List of museums in Northern Ireland

Last updated

This list of museums in Northern Ireland contains museums which are defined for this context as institutions (including nonprofit organizations, government entities, and private businesses) that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Also included are non-profit art galleries, university art galleries and interpretive centres linked to sites of interest. Museums that exist only in cyberspace (i.e., virtual museums) are not included. Many other small historical displays are located in the country's stately homes, including those run by the National Trust.

Contents

To use the sortable table, click on the icons at the top of each column to sort that column in alphabetical order; click again for reverse alphabetical order.

NameImageTown/CityCountyTypeSummary
Belfast City
Belfast Exposed Belfast Exposed, Belfast, July 2010.JPG Belfast Antrim Art Contemporary photography
Crumlin Road Gaol CrumlinRdGaol.Int.JPG Belfast Antrim Prison Victorian-era prison under restoration as a museum
Engine Room Gallery Belfast Antrim Art website, contemporary art
Golden Thread Gallery Belfast Antrim Art Contemporary art
Irish Republican History Museum Belfast Antrim History History and artefacts of the Provisional Irish Republican Army
Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Belfast.jpg Belfast Antrim History Exhibits of art, history and culture from its collections
Metropolitan Arts Centre MAC (exterior), Belfast, April 2012 (06).JPG Belfast Antrim Art Known as the MAC: Art centre and performance venue in the Cathedral quarter of Belfast; opened in 2012, the building has received several architectural awards
Naughton Gallery at Queen's Queen's University Belfast frontage.jpg Belfast Antrim Art Contemporary art, part of Queen's University Belfast
Northern Ireland War Memorial Belfast Antrim Military Commemorates the fallen of World War I and World War II, life during the 1941 Belfast Blitz
Ormeau Baths Gallery Ormeau Baths Gallery, Belfast, October 2010 (02).JPG Belfast Antrim Art Contemporary art
Red Barn Gallery Belfast Antrim Art Photography gallery, also known as RBG Belfast
Royal Ulster Rifles Museum Belfast Antrim Regimental Regimental uniforms, badges, medals, memorabilia
Titanic's Dock and Pumphouse Pump House, Belfast, April 2010 (02).JPG Belfast Antrim Industry, Maritime website, Edwardian-era pump house & dry-dock with exhibits on shipbuilding in Belfast, Harland & Wolff, launch of the RMS Titanic
Titanic Belfast Titanic Belfast side view.jpg Belfast Antrim Maritime a visitor attraction and monument to Belfast's maritime heritage; it tells the stories of the ill-fated Titanic and her sister ships.
Ulster Museum Ulster Museum (18), October 2009.JPG Belfast Antrim Art, History, Industry, Natural history Fine art, decorative arts, natural history, archaeology, Ancient Egypt, world cultures, geology, history
W5 Belfast Antrim Science website, science-based exhibits with an emphasis on ""play""
County Antrim
Andrew Jackson Cottage Andrew jackson diagonalview.jpg Carrickfergus Antrim Historic house Open by appointment, restored 18th-century home of President Andrew Jackson's parents.
Arthur Cottage Cullybackey Antrim Historic house Restored late-18th-century-period ancestral home of Chester A. Arthur, the 21st President of the United States
Ballance House The Ballance House - geograph.org.uk - 88510.jpg Glenavy Antrim Historic house website, birthplace of John Ballance, Premier of New Zealand from 1891–1893
Ballycastle Museum Ballycastle Museum - geograph.org.uk - 222828.jpg Ballycastle Antrim Local website, NIarchive local history, culture
Ballymoney Museum Ballymoney Antrim Local NIarchive, local history, culture, art, motorcycling - Joey Dunlop and the Armoy Armada
The Braid Ballymena Antrim Local website, history, arts and culture, includes the Mid-Antrim Museum and Braid Arts Centre
Brookhall Historical Farm Lisburn Antrim Rural website, information, open by appointment, farm artefacts
Carrickfergus Castle Carrickferguscastle.jpg Carrickfergus Antrim Historic house Operated by the NIEA, Norman castle with military uses until the 1920s, exhibits about it history and use
Carrickfergus Museum Carrickfergus Antrim Local website, local history, art, archaeology
Causeway School Museum Causeway School Museum - geograph.org.uk - 222391.jpg Bushmills Antrim Historic house information, 1920s period school, structure designed by Clough Williams-Ellis
Coastal Zone at Portrush Portrush Countryside Centre - geograph.org.uk - 895097.jpg Portrush Antrim Natural history Operated by the NIEA, marine and natural history, environment and local history
Flame The Gasworks Museum of Ireland Carrickfergus Antrim Industry website, restored coal gasworks and appliances
Giant's Causeway Causeway-code poet-4.jpg Bushmills Antrim Natural history Operated by the National Trust, new visitor centre to open in 2011 with exhibits about the geology and natural history of the basalt columns and coast and also has a railway
Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum Irish Linen Centre Lisburn Museum.jpg Lisburn Antrim Industry website, Irish linen industry and city history and culture
Larne Museum and Arts Centre Larne Antrim Local Local history, culture, art
Patterson's Spade Mill Templepatrick Antrim Industry website, operated by the National Trust, historic spade mill
