National Museum of Ireland
@NMIreland
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Ireland’s premier cultural institution and home to the greatest collection of Irish heritage, culture and history. Free admission.
Joined June 2009
There's been a lot of curiosity about #MichaelCollins' slippers which Curator @BrenMalone recently showed to .online students on a behind the scenes tour at the NMI We have so many objects of national importance, but sometimes it’s the everyday gems that capture the imagination
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We are appealing to members of the public to provide information about 2 Early Bronze Age axeheads (2150-2000 BC) posted anonymously to the Museum in June. Found in Westmeath, their location is crucial for archaeological context.
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We are delighted that Rory’s guitar is destined for the national collection. He is one of Ireland’s most iconic musicians, and his talent is legendary and celebrated globally. We are very grateful to the donor and @cathmartingreen @tcagsm who have enabled the purchase.
Rory Gallagher's iconic 1961 Fender Stratocaster is coming home. Details:
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@brian276 @TheMERL @britishmuseum We have plenty of ducks in the National Museum of Ireland - Natural History on Merrion Street! There's one case with most of the ducks found in Ireland and a couple of extinct ducks (Aukland Merganser, Labrador Duck) in our collections.
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Our ‘Ghost Turnip’ represents the measures our ancestors took to protect themselves from the harmful spirits thought to visit over Hallowe’en. If you know any spooky tales passed down in your family or your community, we’d love to document them .#Folklore
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June 23rd, St. John’s Night #BonfireNight is celebrated throughout #Ireland but the tradition survives most strongly in the West. #Bonfires on this night bring luck to the people, land & animals of the area & it was a time to connect with neighbours at summer #Bonfire/Tine Cnámh
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We are delighted that Rory Gallagher’s guitar has been purchased by at Live Nation Gaiety Ltd with a view to donating to the National Museum of Ireland with support of @tcagsm and @cathmartingreen more info
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Did you know carved turnips were the original scary lanterns in Ireland for #Halloween? The pumpkin is a later American twist on this tradition. Clodagh Doyle, The Keeper of the folklife collection at the NMI explains it all here:
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This sword was carried by William III at the Battle of the Boyne, 1690. William later gave the sword to Hans Willem Bentinck, a court favourite of his. They had a close relationship, it is thought by some that William & Bentinck were lovers, though this cannot be confirmed #pride
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Hurley found in a bog in the townland of Derries near Edenderry, Co. Offaly in April, 1981. This hurley is made of alder & is said to be over 200 years old. #AllIrelandFinal #KKvTipp #hurling #GAA
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Calling all art lovers! Don’t miss the new Harry Clarke’s Stained Glass exhibition opening on Dec 5th at the National Museum of Ireland. Explore his celebrated vision, blending religious and fantastical imagery. —be inspired!.#HarryClarke #StainedGlass.
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Children with donkey and panniers on the road between Slievemore and Dugort, Achill Island, Co. Mayo, 1965. @MayoDotIE #MayoDay2020 #MayoDay #Mayo #WhenWeTravelAgain #HometoMayo
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St Brigid's Day- Lá Fhéile Bríde- celebrates Ireland’s only female patron saint on Feb. 1st marked by the making of crosses in St Brigid’s honour. Clodagh Doyle Keeper of the Irish Folklife Division takes us through other folk traditions which mark the day
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This Model barrel top wagon, was made by members of the Hutchinson family in Tipperary at least 40 years ago. The wagon was the traditional home of nomadic Irish Traveller families. #TravellerPrideWeek .
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This remarkable cast bronze sword hilt is our #TuesdayTreasure. Dredged up by a trawler from the sea-bed off Donegal in 1916, it was attached to a short iron blade about 37.5 cm in length. The hilt is cast in the form of a male human figure and is believed to be 2000 + yrs old.
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Lúnasa marking the onset of August, #Autumn & the harvest season, a time when ‘harvest knots’ were exchanged as tokens of love & courtship.
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The Mincéirí Archive website is an exploration of Ireland's only indigenous ethnic minority, seeking to uncover a history that has been overlooked. Stories and lived experiences told by #Mincéirí themselves in their own words. The website will be available from 29th April, 2024
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Today 11 February is the feast day of St Gobnait, the patron saint of bees & beekeeping. The Murmur of Bees exhibition, National Museum of Ireland -CountryLife #Mayo celebrates the magic of Ireland’s bees and their vital role in nature.
