National Science and Ecclesiology Museum Maynooth
College museum in Maynooth with Ireland's largest public display of scientific instruments, mostly from Nicholas Callan, and a gallery of church artefacts.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum began in 1934 as a Museum of Ecclesiology, set up by the trustees of St Patrick's College, Maynooth, as a store for church objects and items of college interest. In 1942 Patrick McLaughlin, a professor of experimental physics, became curator and started to move the apparatus of the 19th-century physicist Nicholas Callan into the museum. These included induction coils, electromagnets, a repeater, condensers, electric motors and batteries.
Later curators, including Michael Casey from 1975 to 1998, brought in more historic instruments from the physics department. Since then the museum has developed two main collections. The scientific collection is mostly linked with Callan and, according to the museum, is the largest display of scientific instruments in Ireland, with most pieces made in Ireland between 1880 and 1920. The second collection consists of church objects from the last three centuries, such as altar plate, chalices and vestments.
The museum is run by St Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth. Some key pieces have been digitised by students of Maynooth University, and the museum keeps a blog about its collections.
Highlights
- Instruments of Nicholas Callan, including induction coils and the 1836 electromagnet
- Largest public display of scientific instruments in Ireland
- Microscopes and surveying instruments
- Replica of St Patrick's Bell Shrine and of the Ardagh Chalice
- Vestments of the Empress of Austria and 19th-century altar plate
Permanent exhibitions
- Science Gallery – Scientific instruments from Nicholas Callan and others, including microscopes and surveying instruments.
- Ecclesiology Gallery – Church objects from the last three centuries, including replicas of the Bell Shrine of St Patrick and the Ardagh Chalice.
- Founded
- 1934
- Operated by
- St Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Maynooth railway station · 5-min walk
The campus is about a five-minute walk from Maynooth railway station (Western Suburban line). Dublin Bus routes C3 and C4 serve Maynooth, as do Bus Éireann and Expressway services.
The university publishes a campus parking map; the exact location of the museum within the campus is not stated.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The university offers guided tours of the college on Thursdays to Saturdays at 14:30 in the summer months; the museum is a few minutes' walk from the tour route. Tickets are booked online, and private tours can be requested by email. |
