Temporary Exhibitions

Making Waves: Newry’s Rise As a Global Trade Centre

This exhibition explores how the influx of goods from around the world transformed the lives of people in and around the Port of Newry, forever changing the region. It also shows how the maritime trade provided employment for generations of local people, from merchants and sailors to dockers and customs officers.

Visitors to the exhibition will discover Newry's transformation into a bustling global marketplace, a story told through the Museum’s collection of artefacts and information boards. Panels highlight a bustling trade of imported goods like minerals and sugar, which filled the warehouses of Sugar Island and Merchants Quay. In turn, products exported included Newry granite, whiskey and fine linen.

Among the items on display are everyday relics from this era, such as postcards, paper bags for loose tea, receipts for tobacco and flax seed, and 18th century consignment notices for linen bound for America.

Accompanying the exhibition is a complimentary booklet of essays, offering more information and providing greater detail on subjects such as businesses in the 19th century, women’s work and the port, emigration as well as the historical development of the port itself.

The free exhibition is now open to the public until September 2026

VE Day & VJ Day Exhibit

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, with Victory in Europe Day and Victory over Japan Day and on 2 May, Cllr Pete Byrne Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council officially launched the exhibit of two Second World War artefacts and costumes at Newry and Mourne Museum as worn by local men.

On display is a US Army 563rd Motor Ambulance Company Blouse and Cap c1943

Worn by Private First-Class James Quinn, originally from Tullyframe near Kilkeel. After emigrating to America, he served as an ambulance driver and mechanic with the US Army from 1943 to 1945 before returning to live in Kilkeel in 1950.

You can also see a suit made by Burton’s 1940s. Known as a demob suit, civilian clothing was issued to servicemen after their demobilisation from the British armed forces. The outfit included: a felt hat or flat cap, a double-breasted 3-piece suit or a single-breasted jacket and trousers, two shirts and collars, a tie, shoes and a raincoat. Gloves, underwear and socks were also available, and men were given a special allocation of clothing coupons to buy any extra items they might need, as well as an extra cigarette ration, and a one-way rail warrant.

One of the main suppliers was Burton’s, founded by Montague Burton, and it’s thought that that the phrase the full monty, meaning "everything" originally referred to a full set of demob clothes supplied by the firm. Women demobilised from the armed services simply received clothing coupons.

As well as the suits you will see mid-20th century collars, a clothing ration book, receipts from 1934 and 1945 from two gentlemen’s outfitters in Newry and a commemorative handbell was made by the Buckinghamshire Die-Casting Co using aluminium alloy from German aircraft shot down over Britain.

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The lifeboats of Dundrum Bay

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

Down County Museum, Downpatrick, English Street, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6AH

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4049

museums@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

History

One of the first lifeboats established in Ireland was commissioned and paid for by the gentry of the Lecale region around Dundrum Bay led by the Marquis of Downshire.
The presentation will look at the early lifeboats and their rescues before homing…

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Family Friendly Scavenger Hunt and Trail

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

Down County Museum, The Mall, English Street, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6AH

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4049

museums@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Walks and Trails

Family Friendly fun with these free trails!

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Newry and Mourne Museum EHOD 2025

Newry

Address

Bagenal's Castle, 36 Castle Street, Newry, County Down, BT34 2BY

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

Declan.Carroll@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

EHOD (European Heritage Open Days)

Guests will be taken on tours of Newry and Mourne Museum, which is housed at Bagenal’s Castle, a 16-century fortified house. The castle’s early history is closely connected with the Nine Years War, the Flight of the Earls, and the Ulster Planation.

Dates

Price
Free

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Downpatrick and the 1798 Rebellion

Downpatrick

Address

Down County Museum, English Street, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6AH

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4049

museums@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Walking

Explore a range of sites associated with the 1798 rebellion

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Free Family Fun This St Patrick's Weekend at Down County Museum

Downpatrick

Address

Down County Museum, The Mall, English Street, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6AH

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4252

Michael.Arlow@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Family Fun

Join us on Saturday 15 March for a day of music, arts & crafts storytelling, and enjoy a free tour of the Museum.
We are open from 10am-4:30pm for music, arts & crafts, storytelling, and free tours of the Museum.

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Family Halloween Arts and Crafts at Newry and Mourne Museum

Newry

Address

Newry and Mourne Museum, Bagenal's Castle, Castle Street, Newry, County Down, BT34 2BY

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4422

Declan.Carroll@nmandd.org

Price
Price £2.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Workshop

On Saturday 25 and Monday 27 October 2025 your children can visit Newry and Mourne Museum to unleash their wild and wicked imaginations to create ghostly arts and crafts in celebration of the scariest time of the year.

