The Irish Agricultural Museum ( ga, Musaem Talmhaíochta na hÉireann) is a museum dedicated to the history of
Irish
Irish may refer to:
Common meanings
* Someone or something of, from, or related to:
** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe
***Éire, Irish language name for the isle
** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...
rural life. Housed in the farm and stable courtyard buildings of
Johnstown Castle
Johnstown Castle is a Gothic Revival castle located in County Wexford, Ireland.
Location
Johnstown Castle is located on the Johnstown Castle Estate, a estate, located off the road between Murntown and Rathaspeck, southwest of Wexford town. ...
,
County Wexford
County Wexford ( ga, Contae Loch Garman) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Southern Region. Named after the town of Wexford, it was based on the historic Gaelic territory of Hy Kinsella (''Uí Ceinns ...
, the collections represent all elements of rural life, including transport, crafts, farming activities and dwelling.
History
In the early 1970s Dr Austin O’Sullivan began collecting materials relating to farming and rural life in Ireland.
In 1974 Dr Thomas Walsh, the Director of An Foras Talúntais (now
Teagasc Teagasc (, meaning "Instruction") is the semi-state authority in the Republic of Ireland responsible for research and development, training and advisory services in the agri-food sector.
The official title of the body is Teagasc - The Agriculture ...
), agreed to the foundation of an agricultural museum.
From this, a group formed in 1976 with the aim of setting up a museum to house this collection, amongst others.
The museum, housed in the former farm buildings of Johnstown Castle Estate, was opened in 1979 by Irish President
Patrick Hillery
Patrick John Hillery ( ga, Pádraig J. Ó hIrghile; 2 May 1923 – 12 April 2008) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as the sixth president of Ireland from December 1976 to December 1990. He also served as vice-president of the Euro ...
.
Since the opening, the museum has expanded and now occupies 1,900 square metres of gallery space.
The establishment and expansion of the museum has led to the continuing restoration of the estate's farming buildings which date from 1810.
Matt Wheeler took over as Curator in 2011 and added new exhibitions, including the Harvesting Machinery Hall, and extended the opening hours to establish the museum as a year round destination. The museum has been managed and run by the Irish Heritage Trust since 2019. It was awarded full accredited museum status by the Heritage Council in July 2022.
Contents
The main focus of the museum's collections was to document the changes in farming life in the wake of the industrial revolution, in particular the move away from horse-powered machinery to those powered by engines. The collections are organised by agricultural themes, such as dairy, the laundry, the kitchen,
sugar beet
A sugar beet is a plant whose root contains a high concentration of sucrose and which is grown commercially for sugar production. In plant breeding, it is known as the Altissima cultivar group of the common beet (''Beta vulgaris''). Together wi ...
farming and so on.
The museum also features an extensive exhibition on the history of the potato and the
Great Famine mid 1800s.
The collection contains number 96 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 ...
'', a washing machine from the early 1950s.
There are a number of full-scale replicas of workshops of a blacksmith, cooper, wheelwright, harness maker and basket maker.
The museum won the ''Best Museum 2014'', a competition organised by the
Industrial Heritage Association of Ireland, in recognition of the role the Museum has played in the preservation and promotion of the material history relating to Irish rural life.
Gallery of exhibits
Renault R4 GTL 1982.jpg, Renault R4 GTL built in 1982 in Wexford
Wexford () is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. Wexford lies on the south side of Wexford Harbour, the estuary of the River Slaney near the southeastern corner of the island of Ireland. The town is linked to Dublin by the M11/N11 N ...
Ferguson-Brown Type A.jpg, Ferguson-Brown Model A tractor (produced 1936-1939)
Barrel-top caravan.jpg, Barrel-top caravan
File:Machinery plaques.jpg, Plaques from Irish machinery manufacturers
References
External links
Visit Wexford
{{Museums and Galleries in Ireland
Buildings and structures in County Wexford
History of County Wexford
Local museums in the Republic of Ireland
Museums established in 1979
Agriculture museums in the Republic of Ireland