- Donegal County Museum
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Donegal County Museum Músaem Chontae Dhún na nGall Established 1987 Location Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland Type County museum Donegal County Museum (Irish: Músaem Chontae Dhún na nGall), located on High Road in the town of Letterkenny in Ireland, is a county museum. The building opened to the public in 1845 as the Warden's House of the Letterkenny Workhouse during the Famine. Its purpose is to collect, record, preserve, and display the material evidence and associated information of the history of Donegal.
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History
Letterkenny Board of Guardians held their first meeting in July 1841. At this meeting it was decided to build a workhouse in the town. The constructor of the building was Alex Deane of Cork. He agreed to complete the building, on a 4-acre (16,000 m2) site, for £5,792. The building commenced in 1842 in neo-Tudor style . Stone used in the building was taken from Lord Abercorn's Quarry. The Warden's House and the Workhouse doors opened in 1845, shortly before the Famine. 46 paupers were admitted. A dispensary was attached to the workhouse and later became Saint Anne's Maternity Hospital.
The museum first opened to the public in 1987. Due to the success of the museum in the early years it was extended after it received European Union funding in 1989. It was given an official opening by President Mary Robinson on June 14, 1992.
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The Museum holds a substantial collection of original artefacts that have a connection to the County Donegal area. These items cover subjects such as archaeology, history, social history and folklife. There are two exhibition galleries, and a number of offices within the building.The Temporary Exhibition Gallery shows between 6 and 11 temporary exhibitions per year - local, national and international.
The first floor gallery contains artefacts connected to the history of County Donegal from the prehistoric stone age period, through to the twentieth century and the present day. Throughout the year, the Museum hosts a wide variety of lectures, seminars and educational events on a wide variety of topics and themes. The Museum is opened year round and is admission free.
Development
The Museum was originally housed in what was once the Warden's house of the Letterkenny Workhouse, built in 1843. Between 1990 and 1991, the existing building underwent renovations and an extension was built. Further renovating was carried out between 1999 and 2000.
External links
Museums and Galleries in the Republic of Ireland An Post Museum · Craggaunowen · Chester Beatty Library · Cobh Heritage Centre · Connemara Heritage and History Centre · Crawford Municipal Art Gallery · Donegal County Museum · Donegal Railway Centre · The Douglas Hyde Gallery · Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane · Dublin Writers Museum · Galway City Museum · Hunt Museum · Irish Jewish Museum · Irish Museum of Modern Art · James Joyce Centre · James Joyce Tower and Museum · Kerry County Museum · Kilmainham Gaol · Marsh's Library · Museum of Country Life · National Gallery of Ireland · National Leprechaun Museum · National Library of Ireland · National Maritime Museum of Ireland · National Museum of Ireland · National Photographic Archive · National Print Museum of Ireland · National Transport Museum of Ireland · National Wax Museum · Natural History Museum · Pearse Museum · Science Gallery · State Heraldic Museum · Temple Bar Gallery and Studios · Waterford Museum of Treasures
Letterkenny Districts Media Radio Print Education Third-level Second-level Sport Soccer Gaelic Rugby Stadia Landmarks Church of the Irish Martyrs · Conwal Parish Church · Donegal County Museum · St. Conal's Psychiatric Hospital · Cathedral of St. Eunan and St ColumbaAmenities Ballymacool Park · Club Voodoo · Golf Club · An Grianán Theatre · Grill Music Venue · Library · Town Park · Regional Cultural Centre · Sports ComplexRetail Industry Other Categories:- Letterkenny
- Buildings and structures in Letterkenny
- History of County Donegal
- Museums established in 1987
- Museums in County Donegal
- Local museums in the Republic of Ireland
- Irish building and structure stubs
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