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Northern Ireland Museums

The Tower Museum in Londonderry

The medieval Walls of Derry City is home to the Tower Museum. There are two permanent exhibits – The Armada Shipwreck and The Story of Derry. When you get up to the top of the Museum you have wonderful views over the city and surrounding areas.

The Harbour Museum in Derry

This Museum concentrates on the maritime museum of the area. There are many archaeological artefacts, early maps, and you can also see the 30ft long currach – this was used in 1963 to replicate St Colmcille’s journey to Iona of 564

Ulster American Folk Park.

This museum or attraction, call it what you will, chronicles the history of the people who left to find their fortune abroad. Most left during the 18th and 19th Centuries and this Park shows what life was like both here and in America at that time. There are also exhibitions of traditional crafts such as blacksmiths, weaving, farming etc. It also hosts events such as the Hallowe’en Festival and the Bluegrass Music Festival and the Park has won many Tourism awards. Head to Strabane and the Park is just outside the town.

Old Bushmills Distillery

A museum with a difference. This is a 400 year old distillery. Near the Giant’s Causeway, it is a couple of miles to south of the village of Bushmills. It is here you can see just how Irish Whiskey is made – all the stages from the preparation of the malted barley, the distillation process and ageing of the spirit in oak barrels and you can then sample the eventual result, the superb Old Bushmills Whiskey. There are Guided tours of the Distillery every half hour for a small charge.

Family History

Many people who come to Northern Ireland are of Irish ancestry and of course to learn something of their ancestors and family history is a prime interest. If you are interested in checking out your Northern Ireland ancestry you’ll want to visit the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. It is situated at 66 Balmoral Avenue to the south of Belfast centre near Kings Hall. The staff there will give you assistance and you can try your hand at genealogical research. Their website is also a mine of information – www.proni.gov.uk. Opening hours are Mon-Fri from 9am to 4.45.

Ulster Folk and Transport Museum

This is an open air museum and it is only 7 miles outside Belfast. There are houses, mills, schools, etc in a 60 acre parkland and the exhibitions display traditions and crafts of the early period of the 20th Century. There are also transport exhibits like carriages, motor cars, railway cars and engines, etc plus a section on ships and ship building.

W5 - Odyssey Arena Belfast

This is a fabulous place with 160 interactive exhibits appealing to all age groups. There are also demonstrations and temporary exhibitions each day on a changing basis. It is located in the Odyssey arena and is a great experience for both children and adults.