Atmospheric festive times at Mayo museum
Two of the region’s leading choirs are set to perform at the National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, as part of a series of festive afternoons at the museum.
The choral performances take place on Sunday, December 22.
The Cill Aodain Choral Society will perform at 2.15 p.m. under the direction of Finola Higgins-Cosgrove and the Mayo Male Voice Choir will perform at 3 p.m. under the direction of Deirdre Lee.
The annual choral performances have become a firm festive favourite with museum goers over the last number of years.
Admission is free and no booking is required.
As well as an atmospheric afternoon of Christmas carols in the galleries, visitors can enjoy a live crib display with Kiltimagh Pet Farm, and a pop-up display on traditional toys with a museum curator.
The team from Kiltimagh Pet Farm will be on hand in the Courtyard from 1 to 5 p.m with Molly the Donkey and other animals associated with Christmas traditions.
Curator Tiernan Gaffney will be in the exhibition galleries from 1 to 3 p.m. on the same afternoon with a pop-up display on homemade toys in the Irish Folklife Collection.
Learn how children used materials like wood, rushes and recycled materials to make their own toys, and have a go at playing with some of the toys from the museum’s handling collection.
Artist Carmel Balfe is also delivering a 'Christmas Tree Crafts' workshop at 2 and 3 p.m.
The Christmas Tree Crafts workshop is free but places are limited so booking is required. Email BookingsCountryLife@museum.ie or telephone (094) 90 31751.
Throughout the month of December, there is a fun 'Decoration Hunt' activity in the museum galleries. This is a self-guided trail - meaning visitors can pick up an activity sheet at any time during museum opening hours and enjoy the trail at your own pace.
Use the clues to explore three floors of exhibition galleries and find 12 decorations hanging in the displays.
For an outdoor activity, there is also a winter nature walk worksheet available from museum reception.
There is a North Pole post box at reception for that all important letter of the year and be sure to go to Turlough Park House during your visit to get some nice family selfies in front of the Christmas tree in the formal hall.
Further details on all events and activities are available from www.museum.ie.
Admission to the National Museum of Ireland at Turlough Park is free. The exhibition galleries are open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday to Monday from 1 to 5 p.m.
The museum is open as normal throughout the holiday period with the exception of Christmas Day and St. Stephen's Day (closed both days).