Museums outside Dublin

There are many other interesting museums outside Dublin. Here's a list of the most important ones.

Newgrange and Knowh Visitor Centre
Museum that interprets the Neolithic monuments of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth. The extensive exhibition includes a full scale replica of the chamber at Newgrange as well as a full model of one of the smaller tombs at Knowth.

Opening Hours: March - April; Daily 09.30 - 17.30, May: Daily 09.00 - 18.30, June - Mid Sept: Daily 09.00 - 19.00, Mid - End Sept: Daily 09.00 - 18.30, October: Daily 09.30 - 17.30, Nov - Feb: Daily 09.30 - 17.00.

Admission: adult/senior/child/family
Exhibition: 2.90/2.10/1.60/7.40
Exhibition and Newgrange: 5.80/4.50/2.90/14.50
Exhibition and Knowth: 4.50/2.90/1.60/11.00
Exhibition and Newgrange and Knowth: 10.30/7.40/4.50/25.50

Greenan Farm Museums and Maze
Working farm museum with real farm animals and a maze

Opening Hours: May/June: Tue-Sun 10am-6pm, Juyy/Aug dailly, 10am-6pm, September: Sun 10am-6pm

Donaghmore Famine Workhouse Museum
Portlaoise, Co. Laoise
Donaghmore Famine Workhouse Museum is a unique attraction in Co. Laois, Ireland and aims to tell the story of the families who lived and died within the Famine Workhouse walls before, during and after the Famine. The Museum uses guided and self-guided tours combined with various exibits to explain the socio-economic conditions which led to the establishment of this and other Workhouses. Visitors to the Museum can also view the agricultural collection made up of a wide range of artefacts donated by local people.

Strokestown Park House - Famine Museum
Strokestown, Co. Roscommon
Strokestown Park was built by Thomas Mahon MP and was the family home of the Mahon family until 1979. The Great Irish famine of the 1840's is now regarded as the single greatest social disaster of 19th century Europe. The Famine Museum is located in the original Stable Yards of Strokestown Park House. It was designed to commemorate the history of The Great Irish Famine of the 1840's and in some way to balance the history of the 'Big House'.

King House
Boyle, Co. Roscommon

King House is a beautifully restored Georgian Mansion built around 1730. After its first life as a home, King House became a military barracks to the famous Connaught Rangers. In more recent years King House has also been a barracks for the Irish Army. Even today there still remains an Army presence as the Reserve Defence Force are based in the West Wing of the House.

Opening Hours: April-Sept 10am-6pm
Admission: 7 Euro, conc 5 Euro, children 4 Euro, family 18 Euro

www.kinghouse.ie

Francis Ledwidge Centre
Slane, Co. Meath
The poet Francis E Ledwidge lived in this cottage that was restored to house his work and artefacts from the First World War. It is surrounded bu a garden where a monument has been erected that has a duplicate in Belgium, where the poet was killed in battle.

Open 7 days a week, 10.00am to 1.00pm & 2.00pm to 5.30pm.
www.francisledwidge.com

Claddagh Ring
Quay Street, Galway
Museum with large gift shop, exhibiting the first claddagh rings made between 1700 and 1800 and explains the production process.
www.claddaghring.ie/museum.html

Muckross House
Killarney, Co. Kerry
Located in the Killarney National Park, Muckcorr house and Gardens attract many visitors every year. Much of the house has been restored, but the main draw are the beautiful gardens, particularly in April, May and June, when the mature Phododendrons are in bloom. Adjacent to the house are Muckross Traditional Farms that exhibit traditional farming methods and recreate the life in a rural community in the 1930s. The Walled Garden also included craft shops, restaurant and giftshop.
www.muckross-house.ie/intro.htm

The Seanchai - Kerry Literary and Cultural Centre
Listowel, Co. Kerry
Audio-visual museum presenting the work of great Kerry writers in a Georgian residence in Listowel focusing on the writings of national and internationally renowned literary figures.
Guide available in 6 languages – English, French, German, Spanish, Italia & Japanese.
Guided tours are available for group bookings.
www.kerrywritersmuseum.com/

