Donegal County Museum
Músaem Chontae Dhún na nGall
Displays within Donegal County Museum
Donegal County Museum is located in Ireland
Donegal County Museum
Location within Ireland
Established1987
LocationLetterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland
Coordinates54°57′17″N 7°44′06″W / 54.9546°N 7.7349°W / 54.9546; -7.7349
TypeCounty museum

Donegal County Museum (Irish: Músaem Chontae Dhún na nGall) is a county museum in County Donegal in Ireland. Located on the High Road in Letterkenny, the museum building was completed in 1843 as the Warden's House of the Letterkenny Workhouse. The building was repurposed as a museum in the late 20th century.

History

Workhouse

The museum was originally housed in what was once the warden's house of the Letterkenny Workhouse. The workhouse was designed by George Wilkinson, built at a cost of £5,785 and £910 for fixtures and fittings, and was completed in May 1843.[1]

Museum opening

The Donegal County Museum first opened to the public in 1987.[2] It received additional European Union funding in 1989.[3]

The museum was extended and officially re-opened by President Mary Robinson on 14 June 1992.[3]

In November 2022, the museum launched a database of Donegal people who died in World War I.[4]

Collection

The purpose of Donegal County Museum is to "collect, record, preserve, and display the material evidence and associated information of the History and Heritage of County Donegal".[5] In 2013, the then Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan, said that the museum was among the "best in Ireland" at "dealing with the past and recognising all traditions [and diversity]".[6]

Designated Museum

Donegal County Museum is a "Designated Museum" which, under the National Monuments (Amendment) Act, 1994, and the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997, is entitled to retain objects on behalf of the state.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Donegal". Workhouses. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Donegal County Museum". Lough Foyle Ferry website. Archived from the original on 19 October 2007.
  3. ^ a b "Músaem Condae Dhún na nGall / Donegal County Museum". Dun-na-nGall.com. Archived from the original on 7 December 2006.
  4. ^ Magnier, Eileen (9 November 2022). "Donegal museum launches WW1 database". RTÉ.ie.
  5. ^ "Donegal County Museum". bordermuseums.ie. Archived from the original on 21 April 2010.
  6. ^ "Donegal County Museum 'best in Ireland' says Minister". Donegal Daily. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2013. "Donegal is years ahead of everyone else when it comes to diversity, dealing with the past and recognising all traditions. The work of the County Museum is the best in Ireland when it comes to that," he added.
  7. ^ "Donegal County Museum Brochure" (PDF). bordermuseums.ie. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 January 2014.
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