Exhibitions

Down County Museum and Newry and Mourne have a wide variety of objects on display in both permanent and temporary exhibitions.  

The permanent exhibitions in both Museums tell the story of the development of the area from prehistoric times to the current day.  

The extensive temporary exhibition programme allows both Museums to use different objects from the collections to explore and interpret different themes and topics which cannot be addressed in depth in the main exhibitions.  

Most of these exhibitions are initiated, designed, and installed by museum staff but occasionally travelling exhibitions from other museums are on show. Because the Museums are Accredited and meet professional standards of collections care, it is possible to borrow objects from other museums. This not only fills gaps in our Collections but enables visitors to see objects with a local connection from further afield. 

The local community are also given the opportunity to become involved by lending artefacts and sharing memories which are published in the form of articles in the booklets which accompany the exhibitions. 

All artefacts displayed are conserved to the same standard as those in the main exhibitions. Some of these are often transferred into the main exhibitions to keep these fresh and appealing to the public.