Kerry Bog Village
Glenbeigh, Co. Kerry
Located on the Ring of Kerry, the Kerry Bog Museum shows how people lived and worked in the 18th century. The cottages are exact replicas of those built in the early 19th century, including a blacksmith's forge, turf cutters' house, stables and dairy house, hen's house, laborour cotage and thatcher's dwellgin.
www.kerrybogvillage.ie

Inishown Maritime Museum and Planetarium
Inishowen, Co. Donegal
Located in the former coastguard station with views of Lough Foyle and County Derry. Covers maritime history and emigration.
www.inishowenmaritime.com

The Guns of Dunree
Inishowen, Co. Donegal
Fort Dunree Military Museum exhibits an exciting display of military memorabilia as well as several large guns from the 20th century. Visual and interactive displays explain the history of the fort. You can also view local wildlife from the fort and in the surrounding areas.
www.dunree.pro.ie

Glebe House and Gallery
Churchill, Co. Letterkenny
Housed in a Regency House and set in woodland gardens, decorated with William Morris textiles, Islamic and Japanese art etc. The collection includes 300 works by  20th century artists such as Picasso, Kokoshka and many others.
Opening Hours: June-Sept: Sat-Thu 11am-6.30pm
Admission to gallery is free of charge. Admission to house 2.90 Euro, conc 2.10 Euro, child 1.30 Euro
Guided tours of 45 minutes duration available.

Railway Museum
Castlerea, Co. Roscommon
Largest private collection of railway memorabilia including an A55 Diesel Locomotive, bells, lamps, shunting poles, signal equipment and station boards.
Opening Hours: 12pm-6pm

Galway City Museum
The museum houses three floors of exhibits and information panels, relating the story of Galway from medieval times to the modern day.

The ground floor tells the story of contemporary Galway, with special emphasis on the role that the arts play in the city.

The first floor brings medieval Galway life in a very contemporary way, while the second floor houses an exhibition on the Claddagh village, from post famine times to the early part of the last century.

Opening Hours: June-Sept: Mon-Sun 10am-5pm, Oct-May: Tue-Sat 10am-5pm

Nora Barnacle House Museum
Bowling Green, Galway
The house was built in the 1800s and is the smallest house in the street, its accommodation consists of two rooms and a tiny back yard. The ground floor room served as a kitchen, dining room, and often a bedroom. Cooking was done over an open fire, in pot ovens and on large griddles. water was drawn from a pump across the street as the house did not receive its own supply until the 1940's. The tiny back yard may have served as an extended kitchen in summer time. The upstairs room was a communal bedroom. Small houses like this one sometimes served very large families and the sleeping arrangements were divided between the two rooms. At the turn of the century Nora lived here with her mother and six younger Barnacle children, until she left Galway in 1904 for Dublin.

Kiltartan Gregory Museum and Millennium Park
Gort, Co. Galway
This museum tracks the history of the Gregory family , and in particular Lady Augusta Gregory during whose time Coole became a meeting place for artists and writers. It is located in a National School built in 1892.
Opening Hours:
June-August: 10am -6pm
rest of year: 1pm-5pm
www.gortonline.com/gregorymuseum

Pearse Cottage
Inbhear, Co. Galway
Used by Patrick Pearse, leader of the1916 Rising, as a summer residence and summer school for his pupils from St Endas, in Dublin. The interior, burnt in the war, has been reconstructed and contains an exhibition.
Opening Hours: End of May-Sept: 10am-6pm
Admission: 1.60 Euro, seniors 1.10 Euro, child/student 1 Euro, family 4.50 Euro

The James Mitchell Museum
University College Galway
Contains a collection of minerals, fossils and rocks in the main quadrangle of the college. It acts as a resource for reserachers and visitors.

