12/12/2016 - Work of Donegal County Museum featured in new 1916 exhibition and video

Minster Humphreys, John Rattigan, Judith McCarthy (Donegal Co Museum)

Minister Heather Humphreys meeting Judith McCarthy Donegal County Museum Curator during the launch of the new 1916 Across the Country exhibition and video at the National Library of Ireland 

The work of Donegal County Museum is featured in a new exhibition and video 1916 Across the Country which was launched recently by Minister Heather Humphreys and which provides a snapshot of some of the key stories brought to light through the work of museums around the country as part of the 2016 year of commemoration.  The video is available at https://youtu.be/I2ytGF9wWyQ .

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Heather Humphreys also launched Museums Advocacy Day and the Irish Museums Association’s (IMA) new Irish Museums Survey at the event which was held in the National Library of Ireland on Wednesday November 30th. The event was organised by the Local Authority Museums Network (LAMN) working in partnership with the IMA and with the assistance and support of the Heritage Council.  

LAMN 1916 Donegal Exhibition

Some of the work from Donegal County Museum featured in the new 1916 Across the Country exhibition which was launched.

The key focus of the Museums Advocacy Day is to highlight the significant work of museums on our island, both north and south of the border. Of particular importance is the leading role museums played in this historic year of commemoration in 2016.  Museums across the country, working in collaboration with communities, have brought epic tales of passion, patriotism and sacrifice to the public in an array of thought-provoking and engaging exhibitions and events.

The new exhibition 1916 Across the Country was developed by the LAMN to provide a snapshot of some of the key stories brought to light through the work of the twelve local authority museums that make up the network. The exhibition represents the key role played by museums in exploring and presenting the story of 1916 to millions of visitors throughout the year. This point was highlighted by Minister Humphreys when she referred to the legacy of the 1916 year of commemorations and the vital part that the museum sector has and will play in the future development of the heritage sector in Ireland.

The Irish Museum Survey was carried out by the IMA in partnership with University College Dublin and is the first comprehensive quantitative and qualitative survey of Irish museums, north and south, for more than a decade.  The report shows that more than six million people visit Irish museums annually and also outlines the challenges being faced by our museums, with the effects of the economic recession clearly evidenced since the last report in 2004. The survey provides the tools to make evidence-based arguments both for the importance of museums and the need for increasing the supports available to them. The survey is available to download from the Irish Museum Association’s website at http://bit.ly/2gf4dAK.