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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'South Down in 1798' lecture in 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) 33 0137 4422

Declan.Carroll@nmandd.org

Price
Price £2.50 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Talks/Lectures

A lecture on south Down in 1798 at Newry and Mourne Museum

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 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

museum@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

History

Free tours at Down County Museum this July

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Community Curation Taster Session

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44(0)3301374049

shirley.keneraconsulting@gmail.com

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Exhibition

Join us for a taster session introducing an exciting new exhibition project for 2024

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
Have Fun in the Sun with Seaside and Sun

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
Free

Type

Type:

Workshop

Summer arts and crafts

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Applique Cushion

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+ (0) 33 0137 4014

denise.griffith@nmandd.org

Price
Price £50.00 to £55.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Workshop

Applique Cushion
Come along and learn how to make an appliqued cushion cover. We will learn how to embellish the cushion by learning different styles of machine applique and will be working with various fabrics and threads to add texture and…

Dates

Price
Price £50.00 to £55.00 Per Ticket

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Make Your Own Shield Workshop

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:

Workshop

Children will learn more about heraldry and create their own family coats crests in our shield arts and crafts workshops.

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
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

Free tours of Newry and Mourne Museum

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Battle of Ballynahinch, Four Fighting Days introduced by Robert Burgess

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
03301374049

museums@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

History

Join us as Robert Burgess introduces the documentary film , "Four Days of Fighting": The Battle of Ballynahinch, June 1798.

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Land Border in Ireland - 100 Years On

Newry

Address

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

Telephone
+44(0)330 137 4992

museums@nmandd.org

Price
Price £2.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

History

A talk examining the 100 years of the border in Ireland

Dates

Price
Price £2.00 Per Ticket

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Early May Bank Holiday

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

Remember the end of the Second World War, 80 years ago this year, with our living history actors and items from our handling collection. Enjoy all this for free and take time to explore the old Gaol and the museum's exhibitions telling the story of…

Dates

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The Last Taste of Home Dining Experience

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

Price
Price £60.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Food & Drink

The Last Taste of Home Dining Experience - A unique experience of tasting the best in local produce in the cells of Down County Gaol that once held prisoners on their last day here before execution or being transported to the convict colonies of New…

Dates

Price
Price £60.00 Per Ticket

More Info
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) 33 0137 4049

declan.carroll@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

History

Free tours of Newry and Mourne Museum

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Silver Linked Bracelet Workshop

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+ (0) 33 0137 4014

downartscentre@nmandd.org

Price
Price £65.00 to £70.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Workshop

Silver Linked Bracelet Workshop at Down County Museum. Spend a day of fun and make a pair of silver linked bracelet under the guidance of goldsmith Diane Lyness.

Dates

Price
Price £65.00 to £70.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Drawing in Down

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4049

museums@mandd.org

Type

Type:

Arts

Drop into Down County Museum, pick up a pencil and draw!

Dates

More Info
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
Margaret Clarke, RHA at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art: her studies, friendships & early career

Newry

Address

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

Telephone
+44(0)330 137 4992

museums@nmandd.org

Price
Price £4.00 to £8.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

History

A talk on Newry artist, Margaret Clarke

Dates

Price
Price £4.00 to £8.00 Per Ticket

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Presbyterians, Politics and the 1798 Rebellion

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

Join Dr Andrew Holmes as he explores the relationship between Presbyterians and radical politics in the late eighteenth century.

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Sewing with Oil Cloth

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+ (0) 33 0137 4014

denise.griffith@nmandd.org

Price
Price £50.00 to £55.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Workshop

Sewing with Oil Cloth
Oil cloth is a very current fabric. It is a durable fabric that requires different handling to other fabrics. In this workshop you will learn how to operate a sewing machine when stitching oil cloth fabrics. Also, you will…

Dates

Price
Price £50.00 to £55.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Eamon Donnelly: Republican Politician and Lifelong Anti-Partitionist

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

Type

Type:

History

Dr Éamon Phoenix will give a talk on Eamon Donnelly, prominent Nationalist politician in Ireland during the 1920s and 1930s.

Dates

More Info