![First_Floor_Gallery](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/First_Floor_Gallery.jpg)
Carlow County Museum ( ga, Músaem Chontae Cheatharlach) is a museum documenting the history of County Carlow. Located on College Street in
Carlow
Carlow ( ; ) is the county town of County Carlow, in the south-east of Ireland, from Dublin. At the 2016 census, it had a combined urban and rural population of 24,272.
The River Barrow flows through the town and forms the historic bounda ...
town, the building was originally the Presentation Convent; it also houses the County Library and Archives.
History
The museum was founded by the
Carlow Historical & Archaeological Society (CHAS), then the Old Carlow Society, in 1973, and was run by the Society on a voluntary basis until 2002.
The collections were housed first in the old Christian Brothers' building, and latterly the former theatre room of the Town Hall from 1979.
The museum was opened afresh in the redeveloped convent building in 2012, the last of the buildings to open in a new cultural quarter.
It is now operated by Carlow Town Council and Carlow County Council in association with the CHAS.
Contents
The museum consists of four exhibition rooms, housing permanent and temporary displays. It holds a diverse collection which includes objects that cover the
archaeological
Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscap ...
, history, social history and folk life of the local area. It is designated to collect archaeological finds by the
National Museum of Ireland
The National Museum of Ireland ( ga, Ard-Mhúsaem na hÉireann) is Ireland's leading museum institution, with a strong emphasis on national and some international archaeology, Irish history, Irish art, culture, and natural history. It has thre ...
.
One of the most notable objects on display is the 19th century
pulpit
A pulpit is a raised stand for preachers in a Christian church. The origin of the word is the Latin ''pulpitum'' (platform or staging). The traditional pulpit is raised well above the surrounding floor for audibility and visibility, access ...
from
Carlow Cathedral which was included in
The Irish Times
''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is considered a newspaper ...
''
A History of Ireland in 100 Objects
''A History of Ireland in 100 Objects'' was a joint project by ''The Irish Times'', the National Museum of Ireland, and the Royal Irish Academy to define one hundred archaeological or cultural objects that are important in the history of Ireland. ...
''. Other notable objects in the Museum's collections pertain to
John Tyndall
John Tyndall FRS (; 2 August 1820 – 4 December 1893) was a prominent 19th-century Irish physicist. His scientific fame arose in the 1850s from his study of diamagnetism. Later he made discoveries in the realms of infrared radiation and the p ...
,
Kevin Barry
Kevin Gerard Barry (20 January 1902 – 1 November 1920) was an Irish Republican Army (IRA) soldier who was executed by the British Government during the Irish War of Independence. He was sentenced to death for his part in an attack upon a Bri ...
,
Captain Myles Kehoe, and the
Carlow Sugar Factory.
The museum unveiled a new installation as part of the ''Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme'', the "Carlow 1916 Commemorative Stained Glass Panel" by Peadar Lamb, depicts a Carlow narrative on the 1916 Rising, featuring some of the key Carlow figures and the role they played in 1916.
There was a special exhibition about
St. Willibrord titled: ''Saint Willibrord, Patron Saint of Luxembourg and his County Carlow Connection''.
The museum's latest exhibit is the grave effigy of Robert Hartpole, Constable of Carlow Castle and High Sheriff of Carlow, dating from 1594.
See also
*
List of country houses in County Carlow
This is a list of the historic " Big Houses" () of County Carlow, Ireland. The term is a direct translation from Irish and refers to the country houses, mansions or estate houses of the historical landed class in Ireland.
This page lists ...
*
Oak Park, County Carlow
Oak Park is a Georgian house and estate in County Carlow, Ireland, located north of the town of Carlow.
The estate was purchased by Irish MP Henry Bruen in 1775 and was substantially remodelled to its current form by the architect Willi ...
References
External links
Carlow County MuseumCarlow Historical and Archaeological Society - Museum HistoryCarlow TourismCarlow Military MuseumDiscover Ireland
{{Museums and Galleries in Ireland
1973 establishments in Ireland
Museums established in 1973
Local museums in the Republic of Ireland
Museums in County Carlow
Buildings and structures in Carlow (town)
History of County Carlow