Our Main Gallery is home to priceless archaeological objects, impressive life-size dioramas, exquisitely crafted models and informative wall displays that narrate the story of Kerry’s people and landscape from the earliest times up until the 20th Century.

Highlights:

 Lissroe Bronze horn

Lissroe Bronze horn (circa 3000 BC) – Found in a bog in Lissroe, near Duagh, below a hilltop enclosure, this beautifully crafted horn is the inspiration for our logo. Such horns were probably used on religious or ceremonial occasions, or as war trumpets. Previously thought to produce only a limited range of notes and tones, it is now believed that with great skill they could have been played as musical instruments.

 Cloghermore Collection

Cloghermore Collection (circa 1300) – Cloghermore Cave, a long, narrow underground system 6kms east of Tralee, yielded evidence of a Viking burial. Among the grave goods were a number of domestic items such as gaming pieces, weaving tools, beads and fine-tooth combs like this one, used for removing nits from hair.

 Copy of the 1916 Proclamation


1916 Proclamation – an original copy of the Proclamation of the Republic issued by the Irish Volunteers and Irish Citizen Army during the Easter Rising. These had been hurriedly printed using poor quality paper and signed by the seven members of the military council. Copies were pasted up around Dublin city centre and this is one of the few to have survived.

Location:
Second floor

Normal visit duration:
40 minutes

For children:
 Pangur Bán Trail

Bronze Age sword (c. 600 BC) – made for slashing, rather than thrusting and stabbing – the ideal weapon for warfare between warriors on horseback. The Late Bronze Age saw the production of a vast numbers of weapons, which suggests a period of violence and political instability. (© National Museum of Ireland)
 

Fulacht Fidah – Life-sized re-creation of a fulacht fiadh (Bronze Age cooking site) depicting hunters as they prepare a deer. Widespread throughout Munster, these sites were usually located near a stream, lake or river as large quantities of boiling water were required to prepare the meat.
 

Cannonballs (1580 AD) – unleashed in an artillery attack by the English Crown on Dún an Óir at Smerwick Harbour as they crushed the rebellious Earl of Desmond and his allies.
 

Church Island model – showing a small church site c. 600 AD located in Valentia Harbour. The enclosing wall covered a tiny area – about one third of a soccer field.