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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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

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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

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Build Your Own Shield

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

Children's Build Your Own Shield Workshop

Dates

Price
Free

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
'The Seamus Mallon I knew' a talk 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:

Talks/Lectures

On 6 April at 2pm, Newry and Mourne Museum will host a fascinating talk into one of Northern Ireland's most important political figures, Seamus Mallon.

Dates

Price
Free

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
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

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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

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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

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'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

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
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
Sketching Masterclass with Kieron Black

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

Free sketching masterclass at Down County Museum this Drawing Day, Saturday 17 May.

Dates

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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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Design, print & sew a zippered pouch

Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44 (0)330 137 4014

downartscentre@nmandd.org

Price
Price £50.00 to £55.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Workshop

For Beginners, work with Artist René Mullan on this one day immersive course. You will learn to screen-print on textiles, machine sew and finish your very own unique hand printed design

Dates

Price
Price £50.00 to £55.00 Per Ticket

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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

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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

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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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Noctambule 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

Afternoon of Music at Newry and Mourne Museum

Dates

Price
Free

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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
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) 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
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

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