If you’re parent to a preschooler and looking for ideas for things to do, museums are a brilliant choice for a family day out. Many have interactive exhibits, trails or activity sheets designed especially for younger visitors, and best of all, most are free or low cost to visit. Because they’re indoors, they’re also perfect for a rainy day – and we get plenty of those here in Ireland!
Here are some of our favourite museums for preschoolers around Ireland, all ideal for a fun, easy day out with little ones.
Best Museums for Preschoolers in Ireland at a Glance
- National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology, Country Life, Decorative Arts & History, and Natural History
- The Round Tower Clondalkin, Dublin
- Dublinia
- Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA), Dublin
- National Gallery, Dublin
- Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin
- Crawford Art Gallery, Cork
- Birr Castle Demesne & Science Centre, Offaly
- Kerry County Museum
- Galway City Museum
- The Hunt Museum, Limerick
- Cavan County Museum
- Ulster Museum, Belfast
- Ulster Folk Museum
- Ulster Transport Museum
National Museum of Ireland Museums
There are four NMI Museums, three in Dublin and one in Mayo.
- National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology at Kildare Street, where you can see amazing artefacts including Sun Discs and Viking Swords;
- National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History at Collins Barracks, housing amongst other things Samurai Warrior Armour and a Vampire Plane;
- National Museum of Ireland – Natural History in Merrion Street, home to a polar bear and an elephant (stuffed, in case you were wondering!);
- At the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life Mayo in Castlebar, you can see the toys children played with in years gone by, and how families marked special occasions like Halloween and Christmas.
All four are ideal for preschoolers and free to visit. They have kids’ activity sheets which you can pick up on arrival, so it’s worth checking each museum’s events calendar before you go. They also run family events such as Hands On History, where your preschooler can touch replica items, dress up and learn from museum educators.
National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, Mayo
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Mum Niamh says: “The Museum of Country Life is perfect for all ages, especially the under-5s. I’ve been bringing my children since they were babies. The museum has a number of floors that display the way Ireland was through the ages.
“There’s a brilliant children’s corner with wooden toys and puzzles and soft cushions to relax on, overlooking the Castlebar River and Turlough Round Tower. The grounds have paths to explore the mature parklands, river and forest.
“The museum has a lovely café/restaurant with great choices for young children. Turlough House ground floor is also open to visit, furnished as it would have been when it was the original landlord’s house. The piece de resistance is the brilliant playground set in the forest.”
National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks
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Explore the Decorative Arts & History Museum through one of their family trails. Go on the Heritage Trail, find your Favourite Object, or explore the Soldiers & Chiefs exhibition with a family activity book.
There’s lots for preschoolers to enjoy, from finding out how children dressed and played long ago, to spotting the Vampire Jet and other jets from the Irish Air Corps in the Defending the Peace display in Soldiers and Chiefs.
National Museum of Ireland – Natural History
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The Natural History Museum, affectionately known as “The Dead Zoo,” is a great place for kids to learn about animals. The museum runs free family events and workshops on different themes throughout the year. There’s also a Wonder Cabinet, an interactive exhibition space that lets younger visitors examine the contents up close.
Mum Jaclyn says: “The Natural History Museum in Dublin is great. My kids loved wandering around and getting a close-up look at the animals.”
National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
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Mum Kellie says: “We recently visited the NMI Museum of Archaeology and the kids absolutely loved it, it is so well laid out. There are so many different sections to explore, as well as some temporary exhibitions that change from time to time.
“My preschooler particularly loved the Ancient Egypt area and the self-discovery areas where he could colour or listen to headphones. The museum is bright and spaced out with so much to look at. As a parent, I thought it was great as it takes time to explore all the areas – and it’s free.
“It’s only about a 10 minute walk from the Natural History Museum, so you can easily take in both places on the same day, and if the weather is good, Merrion Square has a playground too for a fun free day out!”
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The Round Tower Clondalkin, Dublin
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The Round Tower Clondalkin is one of only four remaining round towers in County Dublin. The visitor centre museum brings the story of the tower and the surrounding area to life through an interactive experience, spread across eight themed spaces in the refurbished 19th century Mill Cottages.
You can also enjoy the public gardens, exhibition and gallery space, plus a café with indoor and outdoor seating.
Dublinia
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At Dublinia you can travel back to Viking and Medieval Dublin, witness the sights and sounds, and unearth the city’s archaeology in the History Hunters exhibition.
A programme of family events takes place at weekends during the summer, including workshops and puppet shows.
Mum Elaine says: “We enjoyed visiting Dublinia – just be warned, there are some areas my preschooler daughter felt were creepy, because there are darkened rooms depicting life years ago, so we just went through a little faster if she was reacting to it. She did like that some exhibits are interactive, and sometimes they have actors doing real life scenarios to show what life was like.”
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Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA), Dublin
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Also known as IMMA, the Irish Museum of Modern Art is Ireland’s leading national institute for modern and contemporary art. They present a wide variety of exhibitions and drop-in arts and crafts workshops throughout the year, including EXPLORER Family Workshops on Sundays, where you can get creative together as a family and enjoy a hands-on workshop in the galleries.
Mum Elaine says: “The grounds at IMMA are amazing for looking around and playing, almost like an Alice in Wonderland setting. They have varying exhibitions that can be interactive for children, as in touch and feel. Their café has a nice toddler play area too, in the basement.”
National Gallery, Dublin
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The National Gallery in Merrion Square houses the national collection of Irish and European art. They host regular drop-in family sessions, art-making workshops and family-friendly tours tailored to engage young visitors.