Railway Preservation Society of Ireland GS&WR No 186 in Preservation.jpg Whitehead Antrim Railway Heritage railway and museum at the Whitehead Excursion Station
Rathlin Boathouse Visitor Centre Rathlin Island Antrim Local information, documents island life and the history & geography of the island
Sentry Hill Carnmoney Antrim Historic house website, 19th-century farmhouse: Victorian costume and artefacts
Ulster Aviation Society Sprucefield Antrim Aviation website, open for groups by pre-arrangement, aircraft and articles relating to Northern Ireland's aviation heritage, located in a hangar of RAF Long Kesh
White House, Newtownabbey Newtownabbey Antrim Historic house website, restored house dating back to the 16th century
County Armagh
Ardress House Annaghmore Armagh Historic house website, operated by the National Trust, 17th-century farmhouse with 18th-century interior, working farmyard with animals
Argory The Argory, Derrycaw Road - geograph.org.uk - 814503.jpg Moy Armagh Historic house website, operated by the National Trust, early-19th-century Irish gentry house with late-19th-century interior
Armagh County Museum MuseumArmagh (2).JPG Armagh Armagh Local Local history, natural history, culture, archaeology, costumes
Armagh Gaol ArmaghPrison.jpg Armagh Armagh Prison Constructed in 1780 and closed in 1986; due to be refurbished as an hotel; public tours available
Armagh Observatory Armagh Armagh Science Collection of large telescopes used for observations since the 18th century; other astronomical instruments and artefacts
Armagh Planetarium Rolls-Royce RZ2 rocket engine.jpg Armagh Armagh Science Planetarium and science museum featuring physics, space and astronomical exhibits inside the museum and on the grounds
Craigavon Museum Craigavon Armagh Local website Archived 28 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine , local history, agriculture, linen industry, culture
Dan Winter’s Cottage Loughgall Armagh Historic house website, website, 18th-century thatched cottage, home of Dan Winter, one of the founders of the Orange Order
Derrymore House Bessbrook Armagh Historic house Operated by the National Trust, late-18th-century thatched house
Keady Heritage Centre Keady Armagh Local website, local history, culture, linen industry, singer Tommy Makem
Lough Neagh Discovery Centre Craigavon Armagh Natural history website, website, natural history and environment of Lough Neagh and the Oxford Island National Nature Reserve
Market Place - Armagh Theatre and Arts Centre Armagh Armagh Art website
Moneypenny's Lock House Craigavon Armagh Transport information Archived 28 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine , lockkeeper's cottage for the Newry Canal
Milford House Museum Milford Armagh Biographical website, history of the home of William McCrum, wealthy Irish linen manufacturer and sportsman, includes family costumes, furniture and silver
Millennium Court Arts Centre Portadown (74), September 2009.JPG Portadown Armagh Art website Archived 22 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine , arts centre with two galleries
Mullaghbawn Folk Museum Mullaghbane Folk Museum - geograph.org.uk - 256204.jpg Mullaghbawn Armagh Historic house information, traditional two-roomed thatched farm house and out buildings
Newry and Mourne Museum Bagenals Castle, Newry, March 2010 (02).JPG Newry Armagh Local website, located in Bagenal's Castle, local history, trades, fishing, industry, culture
Navan Centre, Fort and King Stables Navan Fort, County Armagh - geograph.org.uk - 43871.jpg Armagh Armagh Archaeology, History Includes Iron Age circular earthwork, replica Iron Age dwelling, exhibits and living history interpretations
Northern Ireland's Secret Bunker Portadown Armagh Military website, Cold War-era monitoring bunker, open on select days
Ó Fíaich Heritage Centre Cullyhana Armagh Biographical website, life and artefacts of Tomás Ó Fiaich, Archbishop of Armagh and the Primate of All Ireland from 1978 until his death
Royal Irish Fusiliers Museum Armagh Armagh Regimental Regimental artefacts and memorabilia
Saint Patrick Trian Visitor Complex Armagh Armagh Local website, exhibits about Armagh's historic pagan monuments and history, St Patrick and the Book of Armagh, and author Jonathan Swift’s book Gulliver’s Travels and the fictional nation of Lilliput.
Tannaghmore Animal Farm Craigavon Armagh Rural website, heritage animal breeds, farm tools and equipment
County Down
Ballycopeland Windmill Ballycopeland windmill 279350930 a90dcc8d8c b.jpg Millisle Down Industry Restored windmill and miller's house, operated by the NIEA
Bann Valley Museum Banbridge Down Local website, planned museum of local history and culture
Brontë Interpretive Centre Rathfriland Down Biographical information, exhibits about Patrick Brontë, the father of the Brontë sisters (Charlotte, Emily and Anne), who taught in the church and school
Burren Heritage Centre Warrenpoint Down Local information, local history, culture
Castle Ward Castle Ward Castle, August 2009.JPG Strangford Down Historic house Operated by the National Trust, 18th-century eccentric house with two distinctly different styles, classical and Gothic
Cockle Row Cottages Groomsport Down Historic house website, information, 1910 period typical fisherman's dwelling
Down County Museum Down County Museum (03), August 2009.JPG Downpatrick Down Prison, Local website, located in an 18th-century gaol, local history, culture
Downpatrick and County Down Railway Downpatrick Station, February 2010 (01).JPG Downpatrick Down Railway Heritage railway and museum
