County Museum Dundalk facts for kids
| Músaem Chontae Dhún Dealgan | |
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| Established | 1994 |
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| Location | Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland |
| Type | County museum |
The County Museum Dundalk (which is called Músaem Chontae Dhún Dealgan in Irish) is a cool place in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland. It tells the amazing story of County Louth, from ancient times right up to today! The museum is located in a really old building, an 18th-century warehouse that used to be part of a big distillery.
A Look Back: The Museum's Story
The building where the museum now stands has a long history! It was first built in 1780 as a grain storage building for a distillery. A distillery is a place where strong drinks are made. This distillery stopped making drinks in 1926.
Later, in 1989, a tobacco company called P.J. Carroll & Co. gave the old grain store to the Dundalk Urban District Council. They wanted it to be used as a special centre to teach people about history. After a lot of work to fix it up, the building opened as the County Museum in 1994. The local council helps to fund the museum.
The museum has won many cool awards over the years! These include two Gulbenkian Museum of the Year Awards in 1995 and 1999. It also won a Gold Award for Best Commissioned Display in 1995 and an Interpret Ireland Award in 2000. In 2014, it was even named the Best Local Authority Museum!
What You Can See: Exploring the Collections
When you visit the museum, you can explore three main exhibition areas. These areas show the history of County Louth, starting from the Stone Age (a very long time ago!) all the way to the present day.
Some of the interesting things you might see include:
- Examples of ancient Irish rock art.
- Objects connected to Oliver Cromwell, a famous historical figure.
In 2013, the museum added something super modern: a 'virtual presenter'! This is like a digital guide that helps explain things. It was one of the first of its kind in a European museum.
The County Museum Dundalk is also special because the National Museum of Ireland has chosen it to collect important archaeological finds. This means if ancient objects are found in County Louth, they often come to this museum!
Besides the permanent displays, the museum also has lots of other fun activities. They host temporary exhibitions, drama shows, music concerts, interesting talks, and even films. There's always something new to discover!
