Day 37 - Museum of Country Life

About a week ago, someone we met happened to recommend the Museum of Country Life to us.  We knew the drive was about an hour, so we had it put it off.  Today, since we had no other plans, we decided to venture out to Turlough Park to check out the museum.

Turlough Park House build in 1865 - Once home to the Fitzgerald family who at one point owned 8500 acres of land in the county of Mayo

"Camper van"

This is how people travelled back in the day! The wealthy would have one made for them which cost quite a bit. Most people preferred to build their own.

"Camper van"

The chimney is for the stove that was used for cooking and also heated the inside.  These were mostly used for traveling in the summer months.

This is a wonderful spot to visit as a family, especially with younger children, and the best part is it's free for the adults and children.  We learned a lot about the Irish history, and the kids had a great time.  There are lots of items that are left out, and the you are encouraged to check them out up close and personal with a sign that says: "Please Touch".

Kian and Hannah posing with an Irish family in the attire they wore long ago.

Kian and I in some Irish clothing we were encouraged to try on by all the signs :)

The museum focuses a lot on the country life in Ireland, before and after the famine. There are a variety of different sections, such as: professions, agricultural tools, and basket weaving techniques.

Museum of Country Life

Kian chatting on an old phone

Museum of Country Life

Hannah having a blast with some woven straws and a stack of twigs.

Museum of Country Life

Hannah mailing a pretend letter

Museum of Country Life

Kian and Hannah with the taylor

Museum of Country Life

Kian churning butter

Museum of Country Life

Kian, Hannah, and Daddy in the play/children's activity area of the museum

I found the description for the school master most interesting:

"The master was the most respected man in the town, feared alike but his pupils and their parents.  His appearance in the noisiest streets brought immediate silence.  Most of his pupils came from very poor families and he was determined to make something of them whether they liked it or not. He knew what was good for them and even if it meant teaching by terror, they got it."

The Schoolmaster

The Schoolmaster

You can pick up this phone and press a button to hear the school master teach the alphabet with Irish words and their translation in english. You can follow along using the binder.

I also liked a few "fact" posters around the museum which talked about summer months, and how the poor would generally suffer in July, as the stored food would run out but the new crops were not quiet ready yet for harvest.  Makes you think about how much we take for granted! 

Summer

"A wet May and a dry June makes a farmer whistle a tune."

A Year of Life

Country people remembered the events of their lives by relating them to familiar milestones in the year.

There was a special exhibition about the police force in Ireland on the basement floor.  They had some gear and outfits on display, and they had a section for taking mug shots and doing finger prints. It was actually a fairly crowded section and we had to wait a bit, but we had Kian write his name on the little blackboards they had and do a mug shot.  The numbers for the height though didn't seem quite right, but it was all silly nonetheless.

Kian's mug shot

The museum grounds are also very beautiful and lots of fun for the kids. There are few sculptures around and many gorgeous flowers.

Kian trying to slurp up the lake with the straw - "The installation of the straw sculpture is intended to highlight the current issue of water charges and water equality in Ireland. The placement of the straw in the lake should remind people where their water comes from and how much of it is left". -Paul O'Driscoll (Artist and Musician in Mayo)

After the museum, we stopped in Westport on our way home and had dinner at a pizza restaurant, followed by dessert at the Maple Moose, a cute little place worth a visit.

Maple Moose

Maple Moose

Great Uncle Albert's picture on the wall. We also saw a few funny sayings on the walls/mirrors.

Maple Moose

Hannah loving her pink ice cream with sprinkles and marshmallows

Maple Moose

Kian enjoying his warmed up chocolate muffin

This was our last day of sightseeing in Ireland. Tomorrow we will have to start packing and saying goodbye to the good friends we have made here.