December 2023

The National Museum of Country Life is hosting a merry array of events for the 2023 Christmas.

On Saturday 2nd December there will be an interesting talk: “Christmas and its Tradition” by Professor Salvador Ryan.

The presentation takes participants on a journey through the familiar aspects of Christmas. They will learn and understand the meaning behind Christmas carols, cards, and plays, having a bit of fun along the way.

A Christmas Carol by Ocean of Notions Productions will be performed in the Victorian setting of Turlough Park on Saturday, 9th December, at 1 pm and 3 pm, and on Sunday, 10th December, at 1 pm.

It is an extraordinary adaptation of the famous tale written by Charles Dickens.

Christmas Carols in the Galleries will take place on Saturday 16th December at 3 pm. The performing choir is the Rocks'n'Roses Choir, a very special group made up entirely of cancer survivors.

Christmas Carols will be back again on Sunday 17th December at 3 pm. Two Mayo leading choral groups, the Mayo Male Voice Choir and the Cill Aodain Choral Society, will perform classic and contemporary Christmas carols, as well as choral pieces.

There will be a live crib in the Courtyard of Turlough Park House.

This traditional Christmas scene will come to life with the help of animals from Kiltimagh Pet Farm.

Visitors will learn about sheep, goats, cows and donkeys.

LIve crib times will be as follows:

11 am to 4 pm, Saturday, 9 December

1 pm to 4 pm, Sunday, 10 December

11 am to 4 pm, Saturday, 16 December

1 pm to 4 pm, Sunday, 17 December

Also, a special challenge will wait for all children.

The museum needs help finding 12 Christmas decorations that are lost in the exhibition galleries.

Children will follow clues to solve this fun, treasure hunt-style activity.

In the galleries, the Life in the Community exhibition will showcase Christmas traditions like Mummers and Wren Boys.