F.E. McWilliam Gallery and Studio Banbridge Down Art website, information, works of surrealist sculptor F. E. McWilliam
Grey Point Fort Grey Point Fort.JPG Helen's Bay Down Military website, located in Crawfordsburn Country Park, one of a pair of artillery batteries guarding Belfast Lough during both 20th-century World Wars; its twin is near the Salt Mines at Kilroot
Kilclief Castle Kilclief Castle, Geograph.jpg Strangford Down Historic house Medieval tower-house castle
Mount Stewart House, Garden and Temple of the Winds Mount Stewart.jpg Strangford Down Historic house Operated by the National Trust
Nendrum Monastic Site Nendrummonastery.jpg Strangford Lough Down Archaeology, Religious Operated by the NIEA, ruins of medieval monastery and visitor centre museum with exhibits
North Down Museum Bangor Down Local website, information, local history, culture
Saint Patrick Visitor Centre Saint Patrick Centre, Downpatrick, February 2010 (01).JPG Downpatrick Down Religious Displays on the life and story of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland
Scarva Visitor Centre Scarva Down Local information, local history, Newry Canal and the linen industry
Somme Heritage Centre Conlig Down Military Ireland's military history in World War I
Ulster Folk Museum 'W and G Baird', Ulster Folk Museum - geograph.org.uk - 1107579.jpg Cultra Down Rural Open air village with crafts demonstrations from the early 20th century
Ulster Transport Museum Ulster Transport Museum, Cultra, Railway Gallery 10.jpg Cultra Down Transport Transport Museum with horse-drawn carriages, electric trams, motorbikes, fire engines and vintage cars, permanent RMS Titanic exhibit
County Fermanagh
Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre Belleek Pottery, County Fermanagh - geograph.org.uk - 204197.jpg Belleek Fermanagh Art, Industry Belleek fine porcelain pieces
Castle Archdale Castle Archdale - geograph.org.uk - 52755.jpg Irvinestown Fermanagh Military Country park with museum about the role of RAF Castle Archdale and coastal command based at Castle Archdale during World War II
Castle Coole Castle Coole Frontage.JPG Enniskillen Fermanagh Historic house Operated by the National Trust, late-18th-century mansion and estate
Fermanagh County Museum Enniskillen Castle 01.jpg Enniskillen Fermanagh Biographical, Local County history, culture and natural history; the Maguire family
Inniskillings Museum Enniskillen Castle 01.jpg Enniskillen Fermanagh Regimental Regimental history and artefacts of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards
Florence Court Florence Court frontage.jpg Enniskillen Fermanagh Historic house Operated by the National Trust, 18th-century mansion and estate
Headhunters Barbers Shop & Railway Museum Enniskillen Fermanagh Railway website, includes reconstructed railway booking office and railroad memorabilia of the Great Northern Railway (Ireland), the Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway and the Clogher Valley Railway
Sheelin Antique Irish Lace Museum Bellanaleck Fermanagh Industry website, Irish lace dating from 1890–1920
County Londonderry
Amelia Earhart Centre P2270017.JPG Derry Londonderry Aviation website, located in Ballyarnett Country Park, open by appointment, local aviation history and story of local landing of Amelia Earhart
Apprentice Boys Museum and Exhibition Apprentice Boy's Hall, Derry - Londonderry - geograph.org.uk - 174221.jpg Derry Londonderry History History of the organization, story of the Siege of Derry and the Relief of Derry
Bellaghy Bawn Bellaghy Londonderry Biographical, History, Local website, operated by the NIEA, 17th-century fortified house and bawn with exhibits on local and natural history, the history of the Ulster Plantation and the poetry of Seamus Heaney
Coleraine Regional Museum Coleraine Londonderry Local website, NIarchive changing exhibits of local history, culture
Flowerfield Arts Centre Portstewart Londonderry Art website, includes exhibits of visual art and crafts
Foyle Valley Railway Foyle Valley Railway Museum - geograph.org.uk - 142032.jpg Derry Londonderry Railway website
Garvagh Museum Garvagh Londonderry Rural website, rural and domestic life in the 19th & early 20th centuries
Green Lane Museum Limavady Londonderry Local NIarchive Local history, linen and agricultural industry, rural life
Harbour Museum Derry Londonderry Maritime website, city's maritime history
Hezlett House Castlerock Londonderry Historic house Operated by the National Trust, 17th-century thatched cottage
Museum of Free Derry Derry Londonderry History 1960s civil rights campaign and the Free Derry/early Troubles period of the early 1970s
Nerve Centre Nerve Centre (01), August 2009.JPG Derry Londonderry Art Multimedia arts centre for music, film, video, animation and interactive multimedia
Riverwatch Centre P2270017.JPG Derry Londonderry Natural history website, operated by the Loughs Agency, natural history and ecology of the River Foyle and Carlingford Lough waterways
Springhill House Springhill House, Moneymore.jpg Moneymore Londonderry Historic house Operated by the National Trust, 17th-century plantation home, features costume collection
Tower Museum Tower Museum, Derry (04), August 2009.JPG Derry Londonderry Local City's history, culture
Workhouse Museum Derry Londonderry Local website, historic workhouse, used for changing exhibits of city history and culture


