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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Come build with us - a Bricks4kidz Lego Experience (11:45 workshop 4-11 yrs)

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
0330 137 4049

museums@nmandd.org

Price
Price £5.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Workshop

Let your child's imagination soar as they embark on a LEGO® adventure with Bricks 4 Kidz workshops this August Bank Holiday Monday at Down County Museum.

Dates

Price
Price £5.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Free Viking Handling Sessions

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44(0)330 137 4252

amy.button@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

History

Come to Down County Museum and get hands-on with our Viking replicas.

Dates

Price
Free

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Children's Lego Workshops on Bank Holiday Monday

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44(0)330 137 4252

amy.button@nmandd.org

Price
Price £5.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Workshop

Brickz4Kidz are bringing their Lego fun to Down County Museum on August 26th.

Dates

Price
Price £5.00 Per Ticket

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Come build with us - a Bricks4kidz Lego Experience (13.30 workshop 4-11 yrs)

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
0330 137 4049

museums@nmandd.org

Price
Price £5.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Workshop

These popular, Disney themed workshops blend STEAM education with creative play, offering an engaging mix of building, teamwork, and fun.
13:30 Workshop - designed for Primary school aged children 4-11 years.

Dates

Price
Price £5.00 Per Ticket

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
'The Country Aflame - the 1798 campaign at Antrim, Arklow, Saintfield and Ballynahinch'

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44 (0)28 0330 137 4049

museums@mandd.org

Type

Type:

Talks/Lectures

This talk by Dr Gavin Hughes will briefly outline the context of four major - and dramatic - battles fought in June 1798 as part of the United Irishmen's Campaign. Dr Gavin Hughes is currently Director of the Irish Conflict Archaeology Network at…

Dates

More Info
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Pumpkin Succulent Planters

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44(0)330 137 4014

downartscentre@nmandd.org

Price
Price £35.00 to £40.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Workshop

Pumpkin Succulent Planters Workshop

Dates

Price
Price £35.00 to £40.00 Per Ticket

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Architectural Heritage Tours of English Street, Downpatrick

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:

EHOD (European Heritage Open Days)

Discover the rich architectural heritage of the buildings that dominate Downpatrick's most historic street.
13th and 14th September
11.00 and 14.30
Meet at Down County Museum

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Mono Printing Workshop

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4014

downartscentre@nmandd.org

Price
Price £55.00 to £60.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Workshop

Mono Printing - create some painterly prints using different techniques guided by printmaker Karen Daye-Hutchinson ARE. Explore additional detail layering using Drypoint and other combinations of hybrid print.

Dates

Price
Price £55.00 to £60.00 Per Ticket

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Serious Play at Down County Museum

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44(0)330 137 4049

alan.freeburn@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Exhibition

Down County Museum presents Serious Play, a thought-provoking exhibition featuring the works of Leontia Haldenby and Tom Bevan.

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Come build with us - a Bricks4kidz Lego Experience (15.00 workshop 7+ yrs)

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
0330 137 4049

museums@nmandd.org

Price
Price £5.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Workshop

Let your child's imagination soar as they embark on a LEGO® adventure with Bricks 4 Kidz workshops this August Bank Holiday Monday at Down County Museum.

Dates

Price
Price £5.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Halloween Storytelling for Families 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:

Halloween

On Friday 31 October 2025, join renowned storyteller Janice Witherspoon in Newry and Mourne Museum as she weaves tales of strange goings on, witches, ghosts, and all sorts of fairy folk, there may even be a few surprises too.

Dates

Price
Price £2.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Femina Culpa: Poetry, Crime and Justice

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:

Performance

Three local poets Linda McKenna, Emma McKervey and Milena Williamson will read poems from their latest collections which have all been inspired by real life cases from history. Using archival sources, they have created poetry which reflects on the…

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Set for summer! Go to Gaol!

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
0330 137 4049

museums@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

History

Everyday this summer at 2pm, our expert museum staff will give a free tour of the old gaol and our permanent galleries.

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Christmas Lights & Museum Nights

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:

Exhibition

Downpatrick Christmas Lights Switch on is this Friday 28th Nov and we have a present for you this festive Friday

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Plants, People and Places in the 18th Century: A talk for the curious and interested

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4252

amy.button@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Talks/Lectures

Join Dr Vicky Pickering, guest speaker from the Natural History Museum in London, in Down County Museum, as she discusses the fascinating stories behind the 'vegetable substances' on display in the new British Museum touring exhibition, 'For the…

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Christmas Magic Begins at Newry and Mourne Museum

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:

Christmas Events

Get ready to start your Christmas celebrations early at Newry and Mourne Museum.

Dates

From:
6 Dec 2025Open 10:30 - 12:00
From:
6 Dec 2025Open 13:30 - 15:00

Price
Price £2.50 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
We're Set For Summer at Down County Museum!

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:

Family Fun

This summer, enjoy free tours, outdoor games, our Cathedral View Kidszone with drawing, reading and dressing up as well as amazing views. Learn about items from the past in object handling sessions (check social media for times). Browse the…

Dates

More Info
The Workhouse System in Ireland

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

This free talk provides historical context for the current Downpatrick Workhouse exhibition in Down County Museum

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Hans Sloane and Collecting in Modern Ireland: a free talk 'For the curious and interested'

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4252

amy.button@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

History

Join Dr Alice Marples, guest speaker from the British Library, for a fascinating insight into collecting and ideas of nationhood, in a free talk at Down County Museum.

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
For the curious and interested: a British Museum touring exhibition

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:

Exhibition

Northern Ireland is the first stop for this exhibition, which reunites items from Sir Hans Sloane's collections, alongside new insights and reflections.

Dates

Price
Free

More Info