Clare Museum
Located in a former Sisters of Mercy school and chapel, the Clare Museum houses the Riches of Clare exhibition as well as a collection of local and national historical artefacts.
Opening Hours: Oct-May: Tue-Sat 9.30am-1pm and 2pm-5pm, June-Sept: Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun 9.30am-1pm
Admission is free

Clare Heritage Center
Corofin, Co. Clare
Museum telling the story of 19th century Ireland, with focus on the Famine and emigration, landlords and tenants and traditional music and culture.
Opening Hours: April to October, 9.30am -5.30pm
clare.irish-roots.net/museum.htm

Hunt Museum
Limerick
Displaying one of Ireland's greatest private collections of art and antiquities, dating from the Neolithic to the 20th Century, including works by Renoir, Picasso and Yeats plus regular visiting exhibitions.
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 2pm-5pm
www.huntmuseum.com

Foynes Flying Boat Museum
Foynes, Co. Limerick
In 1939 the 'Yankee Clipper', Pan Am's luxury Flying boat, landed in Foynes - this was the first commercial passenger flight from the US to Europe. For some years, Foynes became the focal point of air travel between the continents. Today, you can still see the Boeing 314 in the museum.
http://flyingboatmuseum.com/

Irish Horse Museum
Irish National Stud, Tully, Co. Kildare
Exhibition of the story of horses and equine sports and horse racing.
Opening Hours: daily 9.30am-5pm
Admission (includes a guided tour of the stud, entrance to the Japanes garden and St. Fiachra's Garden):  €10.50, concs €8.00, family  €27.00, children under 16 years €6.00, children under 5 are free

Steam Museum
Straffan, Co. Kildare
Housed in a church, the museum contains a collection of steam locomotive models, steam engines and pumpin engines, including those used in the Midleton and Jameson whiskey distilleries.
Opening Hours: June-Aug: Wed to Sun 2pm-6pm, rest of year by appointment only
Admission (includes Walled Garden): 7.50 Euro, Conc 5 Euro, Family ticket 20 Euro

The Lodge Park Walled Garden
Straffan, Co. Kildare
Gardens surrounding 18th century Lodge Park with different sections including many rare and unusual plants.
Opening Hours: June-Aug: Wed - Sun 2pm-6pm, May and September by appointment only
Admission (includes Steam Museum): 7.50 Euro, Conc 5 Euro, Family ticket 20 Euro

Locke's Distillery Museum
Kilbeggen, Westmeath
Museum of Industrial Archaeology showing how whiskey was made in the past. Over 90% of the original machinery has now been restored and can be seen working daily. Visitors can learn about the work and lives of the people that worked there, and view the 1887 steam engine. Tour includes complimentary tasting of whiskey.
www.cooleywhiskey.com/_companyprofile/museum.shtml

Cork Butter Museum
O’Connell Square, Cork
Museum focusing on the dairy culture that has long established roots in Ireland, including the time of the Saints. Also describes the Butter Exchange in 19th century Cork and the modern success of Kerrygold.
Opening hours: March-Oct 10am-5pm, July-Aug 10am-6pm
www.corkbutter.museum

Allihies Copper Mine Museum
Allihies, West Cork
open 10 am to 5 om Aom-Fri
open 12 pm to 5 pm Sat/Sun
Exploring the mining industry that was established after copper was discovered in 1812 with visual displays and computer terminals located inside a Methodist church.
www.acmm.ie/index.php

Ballindoolin House and Gardens
Edenderry, Co. Offaly
Housed in a resotred farm building, the museum diplays a range of items from the house including old books and letters as well as  a collection of bird's eggs and other historical artefacts.
Opening Hours: May to July, Wed-Sat 12-6pm
www.ballindoolin.com/museum.html

