Newry, Mourne and Down Museums Connecting People with the Past
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s Museums (NMD Museums) are continuing to play vital roles helping people connect with the district’s rich history.
Programmes and activities organised by the Newry and Mourne and Down County Museums continue to prove very popular, attracting over 6,400 visitors between October and December last. One third of the visitors were schoolchildren.
The Museums in Newry and Downpatrick provide a window to the past and are a vital resource for many pupils studying their connection with the area.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Philip Campbell said, “Our Museums are a vital resource for everyone across the district and play a crucially important role helping us all contact with our past.
“The Museums are home to informative exhibitions, host a range of activities and are also popular with visitors, some of whom have family connections in the area dating back many, many years.”
Cllr Campbell said the Museums help local people learn about the district’s shared heritage and can especially inspire schoolchildren to find out more about their own areas.
The Chairperson added: “I commend our excellent museum staff for everything they do. They make an invaluable contribution to help young people who are our future, learn about the past. Preserving local history is one of the most important things Newry, Mourne and Down District Council does.”
In the Newry and Mourne Museum, the Making Waves: Newry’s rise as a global trade centre
exhibition in October celebrated the City’s maritime and commercial history and included many items that had not previously been on display.
Other displays included exploring local VJ celebrations and an Escape from the Grotto toy-themed display and family trail in December.
The Museum purchased a set of 19th century Newry glass goblets formerly belonging to the Earl of Kilmorey and items relating to local railway services from the late lord O’Neill’s collection, with donations including a significant selection of 19th and 20th century lace and linen embroidery from the Convent of Mercy needlework school and a receipt/order book from McCann’s bakery.
Work to conserve an Ages & Capabilities ledger dating back to 1824, an important document which includes records of custom service employees from Newry, Warrenpoint and other Co Down ports, is continuing.
The Newry and Mourne Museum - which attracted 4,015 visitors in the last quarter - was also awarded £95,000 over 30 months for an innovative community collection project, Collecting Together: Communities as Curators, that empowers communities to shape the museum’s collection through inclusive acquisition and commissioning.
At the Down County Museum, a collection of 25 artworks is on permanent display and includes a large painting of Constance Malleson (nee Annesley) by William Connor and 12 watercolours of Lecale by R D Perceval as well as notable scenes from Co Down towns.
The English Street Museum - which attracted 2,403 visitors in the last quarter - also received a donation of objects relating to Downpatrick’s medical history including signage from a local pharmacy, a bell from the old Downe Hospital and 20th century photographs for digitisation.
The Downpatrick Museum also acquired two paintings – one of Bowden’s Far, Tullybrannigan by Colin Middleton purchased by the Friends of Down County Museum and Across the Marshes of the Quoile by Jack Hill from the late Lord O’Neill’s collection.
To find out more and stay up to date with the latest exhibitions, events and activities across the district’s museums, follow us on social media @NMD Museums.
