County Museum Dundalk

County Museum Dundalk
Músaem Chontae Dhún Dealgan
Location within Ireland
Established 1994
Location Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland
Coordinates 54°00′17″N 6°23′49″W / 54.00464°N 6.39707°W / 54.00464; -6.39707Coordinates: 54°00′17″N 6°23′49″W / 54.00464°N 6.39707°W / 54.00464; -6.39707
Type County museum
Curator Brian Walsh
Website www.dundalkmuseum.ie

County Museum Dundalk (Irish: Músaem Chontae Dhún Dealgan) is a county museum documenting the history of County Louth. The Museum is housed in the Carroll Centre at Roden Place in Jocelyn Street, in a restored 18th century warehouse.

History

The former distillery, in which the Museum is located, once had the tallest chimney in Ireland. The chimney did not function properly, and the building became a bonded warehouse for the Carroll's Tobacco Group. With the decline in cigarette sales, the warehouse was presented to the Dundalk Urban District Council on the proviso that it be used as an interpretative centre in 1989.[1] The refurbished and restored building was opened in 1994 and is funded by Dundalk Town Council.[2]

The Museum has won a number of awards, including two Gulbenkian Museum of the Year Awards (1995 and 1999), Gold Award For the Best Commissioned Display (1995) and Interpret Ireland Award (2000).[2] It was also named as the Best Local Authority Museum by Irish Public Sector Magazine Awards 2014.[3]

Contents

The collections document the history of County Louth, from the stone age to the present, in three permanent exhibition galleries. Some of the objects on display are examples of Irish rock art, and objects relating to Oliver Cromwell.[2] In 2013, the Museum incorporated a 'virtual presenter' into the exhibitions, developed by Casio. This is believed to be the first of its kind introduced to a European museum.[4]

The Museum is designated by the National Museum of Ireland to collect archaeological finds.[5] The Museum also hosts a programme of temporary displays, drama presentations, music recitals, lectures and films.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Louth County Museum, Jocelyn Street, Distillery Lane, Dundalk, County Louth". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Louth County Museum". Border Museums Ireland. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  3. ↑ "Louth County Museum named Best Local Authority Museum". Dundalk.ie. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  4. ↑ Doyle, Carmel. "Dundalk County Museum embraces digital age with new 'virtual presenter' for visitors". Silicon Republic. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  5. ↑ "Antiquities". National Museum of Ireland. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  6. ↑ "Louth County Museum (General)". Irish Museums Association. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
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