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This week marks the 50th anniversary of the introduction of decimalisation in Ireland. Do you have a favourite design? Learn more about our coin collections here-
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Discover the meaning of the Faddan More Psalter -a significant text speaking to us from ancient history, highlighting Ireland's central place in the history of Europe & pivotal importance to the act of book writing. #IrishArchaeology
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This unique triangular wooden bowl decorated with interlace knots with lugs for hanging is our #TuesdayTreasure. Discovered in Roscommon in 1963, it has been dated by QUB/NMI to 606-656 cal AD giving important information about similar high status Irish and Scottish metal bowls.
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It was a VERY long day at the office for Spotticus, the Rothschild’s giraffe- To make room for our renovations @DublinDeadZoo we've taken some of our permanent "members of staff" to a safe location #DeadZooDiary
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The Board of the National Museum of Ireland has announced the appointment of Ms Lynn Scarff as Director. Full press release:
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DYK many of our Hallowe’en celebrations originate from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain? Clodagh Doyle, Keeper of the National Folklife Collection, explains the origin of 10 fright season traditions. #IrelandHomeofHalloween .
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Sharon Weadick, Assistant Keeper of Irish Antiquities at the NMI, provides a brief account of the Winter solstice at Newgrange, the archaeological excavations at the site & some of the finds now stored in the NMI. #Solstice #Newgrange.
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Is John C. Reilly star-struck on meeting Lynn Scarff, the director of the National Museum of Ireland? Of course he is!
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1/4 Our #TuesdayTreasure is a gold gorget (collar) discovered in Gleninsheen, Co. Clare in 1932. It is an exceptional example of Irish goldsmithing skills from the Late Bronze Age period. Concentric circles, rope patterns and conical and round bosses are used to great effect.
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We have gone live with our new NMI website today, we're excited to get it out there to our audience & we will have new content in the coming days. If you spot anything odd or out of place let us know, we'd love to hear from you. #Irishmuseumsonline.
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Our new book which tells the story of the painstaking process to preserve the 1,200-year-old Faddan More Psalter features in @guardian this weekend.
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We are delighted to announce that the National Museum of Ireland- Archaeology, Kildare St and Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Dublin will be opening until 8pm from this Thursday 9th June & every Thursday night for the rest of the summer months
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This three faced stone head from the first or second century AD, is our #TuesdayTreasure. Known as the Corleck Head, it was found in Co. Cavan, around 1855 and may have been associated with a shrine that celebrated the ancient festival of Lughnasa, a celebration of the harvest.
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Happy Pride month 2021!.NMI are proud to celebrate Pride month with our LGBTQ+ friends, family members & colleagues by flying the Pride Progress flag for the whole month of June. This flag is the newly adapted version of the Pride flag.
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Our #TuesdayTreasure is a Viking Sword discovered in Kilmainham, Dublin. Dated to the 9th C. the cross guard and pommel were made of intricate castings of gilt-copper alloy formed upon a core of iron and interwoven with silver rings and wires. It's a masterclass in craftsmanship.
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Viking Graves and Grave-goods in Ireland.The volume is the first comprehensive catalogue & detailed discussion of over 400 artifacts from more than a hundred furnished Viking graves in Ireland. #NMIShop #MuseumShop #vikinglife #Archaeology #Booktwitter.
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Clodagh Doyle, Keeper of the Irish Folklife Division, explains that on December 26, St. Stephen's Day, the ‘Wren Boys’, bands of men and boys in costume, went from house to house with a dead wren in a decorated box. Image courtesy @bealoideasucd.
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Today is the #SummerSolstice, the longest day of the year where we have the most sunlight. To celebrate follow our #TwitterTour by @NMIreland Archaeology Museum Educator @trisha_ryan exploring the connections between the sun & Irish #Archaeology #IrishMuseumsOnline
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The National Museum of Ireland is delighted to announce the reopening of three of our Museums to the public from 1pm on Monday, 10 May 2021. Details & FAQ of our re-opening included below.
