayo to be shown at the Museum of Country Life for a whole year.
- Power and Privilege: Photographs of the Big House in Ireland 1858–1922: This exhibit showed what life was like for rich families and their servants in big houses during that time.
- The Coggalbeg Hoard: Imagine finding ancient gold! This hoard includes a gold collar and discs from the Bronze Age. They were found in a bog near Strokestown in 1945. These treasures were kept safe in a pharmacy until the safe was stolen in 2009. Luckily, the gold objects were found later in a dumpster, probably because the thieves didn't realize what they were!
Visitor Information
The museum has its own parking, a shop where you can buy souvenirs, and a café if you get hungry. The museum is open on Sunday and Monday from 1 PM to 5 PM. From Tuesday to Saturday, it's open from 10 AM to 5 PM. It's a great place for a day out!
