Delve into the delights of Ireland’s quirky museums
Museums are storytellers that weave their tales around objects from the past. In Ireland, these stories cover everything from fairy folk to the rituals of death and the history of butter. So, this International Museum Day (18 May), why not visit one of the island’s more offbeat museums.
Tripadvisor’s top spot to visit in Dublin and the 14th most highly rated attraction in Europe, The Little Museum of Dublin is reopening this summer following renovations to make the attraction accessible for all. A visit to the charming museum starts with watching The Key to Dublin, a short film that captures the history, hospitality and humour of the city. Then follows an entertaining 29-minute guided tour celebrating great Irish storytelling with a winning combination of history and comedy. Surprising items on display include vintage Guinness advertising, a piece of the Berlin Wall, memorabilia of Ché Guevara, U2, and Muhammad Ali, plus a first edition of James Joyce’s epic tome, Ulysses - each painting a vibrant picture of Dublin city past and present.
Irish Wake Museum – Rituals of Death, County Waterford
This unique museum explores the customs and superstitions associated with death, namely the uniquely Irish tradition of the wake, which celebrates life, community, and the passage of time. This attraction offers a fully guided museum experience, located in a former alms house. Founded in 1478, the museum introduces visitors to the famous Irish death rituals from Early Christian times up to the twentieth century. Each room explores a different theme, with a remarkable array of macabre objects associated with death on display.
National Leprechaun Museum, Dublin
Named after Ireland’s famous fairy, the leprechaun, the National Leprechaun Museum brings to life the world of Irish myth and folklore and a rich literary tradition that stretches back 1500 years. The daytime storytelling experience is a fun journey through the world of fairies passing through playful rooms with oversized furniture and optical illusions. The tour explores the relationship between landscape, storytelling and magic. The Darkland evening tours for adults only visit the twisted side of Irish mythology.
Sports fans and those with a particular interest in the ancient Gaelic Games of hurling and football will find a tour of the GAA Museum at Croke Park a fascinating experience. Hurling is considered to be the fastest land sport in the world and has been played for at least 3,000 years in Ireland while Gaelic football has been around since the seventeenth century. Through exhibits and interactive experiences, the museum tells the story of these games and highlights their importance in the lives of Irish people today.
Creamy Irish butter, including the hugely successful Kerrygold brand, is a favourite staple in homes around the world. The Butter Museum celebrates its history from traditional butter-making in Irish homes to the development of the industry in the twentieth century. It explains the Irish tradition of preserving butter in bogs, highlights how cattle were a measure of wealth and tells the story of how the Cork Butter Exchange became the largest butter market in the world.