Dates

Price
Price £2.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Crafting for the curious: free children's craft workshops

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

Down County Museum, English Street, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6AH

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4049

museums@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Workshop

Are you a curious collector who enjoys getting creative? Are you 6-12 years of age? Have you got some free time this February half-term?
Join us to make your own unique version of an item from the British Museum collection, now on display in…

Dates

Price
Free

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'Remembering Our Canal Street': Jewellery and Tales with Céline Traynor and Bronagh McAtasney

Castle Street, Newry

Address

Newry and Mourne Museum, Bagenal's Castle, Castle Street, Newry, County Down, BT34 2BY

Telephone
+44 (0) 330 137 4422

Declan.Carroll@nmandd.org

Price
Price £2.50 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Talks/Lectures

To complement our current temporary exhibition at Newry & Mourne Museum, 'Newry Artists Past and Present' Céline and Bronagh will host informal, conversational talk about Canal Street in Newry.

Dates

Price
Price £2.50 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Free Tours of Down County Museum

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

Down County Museum, Downpatrick, English Street, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6AH

Telephone
+44 (0)330 137 4049

museums@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Exhibition

Enjoy free tours of the museum at 2pm each day this summer.

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Free Tours of Down County Museum

Downpatrick

Address

Down County Museum, English Street, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6AH

Telephone
+44 (0)330 137 4049

museums@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Exhibition

Free tours of the museum every day at 2pm.

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Christmas Tales and Tunes at Down County Museum

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

Down County Museum, Downpatrick, English Street, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6AH

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4049

museums@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Craft

Down County Museum hosts two free family events for Christmas on 9th and 16th December.

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
The Architectural Heritage of Downpatrick

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

Down, Downpatrick, English Street, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6TW

Telephone
+44 (0) 77 7511 2449

linda.mckenna@nmandd.org

Price
Price £5.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Walking

Explore the rich architectural heritage of Downpatrick in this walking tour

Dates

Price
Price £5.00 Per Ticket

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Spring Art In Down County Museum - 6 May

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

Down County Museum, Downpatrick, English Street, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6AH

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4252

amy.button@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Exhibition

Free art activity inspired by the Down Community Arts exhibition.

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
The Oughley Shed

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

Down County Museum, Downpatrick, English Street, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6AH

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4049

museums@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Exhibition

This exhibition recreates the hidden shed of Co. Down diarist David Strain.
Visitors to the museum can step into an evocative 1930s world of sound, scent, and secrecy, uncovering a rare glimpse into Northern Ireland's LGBTQ+ past.

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Free Family Fun on St Patrick's Day at Down County Museum

Downpatrick

Address

Down County Museum, The Mall, English Street, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6AH

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4252

michael.arlow@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Family Fun

Enjoy a day of music, dancing, circus entertainment, facepainting, arts & crafts, and sensory play.
We are open from 10am-4:30pm.
Coffee and treats are available to buy from Park Coffee in the courtyard all day.

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Voices from the Archives

Downpatrick

Address

Down County Museum, English Street, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6AH

Telephone
+44(0)33 0137 4049

museums@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

History

Linda McKenna explores the fascinating evidence of the experience of the 1798 rebellion which can be discovered through archive collections.

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Irish Regiments & 'The Longest Day'

Newry

Address

Newry and Mourne Museum, Bagenal's Castle, Castle Street, Newry, County Down, BT34 2BY

Telephone
+44(0) 330 147 4422

Declan.Carroll@nmandd.org

Price
Price £2.50 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

History

Lecture by Dr Gavin Hughes, FRHistS, FRGS

Dates

Price
Price £2.50 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
The Downpatrick Workhouse Exhibition

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

Down County Museum, The Mall, English Street, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6AH

Telephone
+44 (0) 330 137 4049

museums@mandd.org

Type

Type:

Exhibition

The Downpatrick Workhouse on Strangford Road closed 80 years ago this year. A new exhibition at Down County Museum explores the complex history of the workhouse and the harsh realities faced by the local residents who entered its doors.

Dates

More Info
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Down County Museum EHOD 2025

Downpatrick

Address

The Mall, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6AH

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

ehod@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

EHOD (European Heritage Open Days)

Down County Museum is housed within the historic walls of the 18th-century County Gaol of Down.

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Music at the Museum

Newry

Address

Newry and Mourne Museum, Bagenal's Castle, Castle Street, Newry, County Down, BT34 2BY

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4992

museums@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Live Music

Music for St Patrick's Day at Newry and Mourne Museum.

Dates

Price
Free

More Info