Kerry County Museum is currently not open to the public but why not explore our online resources? We have expert tutorials on how to do research online, enjoyable videos and podcasts about objects from our collection, educational activities for teachers and parents, colouring sheets based on our exhibitions, publications and articles written by Museum staff and volunteers and a day-by-day virtual dig based on the recent excavation and conservation of Killaclohane Portal Tomb, near Milltown, County Kerry. If you are a teacher or educator and would like us to send you more information please email education@kerrymuseum.ie. We might be in lockdown but we are here for you! Kerry County Museum would like to thank all contributors and cultural partner institutions who kindly made their material available to us to include in this section and for all to explore and enjoy.
Researching Kerry’s History and Heritage Online – Expert Tutorials to get you started:
Kerry County Museum has created six introductory tutorials to help you with your local history research. These short videos feature local heritage experts describing in plain language how to research different aspects of Kerry’s history, archaeology and built heritage. Special emphasis is put on the use and availability of sources and how to access information online. Whether you are a local history enthusiast or a secondary school student working on a local history project, our video tutorials are an excellent starting point for researching Kerry’s past.
Tom Dillon, Historian and Kerry Historian in Residence 2020: The Importance of Local History [Duration: 2:15 mins]
Tom Dillon, Historian and Kerry Historian in Residence 2020: The Importance of Sources [Duration: 2:58 mins]
Dr. Michael Connolly, Kerry County Archaeologist: Researching a Monument in your Locality [Duration: 5.58 mins]
Dr. Michael Connolly, Kerry County Archaeologist: The Job of a County Archaeologist [Duration: 4.35 mins]
Victoria McCarthy, Kerry Architectural Conservation Officer: Researching a Building in your Locality [3:53 mins]
Helen O’Carroll, Curator and Manager of Kerry County Museum: Researching an Object [Duration: 4:36 mins]
All six History and Heritage Tutorials in one document: Download PDF
Armchair Travels with Kerry County Museum:
While worldwide travel is still a little restricted join us as we select objects from the Museum’s collection, whose stories take you across the five continents of the world before bringing you back home to Kerry. We hope these will provide a fun, quirky and inspirational way of getting in touch with some of the county’s material heritage, which is held in trust for the people of Kerry by the Museum. It will take you to some of the unheralded parts of the county as well prompting a fresh look at familiar landmarks.
1- Watch: Piece of Eight Coin found in Beale Co.Kerry
2- Watch: A document dating to 1582 and it’s the connection to Smerick Habour
3- Watch: Kerry Head and Margaret Atwood author of The Handmaid’s Tale
Resources for Teachers and Parents:
Tom Crean & Polar Exploration:
Are you a primary school teacher, educator or parent looking for fun activities and information on Tom Crean?
The Mobile Museum: Discover our Tom Crean Handling Collection
Object-based activity sheets and educational resources perfect for the classroom and remote learning.
RTÉjr Radio podcast ‘Time Travels 2’ produced by Judy-Meg Ni Chinnéide,
featuring Kerry County Museum and Tom Crean’s story: Link 
Antarctica. Beyond Endurance: Journey to the bottom of the Earth: Download Exhibition
Tom Crean primary school activity sheet (in conjunction with above exhibition catalogue): Download here
Artefacts and Archaeology:
Are you interested in archaeology, objects and what we can learn from them?
20:20 – Radio Kerry Podcasts based on our Collection: http://kerrymuseum.ie/collections/2020-kerry/
What’s in the Box?! – Object based Learning: http://kerrymuseum.ie/learning/whats-in-the-box/
Killaclohane Portal Tomb – A Virtual Dig: http://kerrymuseum.ie/learning/killaclohane-portal-tomb/
Collection Highlights – A Virtual Exploration: http://kerrymuseum.ie/collections/collection-highlights/
Killaclohane Portal Tomb, near Milltown:
Are you a secondary school teacher or student interested in archaeology?
Science Week 2017 – The Tomb in the Lab: watch highlights here [Duration: 3:38 mins]
Dr. Michael Connolly, Kerry County Archaeologist: The Archaeology of Killaclohane Portal tomb [Duration: 31.06]
Dr. Linda Lynch, Osteoarchaeologist: Cremated human remains found at Killaclohane Portal Tomb [Duration: 28:05]
Dr. Kendra Sirak, Anthropologist: Decoding the Past – Ancient DNA from Killaclohane Portal Tomb
[Duration: 32:44]
Medieval Tralee/ Life in Medieval Times:
Are you a primary school teacher, educator or parent looking for fun activities and information on medieval towns?
Medieval Tralee – A Colouring Book, Fact Sheet & Timeline: Download here
A Timeline of Geraldine Tralee: Download here
Geraldine Tralee. An Irish Medieval Town: Download Exhibition Catalogue
Secret Tralee – An Audio-Trail about medieval Tralee: Download here
Information panel Medieval Dominican Monastery Tralee: Download here
Kerry’s Architecture and Built Heritage:
Are you a primary school teacher, educator or parent looking for a fun project about architecture and Kerry’s built heritage? We have teamed up with Architectural Conservation Officer Victoria McCarthy to create a project about Kerry’s beautiful historical buildings. Below you can find a fun video introduction to historic Kerry buildings, a step-by step manual on how to make your own Georgian house, a printable template and fun facts about Georgian houses and an activity booklet to discover more about Kerry’s architecture.
We would love to see your finished projects!
Video: Discover Kerry’s historic buildings & Make your own Georgian House Watch video here
Printable template and fun facts: Make your own Georgian House: Download here
Activity Booklet: Discover Kerry’s built environment: Download here
Please send your comments, drawings or photographs to education@kerrymuseum.ie
Fossils and Geology:
Are you interested in what type of fossils you can find in Kerry?