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Mark the 900th anniversary of the creation of the Cross of Cong, one of Ireland's most iconic treasures by joining Dr Griffin Murray of UCC who will discuss : The Cross of Cong: the art, #archaeology & history of a #medieval Irish treasure @1pm 4th Oct.
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This week marks the 50th anniversary of the introduction of decimalisation in Ireland. Do you have a favourite design? Learn more about our coin collections here-
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The Roscrea Brooch is our #TuesdayTreasure. Cast in silver that is engraved with stylised fish and embellished with gold filigree panels and amber settings suggest it dates to the late ninth century. The presence of amber reflects how far trading routes reached in Viking times.
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The 1st of May or Bealtaine marked the beginning of summer in Ireland. Learn all about the Traditions & customs associated with May Day in Ireland with this interesting article by the Keeper of the Folklife collection at the NMI, Clodagh Doyle- .
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If you weren’t able make it to NMI-DecArts&Hist last night, Here are some photos of the Everywoman Project featuring images of trans women and non-binary femme identifying people.
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Happy #WorldWhaleDay! The Dead Zoo is excited to announce the 1st in its online series “Tales from the Decant: How to Dismantle a Whale Skeleton?” with @KeeperNH & @PaoloViscardi. Send Q's for this pre-recorded talk to educationnh@museum.ie by 2nd March. Broadcast date to follow!
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We can't wait to welcome you back to the National Museum of Ireland, on the 10th May! We have some "Earthshaking" plans for the coming months- so follow us here for updates #FillYourHeartWithIreland
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To celebrate the rising sun of the Winter #Solstice at Newgrange, join our special online tour of the Museum’s Prehistoric Ireland, Ór – Ireland’s Gold & The Treasury exhibitions on the shortest day of the year Monday 21st @ 4pm GMT
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Corrib Axes, 11th or early 12th century, found together in 2013 in an ancient sunken boat in Lough Corrib, Galway. All three handles were carved from cherry wood. Largest axe probably had a long handle for two-handed use. On display at NMI-Archaeology
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Even though most objects are displayed to see the 'front' of the object, it is important to look at all sides. Did you know that the back of the Ballyspellan Brooch has an Ogham inscription? #SecretMW #MuseumWeek
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This #Samhain, we invite you to share ghost stories that have been passed down through oral tradition in your locality. #folklorefriday.
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Shrine of the Miosach, Clonmany, #Donegal. late 11th Century AD, front panels show 3 saints said to represent: Patrick, Columba & Brigid.
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An entomologist at the National Museum of Ireland has discovered a rare collection of exotic insects belonging to the pioneering evolutionary theorist Alfred Russel Wallace. #Entomology #NaturalHistory #WednesdayWonders
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Discover the important crafts & traditions captured in the process of documenting Ireland's last surviving traditional wooden boatyard in our latest #MartimeHistory blog #FolkloreFriday #Tradition #BoatHistory #irishboats #museumblog
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Early Medieval Ireland is known for some of the finest metalworking objects of #IrishArchaeology, including the Ardagh Chalice, but what about the everyday objects used by people at the time? @AidanOSulliva15 explores the material of early Irish households.
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Our #TuesdayTreasure is the “Tara” brooch. This gilt silver annular brooch was in fact found at Betaghstown, Co. Meath in 1850. It is a masterpiece of early medieval metal-working: every technique known in the 8th century was employed and every conceivable surface is decorated.
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Carving of #StPatrick, early 16th C. AD. earliest representation of how the saint banished snakes from #Ireland, #StPatricksDay #Louth
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The name Hallowe'en derives from it being the evening before the Feast of All Saints. Carved turnips were popular for turning into scary lanterns & were placed on windowsills. The pumpkin that is prevalent today is an American development of this idea. #OícheShamhna, #Halloween
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Take a few moments to consider how generations past celebrated Christmas in Ireland. Many of these traditions & customs such as #mummers are represented in the National Folklife Collection on display in the National Museum of Ireland- Country Life.
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January 6th - Nollaig na mBan, Women’s Christmas, Little Christmas or the Feast of the Epiphany marks the end of the 12 Days of Christmas. Traditionally in #Ireland, #NollaignamBan is the day on which women would rest after catering to everyone during the Christmas festivities.
