Armagh County Museum
Armagh County Museum is a treasury of history and art that uniquely reflects the character of the region known as the “Orchard County”. Built in 1834, the building was first used as a school. Some years later, it was occupied by the Armagh Natural History and Philosophical Society. Many of the items included in the museum’s current exhibits were passed down from the Society when the museum opened its doors in 1937.
The Armagh County Museum sits adjacent to the Mall, which houses the Armagh Cricket Club. The museum features many permanent as well as traveling exhibits. Its collections include:
•Prehistoric pottery, tools, metal works and burial materials, as well as artifacts from the early Christian period.
•Relics of local history such as the metal skull that was once used to publicize the hanging of prisoners at the nearby courthouse and gaol.
•Paintings – including portraiture and local landscape, by artists such as George William Russell, John Luke, and J.B. Vallely.
•Other art exhibits featuring exquisite sculptures, pieces of furniture and ceramics.
•Historical clothing from the 18th century to current styles fashioned for men, women and children.
•Crafts, including local items created using the time-honored technique of straw weaving, such as an interesting mummer’s mask. Mummers wore it as they sang and danced in costume.
•Armagh Volunteers military displays from the 1790’s including glass, weapons, uniforms as well as militia accessories from Louth and Tyrone, and items from the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
•Exhibits of Natural History, including the taxidermy of several local species of badger, fox, rabbit, squirrels, and birds, and local fossils in limestone.
•Wooden utensils, such as drinking containers and bowls, some of which date back to the Bronze Age.
•Viking artifacts of clothing and jewelry commemorating the many raids, which took place in the region.
An interesting railway display tells the story of a local tragedy from 1889. A Sunday school class was taking the train on a trip to the seashore when it met misfortune. The train stalled near Armagh, and in an effort to clear the track, the cars were disconnected. Part of the train lost braking ability and crashed into another train head on, resulting in 89 deaths and over 400 injured passengers.
The Armagh County Museum also has an extensive reference library filled with local archives and collections of photos and maps of area historical topics.
Temporary exhibits at Armagh County Museum include The George Russell exhibit, honoring the local painter, poet and economist, and the Armagh Art Club Annual Exhibition.