Admiration, pride in the ingenuity of our forebears (and those of other countries), curiosity about the schooling or apprenticeship of the men and women who made these beautiful objects, but above all, wonder. Wonder at the daring taste of those who designed and carried out the work. Everyone who goes into the National Museum in Kildare Street, Dublin, must have his or her favourite object of admiration. Personal taste inclines many to one of the smaller objects, perhaps. For example, the little golden boat, the hull of, apparently, eggshell thinness, with seven spindly oars on each side, thread-thin down to the broader, propelling head. And, behind, a steering oar or rudder. The mast with its proportionate elegance. No dimensions given in the card here on the desk, but from memory it cannot be more than five inches or so long. It dates from the Early Iron Age, say 3rd century BC or a bit nearer. The major exhibits, of course, include the Ardagh Chalice, the Tara Brooch, the Broighter Collar and many of that eminence. And when we speak of the National Museum, Eamonn P. Kelly, Keeper of Irish Antiquities, reminds us in an article in the winter issue of "Archaeology Ireland" that the National Museum includes three other buildings and locations: obviously the Natural History Museum in Merrion Street, Collins Barracks in Dublin, and, to be opened to the public in the latter part of the year 2000, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo. Here will be housed some of the 50,000 (fifty thousand!) Irish Folklife objects collected since the early 1920s.
It "will focus on ordinary Irish rural life", writes Mr Kelly, "by emphasising the continuity of traditions and lifestyles that were established for several hundred years and lasted well into this century." The opening of the Collins Barracks establishment, which features Irish Country Furniture has raised, the writer asserts, awareness of this important collection which will now have its rural setting. Collins Barracks has already had good coverage as our "museum of decorative arts and of the economic, social, political and military story of the country". This includes gauntlets worn by King William at the Battle of the Boyne.
That great attraction in Merrion Street has more than birds, marvellous though they are: birds you used to see, birds you have never seen. And, if you've heard of the basking sharks of the west coast - well, one is suspended from the ceiling. There's also a 60-foot skeleton of a whale. Wonderful diversity. But birds, birds, birds. You must go again and again. Also buy "Archaeology Ireland" for Mr Kelly's full article. And other reasons.