County Tyrone
Abingdon Collection Omagh Tyrone Transport website, classic cars, World War II military memorabilia
Alley Theatre Strabane Tyrone Art website, theatre venue hosting an auditorium, art gallery and tourist information centre
Grant Ancestral Homestead Ballygawley Tyrone Historic house information Archived 20 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine , ancestral homestead of Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States on his mother's side
Gray's Printing Press Gray, Printer - geograph.org.uk - 83275.jpg Strabane Tyrone Historic house website, operated by the National Trust, 18th-century print shop in which John Dunlap learned the printing trade
Hill of The O'Neill and Ranfurly House Dungannon Tyrone Biographical, History website NIarchive multi-media exhibition narrating the Hill’s importance in Irish and European history, its links to the O’Neills and the subsequent Flight of the Earls and Plantation of Ulster. Also arts and performance space
Lissan House Lissan House.jpg Cookstown Tyrone Historic house Currently under restoration
Nally Heritage Centre Carrickmore Tyrone Biographical information, history of sports marketer Patrick Nally, the Carrickmore GAA club and local history
Strule Arts Centre Strule Arts Centre, Omagh (01), January 2010.JPG Omagh Tyrone Art Arts centre with gallery
Ulster American Folk Park Ulster American Folk Park.jpg Castletown Tyrone Rural Open-air museum; Irish rural life, lifestyle and experiences of those immigrants who sailed from Ulster to America in the 18th and 19th centuries
Wellbrooke Beetling Mill Wellbrook Beetling Mill - geograph.org.uk - 112280.jpg Cookstown Tyrone Industry website, operated by the National Trust, working water-powered mill used in the processing of flax to make linen thread
Wilson Ancestral Home Strabane Tyrone Historic house information, 18th-century home of James Wilson, grandfather of U.S. President Woodrow Wilson

