The Museum Collection comprises over 14,000 artefacts, including objects, documents and photographs, reflecting various aspects of the social, cultural and political heritage of the Newry and Mourne area. Artefacts range in date from the prehistoric period up to the 21st century.
Items of special interest include prehistoric and early modern pottery from archaeological excavations at Carnbane on the outskirts of Newry, two pieces of medieval sculpture from the Cistercian Abbey at Newry, a rare longcase clock made in Newry c.1780 by John Gelston, glass decanters and drinking glasses made in Newry in the early 19th century and important pieces of costume notably a set of Order of St. Patrick Robes owned by the 3rd Earl of Kilmorey, an Irish National Foresters uniform, a Deputy Lord Lieutenant’s uniform and a complete set of robes worn by a High Court Judge from Newry.
The Collection contains artefacts from the commercial and industrial history of Newry, Warrenpoint and Kilkeel, local railways and rural industry and farming. There is also material charting the impact of the two World Wars and 20th century political developments on the area including the Troubles. Quite a large element of the Collection reflects the rich performing arts heritage of the area comprising material from local drama and music groups and Irish Dancing.
Among the artworks in the Collection are portraits by Margaret Clarke (1884 – 1961) and photomontages by Sean Hillen (1961 - ), both Newry-born artists and a late 16th – century portrait of Sir Nicholas Bagenal (artist unknown). Several artefacts relate to public art in Newry.
Three discrete archive collections are contained within the Museum Collection: the Reside Collection which includes architectural plans and drawings, estate records and local history material, the Hugh Irvine Collection which relates to local history and genealogy in the Kilkeel area and the Éamon Donnelly Collection which contains c. 400 items relating to the life and career of Eamon Donnelly (1877–1944), a Nationalist politician who lived in Newry.
