Irish Archaeological Research Digital Magazine

Families were put into different groups named after dinosaurs in our own museum and were told to
set up camp in the Welcome area. After enjoying our big welcome, each group set off to their
different activities. The fun continued until the magical hour of midnight and with only the light
from our torches everyone waited to see if a triceratops would wander past. As early morning light
strayed through the top windows of the building it appeared that the only low rumbling heard was not
from the dinosaurs but was in fact the contented snoring of tired out mums and dads. After
re-fuelling at breakfast, there was time for one more activity before we said farewell to our intrepid
explorers.
Since then the event has gone from strength to strength with both the public and privately booked
groups selling out. Our range of activities has also increased so if you decide you are feeling
adventurous, who knows what you will see and do. Perhaps you will meet a relation of our famous
Egyptian mummy Takabuti who will recruit you to help with the funeral rites and tell you about the
rituals of Egyptian life. Or maybe a journey back in time to prehistoric Ireland; but be careful,
because you never know who you might encounter. But you have to be prepared because you may end
up at a recruitment office for World War I and those itchy uniforms aren’t comfy! But its not all
about history as we have other activities to teach you all about; nature and the weird and wonderful
animals that live in the wild. But if older animals are more your thing, then we have a fossil making
activity where children can learn all about how fossils are formed and make a cast of a real ammonite
to take home with them. One of the highlights for any budding palaeontologist is our torch-lit tour
around some of the galleries. Can you find the clues to find all the dinosaurs?
Irish Archaeological Research Issue 2 Jan 2012
So if you are feeling adventurous and want to take a trip back in time to discover what goes on in a
museum after dark then you might want to check out the Ulster Museum in Belfast…if you dare!
The next sleepover will take place on the 2 nd of March and is open to all who dare to brave the
museum at night. For details please contact the Ulster museum at 02890 440051 or check the
website at www.nmni.com.
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