Enjoy Christmas at Turlough Park as Mayo museum marks season in style
THE National Museum’s ‘Christmas at Turlough Park’ programme continues from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, December 22.
There will be choral performances in the galleries, a live crib display in the Courtyard, a pop-up display looking at homemade toys from the Irish Folklife Collection, and a craft workshop with artist Carmel Balfe.
Browse all events below or visit https://www.museum.ie/en-ie/home for full event details.
Christmas carols in the galleries
Join two of the region's leading choral groups for an atmospheric afternoon of Christmas carols in the exhibition galleries on Sunday, December 22. These performances with the Mayo Male Voice Choir and the Cill Aodain Choral Society have become a firm festive favourite with museum visitors over the last number of years.
The Cill Aodain Choral Society will perform at 2.15pm under the direction of Finola Higgins-Cosgrove. The Mayo Male Voice Choir will perform at 3 p.m. under the direction of Deirdre Lee.
No booking is required.
Live crib
Come along to the Courtyard of Turlough Park House from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, December 22, to meet some of the farm animals we associate with the nativity and other Christmas traditions and stories.
Join the team from Kiltimagh Pet Farm to say hello to Molly the donkey as well as goats, sheep, cows and more.
Admission is free. No booking is required.
Pop-up display of homemade toys
Join museum curator Tiernan Gaffney to learn about homemade toys in the Irish Folklife Collection from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 22.
Long before video games and plastic, children used materials like wood, rushes and recycled materials to make their own toys. Find out how some of these toys were made and have a go at playing with a selection of the toys from the museum’s handling collection.
This is a free drop-in activity. No booking is required.
Christmas tree crafts
Create your own unique Christmas tree decorations at a family crafting workshop with artist Carmel Balfe. There are two workshop sessions at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Participants will make stain glass effect Christmas tree ornaments from black card, tissue paper and lighting gel for colour.
This is a free family event but spaces are limited. Booking is required at (094) 9031751 or email BookingsCountryLife@museum.ie.
Christmas opening hours
Admission to the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Turlough Park House & Gardens is free.
The museum is open as normal throughout the Christmas and New Year period, with the exception of: Christmas Eve (closed 1 p.m.), Christmas Day (closed) and St. Stephen’s Day (closed).
Open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday to Monday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.