Five surprising artefacts to discover at Mayo museum
TURLOUGH Park, home to Ireland's National Folklife Collection, offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore Ireland's social, cultural and rural heritage.
A must-visit destination this summer, Turlough Park is full of unexpected discoveries. For some added inspiration to plan a visit, here are five fascinating artefacts currently on display that might surprise visitors of all ages.
1. SKATEBOARDS
A rare skateboard with a unique piece of Irish sporting history is on temporary display until the end of July. It is one of just 20 skateboards produced for the European Street Skating Championships, held at The Point, Dublin, in 1991. Sponsored by Sqeez orange juice, the skateboards were awarded as prizes in a promotional competition.
This particular example was purchased from Skate City in Temple Bar, Dublin. The skateboard is displayed in association with the photographic exhibition Róidín in the Courtyard Gallery, which explores rural Ireland through the perspective of skateboarding culture.
2. BROWN BEAR
One of the most talked-about exhibits this year is an impressive brown bear specimen from the Natural History Collections in Dublin. On display as part of The Murmur of Bees exhibition, the female bear from Alaska has captured the imagination of visitors, who have named her Beir Bua.
Visitors can meet Beir Bua until September 22 when the exhibition comes to an end.
3. SOAPBOX DREAMS
A brightly coloured red soapbox racer, on public display for the first time this summer, tells the story of an exciting chapter in Ireland's sporting and social history. The display explores the popularity of soapbox derbies during the 1950s, when thousands of spectators gathered to watch young competitors race homemade ‘gravity cars’.
Success at the national derby offered the chance to win a coveted trip to America and compete on the world stage.
The car on display in the National Museum was driven by Joseph Moran, a young racer from Westport, who competed in the Connacht & Mayo Soap Box Trials in June 1956, an event in Westport that attracted up to 4,000 spectators.
The display offers a nostalgic look at ambition, ingenuity and community spirit in mid-century Ireland.
4. ASIAN HORNET
As concerns grow about the spread of invasive species, visitors can view an Asian hornet up close as part of The Murmur of Bees exhibition.
Asian hornets pose a significant threat to honeybees and other native pollinators, and the public are encouraged to report any sightings.
The specimen on display is particularly significant, as it was the first Asian hornet ever collected in Ireland, in 2021.
5. ANTIQUE VETERINARY OBJECTS
A fascinating collection of antique veterinary instruments and animal husbandry equipment offers insights into the everyday work of vets in Ireland in decades past.
The exhibition emerged from a partnership between the National Museum of Ireland and the Veterinary Department of Mayo County Council. Veterinary officer Cathal Walsh and his colleagues assembled an important collection of historic veterinary objects, which was subsequently donated to the museum.
OPENING HOURS
Admission to the National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park House & Gardens 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.