Home | Site Map | Jul 25, 2008

An absolutely fascinating place, with exhibitions which illuminate the way that ordinary Irish country people lived and worked between 1850 and 1950.

There are regular demonstrations, music and dance performances and special events, all of which bring the past to life and are worth watching out for. A fascinating exhibition shows how Irish people in a pre-industrial age used the raw natural materials around them not just for food but to build houses and create the tools of everyday living.

Kids will love the exhibition on Childhood in the 1950's, learning how children then dressed and ate and what school was like for them.

The effects of rapid rural deveopment in the 1950s, including the arrival of electricity, better roads and transport and faster communications, changed a way of life that had contunued pretty much in the same pattern for hundreds of years. This period of history is dealt with in an audio-visual presentation where people who lived through it talk about their experiences and how their lives were affected.

Workshops for both adults and children teaching old craft skills are organised throughout the year but especially in Summer and are very popular.

The shop here sells the work of today's Irish craft workers and is a cut above your average tourist trap shop and a good place to buy quality souvenirs.

Visiting the Museum

The museum is open year round, from 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday and 2pm to 5pm on Sundays. There is a good cafe.

Allow at least 2-3 hours for a visit, but you could easily stay longer.

Location Map for Irish Museum of Country Life

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