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6th/7th rare early medieval bronze handpin found recently by Denis Corbett, Newcastle West, Limerick. #Ireland
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We're delighted to announce a new exhibition!. Stones, Slabs and Seascapes: George Victor du Noyer’s Images of Ireland. Come see the exhibition at Collins Barracks Wed 6 Jun - Sun 30 Sep. More info:
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Join @Oeiny, National Museum of Ireland Curator for Traveller #Mincéirí Culture on #IrelandsHiddenTreasures on @RTEOne this Sunday 5th May at 6.30pm and learn about the importance of representation & inclusion of Traveller culture in the National Collections.
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If you can't make the excellent Queer History tour of Kilmainham Gaol in person, this online talk about #RogerCasement might be of interest
We still have a few places available for our Pride Month Queer History tours of the Gaol on Saturday, 17 June at 1pm and 4pm. Booking is via Eventbrite. #DublinPride #LGBT #PrideMonth #Pride2023 #PrideMonth2023
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To celebrate the rising sun of the Winter #Solstice at Newgrange, join our special online tour to discover how ancient monuments & archaeological objects are linked to celestial events. This tour was first broadcasted on Monday 21st December 2020 .
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The Vikings weapon of choice was the sword. Our #TuesdayTreasure is this silver mounted handle example which is the finest surviving specimen from Ireland and one of the most impressive anywhere. The blade was forged in the Rhineland region and the handle created in Scandinavia.
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May Flowers were picked on the evening before May Day. Yellow flowers, were especially popular, possibly as they reflected the sun & summer. Learn more Irish customs & practices What #Mayday customs are there in your community ?.
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This picture shows 14 hurling balls that are made of matted cow hair with a plaited horsehair covering. All were found through hand-cutting turf in #Irish bogs over the past 100 years!. #PlayMW #MuseumWeek
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Haystack built round a pole & eaten by cattle & sheep. Common west of Shannon. They serve as winter fodder. The animals eat out the butt of the stack & as they do so the upper part slips down the pole. Image from the NMI collections #MaterialCultureWinter.
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For the first time ever the Mincéirí Archive uncovers a history which has been covered by Ireland. This Collection of stories and lived experiences are gathered from #Mincéirí all over the Island of Ireland to gain a better understanding from the community
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Did you know there are more than 100 different bee species in Ireland, but only one that makes honey? .The Murmur of Bees/Crónán na mBeach is a new exhibition at the NMI – Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo runs to summer 2025. #Entomology.
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Halloween is fast approaching. Get into the spirit with Clodagh Doyle of the NMI as she discusses the Celtic roots of Hallowe'en, Samhain the Winter Festival, Irish death traditions, and so much more! It’s on today at 5pm GMT and it is FREE. Bookings @
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Image: Roman coins converted into pendants found during the excavations of the passages tomb at #Newgrange. Join our #WinterSolstice Tour on Saturday 21 December at 11am, NMI-Archaeology, Ages 8+, free admission. Booking required at educationarch@museum.ie
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Our #ThrowbackThursday is Robert Emmet's United Irishmen seal ring that was used to validate co-conspirators. The Indian emerald was a gift to his father. The design was cut in Dublin in the 1790’s and shows a woman playing a harp with pikes and a liberty cap in the background.
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Join us online @1pm on the 5th April when Prof. @AidanOSulliva15 of @ucdarchaeology will discuss life in Early #Medieval Ireland- book your free online ticket for this event here- #MedievalTwitter #EarlyMedievalIreland.
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Our Keeper of Irish Antiquities, Maeve Sikora speaks to @IrishTimes on the find of Four gold Bronze Age rings in Co Donegal via @IrishTimes.
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This cross was discovered in 2018. Imported from Whitby in North Yorkshire & is 1 of only 3 known from Ireland. It dates from the 11th – 12th century .AD. E4431:1101:789. See the online gallery of the Glendalough: Power, Prayer and Pilgrimage exhibition- .
