Easter Hours
Galway City Museum will open Sundays, 12pm – 5pm commencing Easter Sunday 5 April 2026.
Iarsmaí na Gaillimhe
Galway in Objects
Galway in Objects is a project for schools that explores museum objects and their stories and encourages learning through creativity.
Galway City Museum has developed bespoke resources for each of the objects below to help teachers to use artefacts to inspire close observation and critical thinking and a range of activities that promote and encourage creative responses. There are also short films with experts and photographs than can be used in the classroom to support the learning process. The material can be used independently or, ideally, in conjunction with a visit to the Museum.
Watch this short film about the Galway in Objects project (5 mins).
Discover the Objects
About Galway in Objects
Researched and developed by the Museum Education Officer, with the input of primary school teachers and arts and creativity educators, the Galway in Objects project facilitates deeper interaction with museum objects, inspires close observation and critical thinking, and encourages creative responses, such as imaginative writing, storyboarding, drama, drawing and craftwork. Created for the classroom, it is envisaged the resources and activities will be used in conjunction with a visit to the Museum to see the objects in ‘real life’.
The resources and activities have been developed to support the upper primary school curriculum in the areas of History, Geography, English, Gaeilge, and Arts Education (Visual Arts, Drama and Music), but they can be adapted by teachers to suit the needs of older or younger learners.
Among the key aims of the projects are: to teach about the events and personalities that have formed the character of Galway; to develop civic awareness and increase a sense and pride of place; to spark curiosity and support critical thinking; to develop historical empathy; the improve the ability of the pupils to shape their own view and perspectives on history, culture and art; to stimulate imagination, memory and cognition through the sensory experience associated with thinking about objects.
Acknowledgements
Galway City Museum would like to thank principals Carmel Burns (SN Bhaile Chláir na Gaillimhe) and Mark Hannon (Carnaun NS), teachers Darragh Moran and Vincent Daly, artist JoJo Hynes and drama facilitator Órla McGovern for their input and support for this project.
The photographs used in this project are courtesy of their respective copyright holders: British Museum; Connacht Tribune; Derek Buddulph; Dublin City Library and Archive; Galway Advertiser; Irish Press; John Breslin of Old Ireland in Colour; John Midgley; Library of Congress; National Folklore Collection, UCD; National Library of Ireland; National Museums Scotland; Phyllis Power; Thomas O Toole; Tom Kenny; and Stephen Ferguson of An Post.
Galway in Objects has been funded by Creative Ireland through Galway City Council.
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