Armagh County Museum - Family Craft and Discovery Workshops

Armagh County Museum runs free family workshops throughout summer 2026, giving children a hands-on way into one of Ireland’s oldest and most varied collections. Based on The Mall - the elegant Georgian green at the centre of Armagh city - the museum has been drawing in curious visitors since 1937, and the summer programme is one of the more relaxed ways to spend an afternoon there with primary-school-aged kids. Activities are drop-in, free, and rooted in whatever is actually on the shelves and in the cases around you.

What to expect

Typical sessions run from 12pm on weekend afternoons and might involve craft activities inspired by the natural history or art galleries, themed trails through the rooms, dressing up in historical costumes, or settling in for some storytelling. There is a touch table where children can handle objects from the collection rather than just look at them. The tone is exploratory rather than instructional - the museum is not large, but what it holds is genuinely eclectic: bog oak jewellery, 19th-century police uniforms, fans from across three centuries, Irish wildlife from otter to badger, and paintings by artists including JB Vallely and AE Russell.

Summer 2026 also sees the museum involved in “Art on Your Doorstep,” a partnership with the National Gallery that runs artist-led workshops for families and community groups, drawing on both the National Gallery collection and the museum’s own works. Specific workshop dates are announced via the museum’s Facebook page and the visitarmagh.com events listing, so it is worth checking before you travel.

Getting there

Armagh is roughly 40 minutes south-west of Belfast on the A3 and about 1 hour 40 minutes from Dublin via the M1 and A3. The museum sits on The Mall East, a short walk from the city centre and Armagh bus station, which is served by Translink routes including the 251 from Belfast. There is on-street parking along The Mall and a public car park off Dobbin Street a few minutes away. The Mall itself is a fine place to let children run around before or after a workshop.

While you’re in Armagh

Armagh is Ireland’s ecclesiastical capital, home to two St Patrick’s Cathedrals facing each other across the city, and the surrounding area rewards a longer visit than many people give it. There is more to see in Armagh and across Co. Armagh.

Good to know

• Workshops run July through August 2026; typical start time 12pm
• Free to attend; free museum entry
• Aimed at primary school-aged children; toddlers welcome with a parent
• Check visitarmagh.com or the museum’s Facebook page for specific dates and session themes
• Armagh County Museum, The Mall East, Armagh, BT61 9BE
• Museum opens Monday to Saturday