Defunct museums

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Museum Island</span> Part of Spree Island in central Berlin

The Museum Island is a museum complex on the northern part of the Spree Island in the historic heart of Berlin, Germany. It is one of the capital's most visited sights and one of the most important museum sites in Europe. Originally, built from 1830 to 1930, by order of the Prussian Kings, according to plans by five architects, the Museum Island was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 because of its testimony to the architectural and cultural development of museums in the 19th and 20th centuries. It consists of the Altes Museum, the Neues Museum, the Alte Nationalgalerie, the Bode-Museum and the Pergamonmuseum. As the Museum Island designation includes all of Spree Island north of the Karl Leibniz avenue, the historic Berlin Cathedral is also located there, next to the open Lustgarten park. To the south of Leibniz avenue, the reconstructed Berlin Palace houses the Humboldt Forum museum and opened in 2020. Also adjacent, across the west branch of the Spree is the German Historical Museum. Since German reunification, the Museum Island has been rebuilt and extended according to a master plan. In 2019, a new visitor center and art gallery, the James Simon Gallery, was opened within the Museum Island heritage site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department for Culture, Media and Sport</span> Ministerial department of the UK Government

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is a ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It holds the responsibility for culture and sport in England, and some aspects of the media throughout the UK, such as broadcasting. Its main offices are at 100 Parliament Street, occupying part of the building known as Government Offices Great George Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamilton Palace</span> Grand house in South Lanarkshire, Scotland

Hamilton Palace was a country house in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It was the seat of the Dukes of Hamilton and is widely acknowledged as having been one of the grandest houses in the British Isles. The palace dated from the 14th century, was rebuilt in the Baroque style between 1684 and 1701 and was subsequently much enlarged in the Neoclassical style between 1824 and 1832.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Horseracing Museum</span> Museum in Newmarket, Suffolk, England

The National Horseracing Museum (NHRM) is a museum in Newmarket, Suffolk dedicated to the history of horseracing. It covers a 5-acre site on Palace Street in the centre of the town, having previously been housed in the Jockey Club Rooms on Newmarket High Street. Together with the British Sporting Art Trust and Retraining of Racehorses it is part of the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art which was opened by Elizabeth II in 2016.

References

  1. ↑ "Palace Stables and Palace Demesne". Archived from the original on 7 March 2012.

See also

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.