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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Summer Workshops

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 £10.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Workshop

Summer Arts and Crafts for Children

Dates

Price
Price £10.00 Per Ticket

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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

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
DownTime SummerFest

Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44 (0)75 9597 8137

philip@downcommunityarts.org

Type

Type:

Festival

Downtime Summer Festival and family friendly festival in beautiful, historic Downpatrick

Dates

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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
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

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The 1803 Rebellion: Sites Associated with Thomas Russell, Bus Tour with Linda McKenna

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44(0) 33 0137 4252

alan.freeburn@nmandd.org

Price
Price £10.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

History

Join Heritage Officer Linda McKenna on a special guided tour to mark the 220th anniversary of Thomas Russell's death.

Dates

Price
Price £10.00 Per Ticket

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Free Tours of 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
Free

Type

Type:

History

Tours of Newry and Mourne Museum

Dates

Price
Free

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Art in the Attic

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+ (0)330 137 4049

museums@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Exhibition

As part of Art History Festival, Down County Museum is offering a rare opportunity to view artworks unseen by the public.

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Gel Plate Printing at Down County Museum

Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4014

downartscentre@nmandd.org

Price
Price £60.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Workshop

In this workshop you will explore a range of mark-making and print-making processes when printing by hand and using a gel-plate. Using botanicals, stencils and some found object patterns, you will create a series of unique collage works. A frame…

Dates

Price
Price £60.00 Per Ticket

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Victory Voices: VE Day & VJ Day 80 years on

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:

History

This talk by Michael Burns, the Research Officer at the Northern Ireland War Memorial, delves into the extensive oral history collection of NIWM to explore how these historic occasions were celebrated across County Down.

Dates

More Info
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
From Canal Street to the Caribbean – Newry links to slavery and the plantation economy

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:

History

A talk on 18 century Newry merchants' who traded in the Carribbean

Dates

Price
Price £2.50 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
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
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

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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

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Family Arts & Heritage Day| DownTime Summer Fest

Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44 (0)75 9597 8137

philip@downcommunityarts.org

Type

Type:

Festival

We're back at Down County Museum on Friday 2nd August with another brilliant day of free arts, crafts, and heritage activities.
Bring the family and enjoy hands-on fun, creative workshops, and a celebration of local culture — all right here in…

Dates

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The Taste of Home Twilight Market

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44 (0)74 6884 3838

shenda@killowendistillery.com

Type

Type:

Food & Drink

The Taste of Home Twilight Market gives your the unique opportunity to sample and buy the best in local produce in the stunning surroundings of Down County Gaol.

Dates

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Confirmed Bachelor: The Gay Diaries of David Strain

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

In this illustrated lecture, Dr Tom Hulme tells David Strain's story: how he discovered his sexuality, searched for love, and ultimately forged a circle of gay friends - both in Belfast and his beloved Oughley Hut in Co. Down.

Dates

Price
Free

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Drawing 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

Type

Type:

History

Drawing Day has become a major annual event for Museums North and South focusing on a range of drawing activities that invite participants to engage with museum collections and current exhibitions.

Dates

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Children's Arts and Crafts at Newry and Mourne Museum

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
Free

Type

Type:

Exhibition

Children's Arts and Crafts

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
The Stories We Tell Ourselves: Reframing Mary Ann McCracken & Thomas Russell

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
Price £2.50 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

History

Mary Alice Clancy examines the relationship between Thomas Russell and Mary Ann McCracken in a lunchtime talk at Down County Museum

Dates

Price
Price £2.50 Per Ticket

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