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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Family Friendly Scavenger Hunt and Trail

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

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Walks and Trails

Family Friendly fun with these free trails!

Dates

Price
Free

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Easter Monday - Hop Into Easter Fun 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:

Craft

Hop Into Easter Family Fun at Down County Museum!

Dates

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Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Incorrigibles and Unfortunates: Gaols in Downpatrick

Downpatrick

Address

English Street, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6AH

Telephone
+44 (0) 77 7511 2449

linda.mckenna@nmandd.org

Price
Price £5.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Walking

Incorrigibles and Unfortunates: Gaols in Downpatrick
Join Linda McKenna to explore Downpatrick's four seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth century gaol sites and the stories of their prisoners. The walk will finish at the Gallows Hill, the…

Dates

Price
Price £5.00 Per Ticket

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Voices from the Archives

Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44(0)33 0137 4049

museums@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

History

Linda McKenna explores the fascinating evidence of the experience of the 1798 rebellion which can be discovered through archive collections.

Dates

Price
Free

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Art History Festival 2025

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:

Arts

Celebrate art at Newry and Mourne Museum

Dates

Price
Free

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War Into Words

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 exploring the life of Wilfred Owen

Dates

Price
Price £2.50 Per Ticket

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Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Free Family Fun on St Patrick's Day at Down County Museum

Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4252

michael.arlow@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Family Fun

Enjoy a day of music, dancing, circus entertainment, facepainting, arts & crafts, and sensory play.
We are open from 10am-4:30pm.
Coffee and treats are available to buy from Park Coffee in the courtyard all day.

Dates

Price
Free

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Easter Weekend 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:

Easter Events

Easter Weekend at Down County Museum

Dates

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Down County Museum EHOD 2025

Downpatrick

Address

The Mall, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6AH

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

ehod@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

EHOD (European Heritage Open Days)

Down County Museum is housed within the historic walls of the 18th-century County Gaol of Down.

Dates

Price
Free

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The Workhouse System in Ireland

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

This free talk provides historical context for the current Downpatrick Workhouse exhibition in Down County Museum

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
'The Country Aflame - the 1798 campaign at Antrim, Arklow, Saintfield and Ballynahinch'

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44 (0)28 0330 137 4049

museums@mandd.org

Type

Type:

Talks/Lectures

This talk by Dr Gavin Hughes will briefly outline the context of four major - and dramatic - battles fought in June 1798 as part of the United Irishmen's Campaign. Dr Gavin Hughes is currently Director of the Irish Conflict Archaeology Network at…

Dates

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Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
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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Art in the Attic: A Curator's Talk

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

Join Down County Museum's Curator, Dr Kris Reid for this FREE lunchtime talk.

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
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

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Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Christmas Magic Begins 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
Price £2.50 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Christmas Events

Get ready to start your Christmas celebrations early at Newry and Mourne Museum.

Dates

Price
Price £2.50 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Children's Lego Workshops on Bank Holiday Monday

English Street, Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44(0)330 137 4252

amy.button@nmandd.org

Price
Price £5.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Workshop

Brickz4Kidz are bringing their Lego fun to Down County Museum on August 26th.

Dates

Price
Price £5.00 Per Ticket

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Come build with us - a Bricks4kidz Lego Experience (10.30am - SEN Friendly Workshop)

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

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
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

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Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Annual AONB Photography Competition Exhibtion

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

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Exhibition

View the stunning winning entries of the annual AONB Photography Competition at Down County Museum and pick up your copy of the calendar.
Pictured is 'Binnian's Sunset' by the winner, Enda Quinn

Dates

From:

6 Jan 2026to31 Jan 2026Various Opening Times

Price
Free

More Info
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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