Beaulieu House and Gardens
Drogheda, Co. Louth
One of the most beautiful historic houses in Ireland that has been in the same family since 1650. Guided tours available. Also featuring a car museum established by Gabriel DeFreitas who was one of the top ranking Irish lady racing drivers.
www.beaulieuhouse.ie

Millmount Museum and Martello Tower
Drogheda, Co. Louth
Exhibitions in the museum range from industrial and geological collections to displays to diplays of military history and archaeology.
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm, Sun and Bank Holidays 2pm-5pm
Admission: 3.50 Euro Museum, 3 Euro Tower, Museum and Tower: 5.50 Euro; discounts for children, OAPs and students
www.millmount.net

Birr Castle
Birr, Co. Offaly
Birr Castle focuses on the Parsons family and their contributions to astronomy, photography, engineering and botany. Regular events, particularly science for children.
www.birrcastle.com

Fairbrook House
Kilmeaden, Co. Waterford
Museum of contemporary figurative art and gardens. A former mill that has been transformed by Dutch artists Wout Muller and Clary Mastenbroek to include a walled garden and a gallery.
Opening Hours: May-Sept by appointment only, closed Mon and Tue
Admission 7 Euro
www.fairbrook-house.com

Cavan County Museum
Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan
The museum diplays the Killycluggin stone and the Corleck Head, both fine examples of Celtic spirituality. It als  houses a medieval  boat as well as a Folk Life gallery. Newly-opened galleries deal with topics as diverse as the Great Famine, Percy French and the Lords Farnham. Temporary exhibitions show the work of local and national artists.
www.cavanmuseum.ie

Museums of Mayo
Association of museums in County Mayo that explore the heritage of this part of Ireland
www.museumsofmayo.com

Waterford Treasures
Displaying the treasures of Ireland's oldest city in audiovisual and interactive displays.
Sound guides available.
Opening Hours: June-Aug 9.30am-9pm, April, May and Sept: 9.30am-6pm, Oct-March 10am-5pm
Admission: 4 Euro, Conc 3 Euro, Children 2 Euro
www.waterfordtreasures.com

Desmond Castle and Wine Museum
Kinsale
The roots of the Wine Geese lie in the flight of the "Wild Geese", the soldiers who fled from Ireland to France after the Treaty of Limerick in 1691. During the 18th and 19th centuries many thousands followed these soldiers for political and economic reasons. Many made their living in the wine trade. Desmond Castle has now been restored to maintain their history and the museum of wine.
Opening hours: from Easter to Oct: 10am-6pm
Admission: 2.90, conc 2.10 Euro, children/students 1.30 Euro, families 7.40 Euro
www.winegeese.ie

Cobh Museum
Cobh, Co. Cork
Cobh Museum is housed in a former Scots Scots Presbyterian Church built in 1854 to accommodate the growing Presbyterian congregation in the town. It opened i n 1973 and displays the cultural, social and maritime history of Cobh.
Opening hours: March to October, Mon-Sat 11am-1pm and 2pm-5.30pm, Sun 2.30-5pm.
Most of the original features of the Church have been preserved, including the pulpit, bible, harmonium, lectern and pews. 

Ulster Folk Museum
Cultra, Co. Down
The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, voted Irish Museum of the Year, illustrates the way of life and the traditions of the people of the north of Ireland. Set in over 170 acres the outdoor Folk Museum tells the story of life in early 20th century Ulster. Almost 50 exhibits have been acquired by the Museum from all over Ulster and restored and authentically furnished. The Open Air Museum is complemented by the Folk Galleries which show how food, farming, everyday occupations and lifestyles have changed through time. The adjoining Transport Museum, one of the finest in Europe, displays Ireland's largest and most comprehensive transport collection, from horse-drawn carts to Irish built motor cars, and from the mighty steam locomotives that graced our railways to the history of ship and aircraft building. Permanent exhibitions of international acclaim also include Titanic and X2 Flight Experience.

Opening hours: March-June: Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat/Sun 10am-6pm, July-Sept: Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-6pm, Oct-Feb: Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm