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.

Find out more

What's On

What's On Search

Number of results: 143

, currently showing 101 to 120.

Sort By A-Z Lowest A-Z Highest

Play with Clay on St. Patrick's Day

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

Type

Type:

History

Play with Clay

Dates

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
The United Irishmen Film Screening

Downpatrick

Address

Down Arts Centre, 2 - 6 Irish Street, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6BP

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4049

museums@nmandd.org

Price
Price £5.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

History

Find out more about the history of the Society of United Irishmen and its impact on society and politics in the eighteenth century and beyond. With Q&A with the film director, Alan Gilsenan

Dates

Price
Price £5.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Toys, Tales and Tunes (and Treats!) for Christmas

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44 (0)330 137 4049

museums@nmandd.org

Type

Type:

Performance

Free fun for the family this Christmas at the Down County Museum.
On 3rd, 10th and 17th December, join us for tales from professional storytellers, tunes from local musicians, toys to discover and crafts to enjoy, and treats to help you recharge.

Dates

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

More Info
Book Binding – Hardback 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 4014

downartscentre@nmandd.org

Price
Price £55.00 to £60.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Workshop

Book Binding – Hardback. Make a beautiful hand stitched book during this 1 day course

Dates

Price
Price £55.00 to £60.00 Per Ticket

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

More Info
'Blood Rite: Animal Sacrifice and the Feast of St. Martin' an online lecture

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:

Learning

Billy will speak about Irish folklore, ritualistic animal sacrifice, and pre-Christian Irish practices.

Dates

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
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
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
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
Intelligence and Informers in Belfast and Down in the Decade of the United Irishmen

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

Ken Dawson presents a fascinating talk on the impacts of spies and informers on the United Irishmen and the 1798 Rebellion.

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Music over the Bank Holiday weekend

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:

Concert

As part in Iúr Cinn Fleadh, the annual traditional Irish music and community festival in Newry, Newry and Mourne Museum will host guest musicians over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
'The Legacy: Newry 1920 - 1930'

Newry

Address

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

Telephone
0330 137 4422

declan.carroll@nmandd.org

Type

Type:

Exhibition

New exhibition 'The Legacy: Newry 1920 - 1930' opens at Newry and Mourne Museum.

Dates

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
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 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
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
Queering the North Exhibition

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
Free

Type

Type:

Exhibition

The exhibition explores the journey of the LGBT+ community in Northern Ireland, from 1967 to the present-day.

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
A Look At The Stars, A Step Back Through Time

Hilltown

Address

OTT Car Park, Kilkeel Road, Hilltown, County Down, BT34 5XL

Telephone
+44 (0)77 0711 1906

info@geologyrocksat.com

Price
Price £25.00 to £75.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Adventure

Join experienced mountain leaders come story tellers, as you walk through the Mourne mountains under the cover of darkness. On the way to the centre of the Mournes, we stop for stories, ranging from the ancient Greeks, to the Celts, right up to the…

Dates

Price
Price £25.00 to £75.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Curator Talk on For the curious and interested exhibition

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

Free public talk from Dr Alicia Hughes, Project Curator for Sloane Lab: Looking back to build future shared collections at the British Museum.

Dates

Price
Free

More Info