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In colder countries like Ireland, much of our animal life seems to vanish during the long & dark winter months. We know that some birds migrate & many mammals hibernate. But what about the 11,500 different Irish insect species? #MaterialCulture #entomology #insectsinwinter
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23rd June, the eve of the feast day of St. John the Baptist, often called #Midsummer as it was close to the #summersolstice . Families would light #bonfires & throw lighted embers from the fire onto their fields in an effort to ensure a favourable harvest #bonfirenight
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We seeking applications from suitable candidates to fill the post of Photographer based in the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology, Design & Photography Department. This is a Full-Time Permanent position. Closing Date: 2 Aug 2024.
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We are delighted to reopen our beautiful Rotunda entrance at the National Museum of Ireland- Archaeology. Closed for essential building conservation works, carried out by our colleagues in @opwireland & we’d like to thank the team who oversaw the project.
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Beady pockets traditionally worn by Traveller women. Women swapped trinkets and buttons with other women to put on the pockets to remind them of places, events & people. This pocket was made by Mary McDonagh, Mayo. #FriendsMW #MuseumWeek
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We're looking for a Traveller Culture Collections Development Officer to work as part of the National Museum of Ireland Collections Team- Closing Date for applications: 19 Nov 2021 #MuseumJob
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Our #ThrowbackThursday is this unique 1905 Underwood typewriter with Irish characters. It was used to type the Irish versions of the letters between the Irish and the British government that lead to The Truce. We don’t know if the British had a cúpla focail.
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Cormac Bourke introduces his book "Early Medieval Handbells of Ireland and Britain" .#medievaltwitter #twitterstorians
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We would like to mark this national moment of togetherness with our lights from the grounds of the National Museum of Ireland- Decorative Arts & History #SHINEYOURLIGHT #LONRAIGHDOSHOLAS
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Celebrate the rising sun of the #WinterSolstice at #Newgrange by joining museum educator Patricia Ryan on a online tour to discover how ancient monuments & archaeological objects are linked to celestial events. Learn how passage tombs, such as Newgrange
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In the latest edition of the Traditional Boats of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way blog Damien Donnellan of @GalwayMuseum shares his research on the heritage of the Galway Hooker. #FolkloreFriday #Tradition #BoatHistory #GalwayHooker #irishboats
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The Keeper of Natural History @PaoloViscardi explains what the next development phase means for the National Museum of Ireland- Natural History aka Dead Zoo, and how you can see it before it closes on the 1st of September. #DeadZooDiary
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People believed that on #Halloween night the spirits of the dead would be on the move through the countryside. Hallowe’en masks were made ‘to frighten the living daylights out of people’ . This mask is made from pig skin & is from #Mayo. #OicheShamhna
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Seaweed is a much sought after commodity with many uses. Read how seaweed was harvested in the past in curator Noel Campbell’s latest blog post in the link below - .
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As part of #MuseumWeek we're reflecting on #HeroesMW & Dr. Kathleen Lynn is known for her prominent role in the Irish revolutionary years & Irish politics. However, she was also one of the first females to be a trained medical doctor in Ireland at that time.
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The National Museum of Ireland is home to the world’s greatest collection of objects related to Irish history & heritage. With collections spanning from prehistoric times to the present day. Sign up for our newsletter:
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Darren Collins, a Traveller & LGBT+ activist & Brid Murphy, Visual Artist, are taking over the NMI twitter a/c to show you their collaborative video installation ‘I Am’ which was completed as part of the CAMP project in 2019.
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Mrs. Kate O'Toole (aged 100), Mrs. Mary Ruddy (aged 24), her great granddaughter, and Michael Ruddy (aged 4), her great great grandson, outside her house at Baile Ur, near Gweesalia, Co. Mayo, 1955. @MayoDotIE #Mayo #MayoDay #WhenWeTravelAgain #HometoMayo
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Do you know an artist who wants to take inspiration from history & work with communities?.We are looking to engage an artist who wants to work on a collaborative & socially engaged residency over 2 years .
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This pair of slippers were donated in 1953 by Bridget O'Connor, who stated that they had been left in their house in Donnybrook by Michael Collins; Bridget and Batt O’Connor were good friends of Collins, & he stayed with them very frequently.
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Fans of the National Museum of Ireland- Natural History! Sign up to the National Museum of Ireland newsletter at the link below to be among the first to hear about some very exciting news- #DeadZooDiary
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We’re thrilled @MuseumModernArt has included this Aran jumper as one of 111 iconic fashion designs #ItemsMoMA
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