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Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin
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Hugh Lane Gallery on Parnell Square houses a collection of contemporary art, alongside dynamic temporary exhibitions. There’s a children’s area and learning resource centre where kids and families can explore the exhibitions together at their own pace.
They also hold regular children’s workshops, including Saturday art classes, so it’s worth checking what’s on before you visit, as some sessions require pre-booking.
Crawford Art Gallery, Cork
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Dedicated to visual arts, both historic and contemporary, Crawford Art Gallery is a National Cultural Institution and regional art museum for Munster.
Admission is free, and they host regular exhibitions, education programmes and family events, including art classes for children and summer courses.
Birr Castle Demesne & Science Centre, Offaly
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The Science Centre and Observatory at Birr Castle has many interactive displays, covering early photography, engineering and astronomy.
Here you’ll also find The Great Telescope, built in the early 1840s by the Third Earl of Rosse. It was the largest reflecting telescope in the world for more than 70 years, and people travelled from all over the world to see it – it’s considered one of Ireland’s greatest scientific wonders.
Families can take on quests around the grounds, and afterwards head to the playground, which includes one of the largest treehouses in Ireland, along with sandpits and more.
Tip: Leave time to visit Ireland’s largest treehouse in the grounds of the castle!
Kerry County Museum
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Kerry County Museum is full of interesting exhibits and historic artefacts, with plenty of fun activities for families. Each object tells its own story, from a sunflower pin worn in the Bronze Age to duelling pistols used by Daniel O’Connell in the early 19th century.
Located in Tralee’s Ashe Memorial Hall, the museum houses various exhibits, including the award-winning Antarctica Exhibition depicting Annascaul man Tom Crean’s Antarctic journey, and the excellent Geraldine Experience.
Tip: Kids can follow Pangur Bán’s Trail through the museum to make their visit extra special.
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Galway City Museum
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Galway City Museum has three floors of exhibitions covering the archaeology, history and sea science of Galway. The Sea Science Wild Atlantic Exhibition is interactive, taking you from the rocky shore to the ocean depths to explore the wonders of our marine world, from how the moon affects the tides, to who eats whom in the ocean depths.
The museum has activity sheets in English and Irish, plus colouring sheets for younger kids, and there’s a lovely café for a bite to eat after your visit.
The Hunt Museum, Limerick
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At The Hunt Museum in Limerick, they hold a Kids’ Arts and Crafts Club on the first Sunday of every month, where children learn new skills through a fun project with parents. Each month brings a new theme and craft.
There are also drop-in arts and crafts sessions on the remaining Sundays, where kids create crafts linked to objects in the museum’s collection, alongside a short tour to learn more about them.
Cavan County Museum
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Cavan County Museum is located in Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan. It houses a medieval dug-out boat and sheela-na-gigs, alongside galleries on folk life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Great Famine, Percy French and the GAA. There’s also a children’s playground, garden, shop and tea rooms on site.
Tip: Be sure to visit the World War 1 Trench Experience, the largest outdoor replica WW1 trench open to the public in Ireland and the UK.
Ulster Museum, Belfast
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Ulster Museum, located in Belfast’s Botanic Gardens, has free admission and exhibits to excite, teach and satisfy all ages, with collections from all corners of the globe.
On display is the skeleton of an Edmontosaurus, and in the Deep Time gallery you can wow your child with the only dinosaur bones ever found in Ireland.
Tip: Pick up a free kids’ explorer map, complete with stickers, in the welcome area, to help plan your way around the museum.
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Ulster Folk Museum
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When you visit Ulster Folk Museum, you can walk around houses set as they would have been in the early 1900s. The museum sits in extensive grounds, and you can spend a whole day exploring the various rural buildings.
Kids will love the secret door between the Bank Manager’s house and the bank, as well as the old school room. Explore thatched cottages, farms, schools and shops as you experience life from over 100 years ago, talk to costumed guides demonstrating traditional crafts, and meet farm animals in the parkland.
Ulster Transport Museum
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Your train or car-mad preschooler will love the Transport Museum, with its brightly painted trains, Titanica exhibition and transport café. Discover more than 500 original artefacts, climb on and off majestic steam locomotives, and explore horse-drawn carriages, electric trams, boats, motorbikes, fire engines and vintage cars.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are museums in Ireland free for preschoolers?
Many of Ireland’s national museums and galleries, including the National Museum of Ireland sites, IMMA, the National Gallery, Ulster Museum and Ulster Folk Museum, offer free admission. Some regional and specialist museums charge an entry fee, so it’s worth checking before you go.
What age is suitable for visiting a museum with kids?
Most of the museums on this list welcome children of all ages, including babies and toddlers. Many have quiet corners, soft play spaces or interactive trails specifically designed with under-5s in mind, making them ideal for a preschooler’s first museum visits.
Do Irish museums have activities for toddlers and preschoolers?
Yes, many museums provide activity sheets, colouring sheets, family trails and hands-on workshops aimed at younger visitors. It’s a good idea to check each museum’s website or events calendar in advance, as workshops sometimes require booking.
Are these museums a good option for a rainy day?
Definitely. Since most of these museums are indoors, they’re a brilliant choice for a rainy day out with young children, combining shelter with plenty to see, touch and explore.
Related Articles
- Best Museums in Ireland to Take Kids To
- 10 Fascinating Artefacts Not to Be Missed at the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
- 11 Unique Animals to Spot at NMI Natural History
- The MyKidsTime Ultimate Guide to Dublin for Families
- 10 Terrific Places to See Dinosaurs in Ireland
- Amazing Art Places for Kids to Get Creative in Ireland
Looking for more free and low-cost days out? Browse our full collection of family-friendly things to do around Ireland for more ideas the whole family will enjoy.
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