20:20 Radio Kerry Podcast – Fossils from Ballycarty Passage Tomb: Listen here
The Geology of County Kerry: Download Exhibition Catalogue
Roadside Geology of West Kerry Leaflet: Download here
Launch of Roadside Geology of West Kerry: Read article here
Geology information signs and publications made available online on our website with kind permission by Dr Patrick Wyse Jackson, T.C.D. and Kerry County Council
West Kerry Geological Signs accompanied by articles published by West and Mid Kerry Live:
- Ferriter’s Cove: Discover More
- West and Mid Kerry Live Geological Heritage Ferriter’s Cove:
- Clogher Head: Discover MoreWest and Mid Kerry Live Geological Heritage Clogher Head: Read here
- Slea Head: Discover More
- West and Mid Kerry Live Geological Heritage Slea Head: Read here
- West and Mid Kerry Live Geological Heritage Slea Head: Read here
- Conor Pass: Discover More
- Pedlars Lake: Discover More
- West and Mid Kerry Live Geological Heritage Pedlars Lake: Read here
- Kilmurry Bay: Discover More
- West and Mid Kerry Live Geological Heritage Kilmurry Bay: Read here
- West and Mid Kerry Live Geological Heritage Kilmurry Bay: Read here
- Inch Beach: Discover More
- West and Mid Kerry Live Geological Heritage Inch Beach: Read here
- Magharees: Discover More
- Kilgobbin: Discover More
- Caherconree: Discover More
- West and Mid Kerry Live Geological Heritage Caherconree: Read here
Articles and Books by County Archaeologist Dr. Michael Connolly:
Would you like to read about Kerry’s archaeological heritage, including what archaeological excavations can tell us about the Vikings in Kerry? Simply click on the link below to access a wide range of free articles and books on Kerry’s rich archaeological heritage:
https://kerrycoco.academia.edu/MichaelConnolly
Publications & Articles by Kerry County Museum Team:
Antarctica. Beyond Endurance: Journey to the bottom of the Earth: Download Exhibition Catalogue
Kerry Lives 1950-73. A portrait of the county from the Kennelly Archive: Download Exhibition Catalogue
Medieval Treasures of County Kerry: Download Proceedings of Lecture Series
The Jeanie Johnston: Historical Background by Curator Helen O’Carroll: Download Article here
William Melville – Spymaster by Curator Helen O’Carroll: Download Article here
From Sneem to Scotland Yard by Curator Helen O’ Carroll: Download Here
Recruiting the Dead. An Oration by Curator Helen O’Carroll: Download here
Casement in Kerry: A Revolutionary Journey by Curator Helen O’Carroll: Download Article here
Ardfert Witnesses at the trial of Roger Casement by Curator Helen O’ Carroll: Download Article here
Con Keating: Personal and Political by Collections Officer Sarah O’Farrell: Download Article here
A Zoomorphic Penannular Brooch from Tullahennell North, Co. Kerry by Dr. Griffin Murray: Download Article here
Curator’s Choice: Risen from the ashes by Dr. Griffin Murray: Download Article here
An Ancient Paddle from near Knocknagoshel by Dr. Griffin Murray: Download Article here
A well-travelled uniform – the life of Captain R. E. Palmer by Jude O’ Gorman: Download Article here
Christy O’Grady: patriot, prisoner and professor by Jude O’ Gorman: Download Article here
My Great-Grandmother’s War of Independence Survivors Medal by Eoin Mac Uileagóid: Download Article here
Some of the above articles were first published in the Journal and Magazine of the Kerry Archaeological & Historical Society. Did you know that complete back issues of both publications can be purchased and downloaded online on the society’s new website? You can also subscribe to become a new member of the society by visiting www.kerryhistory.ie
Ceiliradh Ciarraí – Celebrating County Kerry’s Heritage:
From Natterjack Toads to Fossils in Tralee Courthouse, we would like to invite you to listen to Ceiliradh Ciarraí, a potpourri of short podcasts celebrating Kerry’s rich heritage. This joint project by Radio Kerry and Kerry County Council was funded by the Heritage Council and first aired on Radio Kerry in 2001 and 2003. We would like to thank Radio Kerry and the various contributors to the programme.
Natural Heritage:
Natterjack Toads: Listen in English and as Gaeilge
Pine Martins: Listen in English and as Gaeilge
Whales: Listen in English and as Gaeilge
Underwater Creatures: Listen in English and as Gaeilge
Kerry Cows: Listen in English and as Gaeilge
Red Deer: Listen in English and as Gaeilge
Bats: Listen in English and as Gaeilge
Lower Horseshoe Bat: Listen in English and as Gaeilge
Birdwatching: Listen in English and as Gaeilge
Choughs: Listen in English and as Gaeilge
Kerry Slug: Listen in English and as Gaeilge
Freshwater Pearl Mussels: Listen in English and as Gaeilge
Oak Woods: Listen in English and as Gaeilge
Yew Trees: Listen in English and as Gaeilge
Rhododendron: Listen in English and as Gaeilge
Volcanoes in Kerry: Listen in English
Kerry Mountain Formation: Listen in English and as Gaeilge
Kerry Diamonds: Listen in English and as Gaeilge
Fossils at Tralee Courthouse: Listen in English and as Gaeilge
Old Kenmare Road: Listen in English and as Gaeilge
Archaeology and History:
Ecclesiastical Heritage: Listen in English and as Gaeilge
Archaeological Heritage: Listen in English and as Gaeilge
Vikings in Kerry: Listen in English and as Gaeilge
Ringforts: Listen in English and as Gaeilge