Mayo museum upcoming free events: Bears, Brigid and Celtic myths

The National Museum of Ireland at Turlough Park, Castlebar, is inviting the local community and visitors alike to explore a wide range of free talks, workshops and exhibitions over the coming weeks, ranging from Ireland’s ancient wildlife to the traditions of St Brigid and contemporary Celtic-inspired art.

One of the highlights is a special talk on the long-forgotten presence of brown bears in Ireland. Former Keeper of Natural History at the National Museum of Ireland, Nigel Monaghan, will present Bears in Ireland: Fossil Clues of Forgotten Giants from 3pm to 4pm on Saturday, January 24.

The talk will explore fossil evidence, cave discoveries and links between bears and Irish folklore, tracing how these powerful animals shaped the island’s natural history up to 3,000 years ago.

Museum visitors can also meet “Beir Bua”, a striking mounted brown bear from Alaska featured in The Murmur of Bees. The female bear, displayed standing on her hind legs with outstretched claws, highlights the historic connection between bears, bees and honey — reflected in the ancient Irish word milchobur, meaning “honey-lover”. Brown bears once roamed widely across Ireland before becoming extinct thousands of years ago.

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St Brigid’s Day, which marks the beginning of spring in the traditional Irish calendar on February 1, will be celebrated with a series of family-friendly events over the bank holiday weekend.

On Saturday, January 31, visitors can take part in two free drop-in workshops to learn how to make a traditional St Brigid’s cross, running from 2pm to 3pm and from 3.30pm to 4.30pm. The sessions are suitable for all ages, with places allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Also on January 31, Clodagh Doyle, Keeper of the National Folklife Collection, will deliver a talk from 12 noon to 1pm examining the many objects associated with the celebration of St Brigid’s Day. These include more than 300 St Brigid’s crosses from across Ireland, as well as Brídeoga dolls, Biddy Boy costumes and brat Bríde fabric strips. The talk is suitable for adults and children aged 12 and over. Admission is free, but booking is required.

Complementing these events, a spring display titled Out of Storage: St Brigid’s Crosses will showcase a selection of crosses from the National Folklife Collection, demonstrating the wide range of materials and styles used to create these symbols of blessing and protection.

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Animal heritage will also feature in early February with a talk on the folklore of animal care. Emeritus Professor Michael Doherty, former Dean of UCD’s School of Veterinary Medicine, will speak from 3pm to 4pm on Saturday, February 7, drawing on his research into traditional knowledge surrounding cattle and sheep. The talk is linked to the Antique Veterinary Objects exhibition and is free to attend, with advance booking required.

Art lovers can meanwhile explore Celtic Tales by Warrior’s Hand, a new exhibition in the Courtyard Gallery showcasing work by artists from the Luisne Art Project in Ballinrobe. Developed in collaboration with facilitator Noreen Lydon and guest mentors Michael Gannon and Ruby Staunton, the exhibition celebrates Celtic stories, symbolism and imagination through a vibrant collection of artworks.

Admission to the National Museum of Ireland – Turlough Park House & Gardens is free.

Exhibition galleries are open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and Sunday to Monday from 1pm to 5pm.

For events requiring booking, visitors can contact BookingsCountryLife@museum.ie or telephone +353 (0)94 9031751.