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Photograph taken outside Newry Town Hall on 8th February 1927, marking the visit of James Craig, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, to meet with members of Newry Urban District Council and other local public bodies. James Craig, Viscount Craigavon, can be seen in the front row, third from right with Sir Dawson Bates, Minister of Home Affairs on his right and William Robinson, Chairman of the Council on his left.

Apr 19 2024

James Craig, Newry and ‘power-sharing’

Brian M. Walker, Professor Emeritus of Irish Studies at Queen’s University Belfast, explores the significance of a photograph taken of James Craig, the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, and the members of Newry Urban District Council at Newry Town Hall in 1927

Museum Assistant, Dympna Tumilty, Dr Ken Abraham, Curator at Newry and Mourne Museum, Joanne Glymond, Museum Assistant, Eva Lynch, Development Officer at the Northern Ireland Museums Council, Joanne Cummins, Collections Officer, Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Cllr Valerie Harte and Noelle Frew, Museum Assistant at the launch of the new ‘Easy Read Gallery Guide’ at Newry and Mourne Museum.

Nov 02 2023

Categories: Newry and Mourne Museum, guide, Exhibition, galleries, access, inclusion

'New Easy Read Gallery Guide' launched at Newry and Mourne Museum

A new ‘Easy Read Gallery Guide’, designed specifically to enhance the experience of disabled or partially sighted visitors to Newry and Mourne Museum, has been launched by Council Chairperson, Councillor Valerie Harte.

detail of a modern sketch depicting the execution of Thomas Russell at Down County Gaol on 21st October 1803.

Oct 19 2023

220th anniversary of the death of Thomas Russell

NMDDC Heritage Officer, Linda McKenna, writes about the abortive rebellion of 1803, and the execution of Thomas Russell on 21st October 1803.

Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down Council, Councillor Valerie Harte and Dr Ken Abraham Curator Newry and Mourne Museum at the official opening of Slices of History: Memories of McCann's Bakery. with former Bread Servers from the Bakery. Left to right: Seamus McLoughlin, Oliver McAteer, Councillor Valerie Harte, Sean McConville, Paul McAteer, Dr Ken Abraham and Jimmy Dobbin.

Oct 04 2023

Categories: Newry and Mourne Museum, Exhibition, McCann's Bakery, Newry, bakeries, economic history

Slices of History: Memories of McCann’s Bakery opens at Newry and Mourne Museum

A temporary exhibition on the history and legacy of McCann’s Bakery in Newry is now on display at Newry and Mourne Museum.

A pen and ink drawing of the gatehouse of Down County Museum, showing the Georgian entrance of central gate and symmetrical side doors with semi-circular arches, with three bricked-over rectangular window openings on the second storey.

Sept 21 2023

The 'old' Gaol in Downpatrick

Over the coming months, Down County Museum will be sharing an in-depth look at the history of our home, the ‘old’ Gaol of Down. In this series, we'll explore topics such as the Gaol’s prisoners, their punishments, and the site’s various uses through time.

Our first in the series reveals the Gaol's beginnings, and explains why it had to be closed.

Sept 13 2023

Categories: Newry and Mourne Museum, Newry, Town Hall, Arts, Culture, Music, drama

Newry Town Hall

Newry Town Hall has been at the centre of the cultural life of Newry and its hinterland for nearly 130 years. Joanne Cummins, Collections Officer at Newry and Mourne Museum, references some of the local amateur societies and artistes seen there over the decades.

This image looking east over Newry seems to have been taken c.1900 from where the A1 and the Belfast – Dublin railway line run today. It illustrates how Newry had developed in the second half of the 19th century.

Sept 11 2023

Categories: Newry and Mourne Museum, Reside Collection, archive, Kilmorey, Great Famine, Newry

The Town of Newry in 1860

The Reside Collection at Newry and Mourne Museum contains many fascinating treasures for the local historian. The Curator, Dr Ken Abraham, takes a brief look at one of them, a Report on the Kilmorey Estate, which provides an informative insight into the town of Newry in 1860.

Declan Carroll, Education and Outreach Officer at Newry and Mourne Museum and Chairperson Newry, Mourne and Down Council, Councillor Valerie Harte launch the School Learning Programmes and the Schools Transport Programme for 2023.

Aug 25 2023

NMD Museums Launch Schools Transport Scheme

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is delighted to announce the launch of a new Museums School Transport Scheme for 2023/2024.

Postcard showing the Mall of Downpatrick showing the High Cross in the foreground

Aug 17 2023

The Downpatrick High Cross and Francis Joseph Bigger

Down County Museum Assistant, George, explains the journey of the Downpatrick High Cross to our dedicated exhibition space.

image of an oil painting portrait of Francis Hutcheson, a middle-aged white man who is dressed in 18th Century clothing. His clothing is dark with a frilled white shirt collar visible beneath. He also wears a long curled grey wig over his natural hair.

July 19 2023

Francis Hutcheson, influential County Down philosopher

Down County Museum Assistant, Michael Arlow, charts the legacy of Francis Hutcheson, a County Down man who deserves to be better known. Well known in his day, his writing and teaching influenced key figures in the Scottish Enlightenment, in economics, in philosophy, and in Irish and American politics.

Pictured at the opening of the Newry Artists Past and Present exhibition at Newry and Mourne Museum on 21st June were, from left: Cora Harrington, Seán Hillen, Joanne Cummins, Collections Officer, Newry and Mourne Museum; Dr Ken Abraham, Curator, Newry and Mourne Museum; Cllr Valerie Harte, Chairperson, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council; Anna Marie Savage and Peigi Cole-Jolliffe.

June 23 2023

Categories: Newry and Mourne Museum, exhibitions, artists, Art, sculpture

New Exhibition ‘Newry Artists Past and Present’ now open at Newry and Mourne Museum

Newry and Mourne Museum are delighted to announce the opening of its latest temporary exhibition, ‘Newry Artists Past and Present’. This showcase celebrates the works of talented artists who hail from Newry or who have found inspiration in the local area.

Section of manuscript letter written in 1798.

June 09 2023

The Battle of Saintfield, 9 June 1798

Today marks the 225th anniversary of the Battle of Saintfield. Down County Museum's Curator, Alan Freeburn, draws out vivid details of the battle from a survivor's account.

May 19 2023

Categories: Lecture, Famine, History, Workhouse Immigration

Australia Bound - The Female Orphans of Newry Workhouse 1848-50

Local historian, Hugh McShane will give a talk at Newry and Mourne Museum on the plight of 35 female orphan girls who left Newry Workhouse to travel to Australia during the 1800s.

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