National Museum Of Ireland, Turlough Park
National Museum Of Ireland, Turlough Park
National Museum Of Ireland, Turlough Park
4.6
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
About
This award-winning Museum is home to the National Folklife Collection which represents traditional life in Ireland throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Fascinating artefacts deal with domestic life, agriculture, fishing and hunting, clothing and textiles, furniture and fittings, trades and crafts, transport, sports and leisure and religion. Set in the spectacular grounds of Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo the Museum treats visitors to a taste of how our ancestors lived their daily lives, in both difficult and joyful times. The excellent ‘hands-on’ public programmes which run throughout the year, consist of art and craft workshops, demonstrations and performances and run alongside the exciting programme of temporary exhibitions which are ongoing throughout the year. The Museum opening hours are: Tuesday to Saturday 10 am-5 pm • Sunday & Monday 1 pm-5 pm Shop & Café open.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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4.6
814 reviews
Excellent
582
Very good
190
Average
30
Poor
7
Terrible
5
Maureen F
Limerick, Ireland141 contributions
Oct 2024 • Friends
Our group found many very interesting things to see in Turlough Museum and took us back in time seeing. many tools and other items of great interest. Very impresssive building victorian gohic style beautiful stained glass windows, large marble columns on guard. The skilled tradesmens work to be admired eveywhere. We saw the world's only Lyrachord piano which combines a piano and a harpsichord. We travellled from West Limerick and was pleased to see the marble bust of Limerick Opera singe Catherine Hayes dating from 185l.
Written 18 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AlbertSalichs
Manresa, Spain24,740 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
National Museums of Ireland - Country Life is located in the surroundings of Castlebar, a little town in Western Ireland. In this museum, you can learn a lot about the history of the 19th and 20th centuries in the country: from the great famine until the post-war of independence. It is a very interesting museum to understand the present days in the country. Really very good. However I understand that more information about the events is necessary.
Written 25 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephen W
Dublin, Ireland24 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
Visited the museum twice in the month. Loved the friendly staff and really interesting gift shop. The museum was really interactive with activities for kids. The grounds are beautiful and the playground is quite unique, although can get a little muddy in the wet.
Written 29 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Explore03301517552
1 contribution
Nov 2024 • Family
Beautiful place, had lunch which was superb. Potatoe and leek soup with a beautiful salad and toasted ham and cheese. Excellent with a great choice of food. Staff were efficient and friendly. Doing a great job. Will come again
Written 12 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patricia S
14 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
Definitely worth a visit. We learned so much here. They had an exhibit on bees and their importance in Ireland. Take time to read all the exhibit notes to really gain insight into early Irish life
Written 20 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Connemaraman
Westport, Ireland105 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
Very unexpected impressive modern building nestled in the stunning (and beautifully kept) ground of Turlough. The thought and detail invested in this project are evident at every turn. Four floors of Irish culture and history displayed with pride and a love of heritage. Definitely worth a visit (check out the cafe there too!!)
Written 21 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aline
Naas, Ireland35 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
We had a wonderful experience here last week. Our five year old daughter enjoyed it thoroughly. All of the work sheets for children of various ages were brilliant. She is still talking about the knitted mice. We inquired at the end about the sheets as they made such a difference to our experience. It is so valuable to engage families and this worked a treat. A huge thank you to Martina who I believe created these. Incredible. I love how they were in multiple locations too as no doubt people miss them on entry.
We also enjoyed seeing such a diverse range of objects and details of country life. Winnie the Pooh inclusion was great too!!
When we were leaving there were two elderly couples walking in. We gave them directions and assured them they would love it. I did wonder if it was possible to drive closer to the museum building for those challenged walking.
Cafe and shop were lovely. We enjoyed the gardens and the playground. Such a lovely day out. Hope to bring my 82 year old Dad.
Thank you very much. This is certainly a highlight of our trip West last week.
We also enjoyed seeing such a diverse range of objects and details of country life. Winnie the Pooh inclusion was great too!!
When we were leaving there were two elderly couples walking in. We gave them directions and assured them they would love it. I did wonder if it was possible to drive closer to the museum building for those challenged walking.
Cafe and shop were lovely. We enjoyed the gardens and the playground. Such a lovely day out. Hope to bring my 82 year old Dad.
Thank you very much. This is certainly a highlight of our trip West last week.
Written 5 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa
3 contributions
Jan 2025 • Solo
Outstanding museum. Worth the effort to stop. Great display on Bees in the bottom floor as well. Parking in the car park or alongside the road and walk to the property through beautiful gardens.
Written 18 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ann W
25 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
A really interesting place in a lovely setting. How wise that memories and artefacts have been gathered, before the opportunity was lost, to commemorate a way of life that has now been superseded. Everything is beautifully displayed with informative text.
Written 23 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul M
Roscommon, Ireland9 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
Museum of Country life is a great place to visit to learn about the culture and daily lives of Irish people in times past. It also serves to remind us of how much life has changed in Ireland in recent decades and centuries. The museum itself is a modern contemporary building on three levels sensitively built into a hill overlooking a small lake beside Turlough House. It is located in a lovely rural location outside Castlebar just off the M.5 and it is also possible to cycle there from Castlebar on the Castlebar Greenway. The museum itself is well designed and you can also visit some ground floor rooms in Turlough House which is in itself a beautiful building. The staff were very helpful and friendly. There is an interesting gift shop and a medium sized cafe which opens to a courtyard with tables. The cafe serves good quality cakes, sandwiches, salads etc. I hadn’t time to explore the grounds, greenhouse and walks around the museum but I would certainly plan to explore them on my next visit. There is also a playground. I travelled with a group of 25 and I would advise that if travelling with a group that you contact the museum in advance just to let them know you are coming. I would highly recommend visiting the Museum and grounds. We spent two and half hours there but it would take longer to fully experience the Museum and its grounds and as it’s a National Museum, there is no admission fee.
Written 30 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are staying in castlebar over easter, will the museum be open? If so what will be the opening times
Written 25 February 2018
Museum is open 10am-5pm Tuesday - Saturday and open on Sunday 2pm - 5pm. It will be closed Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Written 25 February 2018
NMIreland I
Dublin, Ireland
Admission is free for all four sites of the National Museum of Ireland. Check out our website for more information.
Written 3 October 2017
Is this a good place for young children please?
Written 11 April 2017
Yes it is interesting to a wide age range but some of the exhibits are of particular interest even to small children. Also the grounds are lovely and they can run around
Written 20 April 2017
Looking at a brochure I have from here the hours are listed as Tuesday - Saturday 10:00AM - 5:00PM; Sunday 2:00PM - 5:00PM; Closed on Mondays. I recommend either checking their website or contact them directly to confirm the current hours.
Written 10 April 2017
NMIreland I
Dublin, Ireland
Hi, there are no scheduled booking tours but if you would like to organize / prebook a tour visit 'Tours, Floor Plans & Guide Books' in the 'Visitor Information' section of the Country Life page of our website. Looking forward to your visit.
Written 20 October 2015
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