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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Pressed Floral Bookmarks with Memory Makers

Saintfield

Address

Rowallane Garden, Rowallane Gardens, Saintfield, County Down, BT24 7LH

Telephone
+44 (0)28 9751 0131

rowallane@nationaltrust.org.uk

Price
Price £15.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Workshop

Join Memory Makers to make a beautiful handmade bookmark decorated with pressed floral foliage.

Dates

Price
Price £15.00 Per Ticket

More Info
"McCanns - A Century and a Half of Baking in Newry"

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:

History

A talk on the history of McCann's Bakery

Dates

Price
Price £2.50 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Down County Museum

Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44 (0) 330 137 4049

Museums@nmandd.org

Price
Free
Gradings
- Four Star Quality Assurance
Type

Type:

Visitor Centres & Museums

Down County Museum is located in the old county Gaol of Down. It houses fascinating exhibitions on the history of Down as well as restored cells with life-size figures of prisoners and their gaolers.
Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wifi
Sound Bath and Sound Healing Experience with Tessa Ann

Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+ (0) 33 0137 4014

downartscentre@nmandd.org

Price
Price £30.00 to £35.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Workshop

The Breath & Sound experience is a sacred journey back to yourself—a soul reset that offers space to reconnect with your true essence.

Dates

Price
Price £30.00 to £35.00 Per Ticket

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Landscape Needle Felting

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4014

denise.griffith@nmandd.org

Price
Price £50.00 to £55.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Participatory Event

Landscape Needle Felting
Join local artist Jennifer Cunningham in the Felt Picture Making workshop where you will be guided through creating a felted landscape. Using woos and embroidery techniques you will embellish and enhance your piece ready to…

Dates

Price
Price £50.00 to £55.00 Per Ticket

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European Heritage Open Days 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
Free

Type

Type:

EHOD (European Heritage Open Days)

Bread Making Demonstration with Mrs C's Home Kitchen

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Bridget Pullen: Silk painting and Batik

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

Type

Type:

Exhibition

Art exhibition using the ancient arts of batik and painting on silk

Dates

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- Car 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:

EHOD (European Heritage Open Days)

Tour of Newry and Mourne Museum

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Brennan Miskelly McCormick Irish Dance Performance

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44 (0)77 1118 9650

Christine@mccormick80.plus.com

Type

Type:

Exhibition

Dancers from the Brennan Miskelly McCormick school of Irish Dance will entertain the crowds in Down County Museum and The Saint Patrick Centre on Saint Patrick's Day. Pupils aged 4 to 19 will perform a number of dances showcasing intricate steps and…

Dates

More Info
'The Sekules Family and the Kilkeel Knitting Mills'

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:

History

Esther Bloch, daughter of Edith Sekules, will discuss how her family escaped from Vienna on the outbreak of the Second World War, spent time in detention camps in Russia before settling in Northern Ireland in the late 1940s and setting up the…

Dates

Price
Price £2.50 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Oceanauts Diving

Warrenpoint

Address

38 Springfield Road, Warrenpoint, BT34 3NW

Telephone
+00 74 5480 0554

dain@oceanautsdiving.com

Type

Type:

Diving & SubAqua

Oceanauts Diving offers expert-led, immersive diving experiences tailored to all levels, from beginners to seasoned divers. With Dain McParland, an expert instructor at the helm, we ensure every dive is safe, informative, and unforgettable.

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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
Iúr Cinn Fleadh at Newry and Mourne Museum

Newry

Address

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

Telephone
0330 137 4422

Declan.Carroll@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Concert

Live Music

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 4992

museums@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Exhibition

Free tours of the temporary exhibitions for St Patrick's Day

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Victory Voices: VE Day & VJ Day 80 years on

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

Michael Burns will visit Newry and Mourne Museum to delve into the extensive oral history collection of the Northern Ireland War Memorial (NIWM), to explore how these historic occasions were celebrated

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Christmas Arts and Crafts

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 £1.50 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Christmas Events

Start your celebrations early at Newry and Mourne Museum with our Christmas events.
On 3 & 10 December, at10.30am - 12pm and 1.30pm - 3pm, we have our Christmas themed arts and crafts activities.
This activity is appropriate for children aged 5 -…

Dates

Price
Price £1.50 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
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
An 18th century Influencer: Thomas Russell and the Age of Revolution

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

Ken Dawson speaks on Russell's relationships and influence, in the second in our special series of events marking the 220th anniversary of Thomas Russell's death.

Dates

Price
Price £2.50 Per Ticket

More Info
The Life and Times of Archibald Hamilton Rowan (1751-1832)

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44(0)7484649767

fodcmuseum@gmail.com

Price
Price £5.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

History

Join the Friends of Down County Museum this Thursday evening, 12th October at 7.30pm for a lecture from Fergus Whelan.
Everyone is welcome. Friends attend free, and non-members are £5.

Dates

Price
Price £5.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Easter Arts and Crafts for Families

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 £1.64 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Easter Events

Family Easter Art and Crafts

Dates

Price
Price £1.64 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors