National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park — Attraction in County Mayo

💯 % recommend. What a fabulous experience. I was surprised with every exhibit. The entire site is steeped in history, and all exhibits are well laid out, easy to see. Good staff who are helpful and informative. There was an enormous selection and an eclectic collection of Irish history items. The house was fantastic and beautifully restored, so much to see in only a few rooms. The tourist shop products were of high quality. The cafe was good too. A definite re visit, so much to see. Access was very good throughout, and toilet facilities were good.

Room for improvements with only a little cost, with major benefits. Exhibits should be individually numbered, so they correspond with the lists throughout the entire museum. At times, it was hard to know what item related to what on the list. In the house itself, it was SAD to have 3/4 of the rooms used as offices instead of being open to the public and offices put outside where they should be. Household contents and wallpaper harpsichord, fireplaces, etc, could have descriptions if there is no guided tour available. The glass house needs a lot of TLC but beautiful all the same. Path way from glasshouse should be extended and flooding remedied. Finally, the small thatch cottage near the car park needs urgent repair before the wattle inside is destroyed and...

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Visiting the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life at Turlough Park was a genuinely moving experience. The mix of old and new architecture—the sleek museum galleries nestled beside the Victorian Gothic Turlough Park House—creates a magical contrast that draws you right in.

Inside, the exhibits are thoughtfully arranged across four floors, offering a vivid look at rural Irish life from 1850 to 1950. You’ll find everything from handwoven textiles and farming tools to folklore traditions and calendar customs. It feels both educational and deeply personal

Outside, the grounds are simply breathtaking. Thirty-seven acres of award‑winning gardens, lakeside walks, woodland trails, and a restored glasshouse make it a peaceful retreat. Keep an eye out for the ancient round tower and art installations tucked among the greenery .

Staff here really bring the place to life—they’re warm, welcoming, and clearly proud of what they do. And with free admission, it’s an accessible yet enriching day out .

If you haven’t been yet, make time for this. It’s a beautiful step back in time, a breath of fresh air, and a gentle celebration of our country’s heritage—all...

Free enterance. Loads of childrens activities, such as finding the animals in level c and trying out clothing from the old times. Sitting in wicker basket chairs or benches and finding a lttle mouse. The grounds are worth a visit. Loads of wildlife and there is a small house where all the different building styles are explained and not to forget the greenhouse, which has a great selection of cactuses. RTE has a great collection of donations that represents Irish life. It's a shame that they are no longer collecting. Since this could be a great permanant shifting display and originally why we came. The cafe has a great selection and has chicken pancakes. Vegestable roulade with a wide variety of salads. It looks very clean and there are plenty of workers making sure the wait is short. Loads of different teas, coffees and seating area. The shop is wellstocked and not too pricy. The lady behind the counter was very service minded and made a wonderful deal out of my daughter, which was very aprieciated. There is also a manor house on the grounds, which unfortunantly was closed due to unforseen circumstances during our visit. You could easily spend 3-4 hours...