National Museum of Ireland - Country Life & Turlough Park House

The National Museum of Ireland – Country Life is located 8 kilometres east of Castlebar and 10 minutes drive from The Ellison. Established in 2001, the museum is part of the National Museum of Ireland and is the only national museum outside of Dublin.The museum exhibits the way of life of rural Irish people from 1850 and is in the grounds of Turlough Park House.

Turlough Park House and National Museum of Ireland - Country Life is located on 37 acres of landscaped Victorian Gardens, which include many rare trees, shrubs and fine broad-leaved mature trees and is home to a special type of greenhouse for grapevines and other fruiting plants. The house was built in 1863 on an elevated plateau overlooking a dried up artificial lake, which contains three islands, relaxing trails surround the gardens for that leisurely stroll, taking in all that nature has to offer.

Admission is free into the museum, house and gardens, opening times are Sunday and Monday 1.00pm - 5.00pm and Tuesday to Saturday 10.00am - 5.00pm. Visitors will be enlightened and will see historical artefacts which show how domestic life, agriculture, clothing, furniture, trades, transport, sports and religion were back then. This will be a unique experience where visitors will see how Ireland was compared to how it now is. It guarantees to attract and hold the attention and interest of visitors.
For more information on the events that are taking place please visit: www.museum.ie 

Brambles Café is located in a charming courtyard setting in the old stable block of Turlough Park House. Serving hot and cold snacks, lunches, homemade desserts, ice cream and speciality teas and coffees, the café is open Sunday and Monday 1.00pm - 5.00pm and Tuesday to Saturday 10.00am - 5.00pm. Brambles Café is the perfect place to relax and refresh during your visit to the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life and Turlough Park House. If the weather is nice, visitors can also enjoy the outdoor seating area in the courtyard. 

For the little ones - The recently completed Playground on the Grounds of Turlough Park House & the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life  has won the award for best Public Playground in Southern Ireland. The playground was opened in May 2018 and is located in a wooded corrie and the design of the playground equipment takes into account the special, scenic nature of the location. Play equipment includes swings, a slide, playhouse, monkey bars and natural stone climbing steps.