James Mitchell Museum - Geological museum - Galway • Go-to-Ireland.com

The James Mitchell Museum

Visit the James Mitchell Museum

A museum in the heart of Galway University

Let’s face it: this museum is clearly one of the university’s oldest establishments. The origins of the James Mitchell Museum date back to 1852!
At the time, the latter only listed the collections of William King, a great lover of rocks, minerals and fossils. This was an opportunity for the school to present a complete overview of Ireland’s specific geological features, and to make them available to its students.

It was only later, in 1883, that Richard J. Anderson was appointed chairman of natural history, geology and mineralogy at the university. He then decided to use this collection to open a full-fledged natural history museum, divided into 3 distinct wings, devoted to zoology, geology and paleontology.

After Anderson’s death, the museum evolved to focus on natural history, geology and mineralogy.

In 1921, Professor James Mitchell became head of the university’s geology and mineralogy department, a post he held until 1966. His remarkable work at the Muséum led to the establishment being renamed in his honor, following his impressive efforts to upgrade the collections.

A museum serving as an educational resource for college students

Don’t be surprised if you notice that the museum is very small: it now occupies just one Victorian-style room, and houses several thousand specimens of rocks, fossils and minerals. This museum is a veritable HQ for students wishing to deepen their knowledge of Irish geology.
Although entry is not free, you should be able to visit it by requesting permission from the university.
Particularly noteworthy are the remarkable paleontological collections. Among them, don’t miss the Lyme Regis plesiosaurus, a German ichthyosaurus and Kiltorcan flora from County Kilkenny. What a program for history and rock lovers!