Sligo County Museum facts for kids
| Músaem Chontae Shligigh | |
 |
|
| Established | 1955 |
|---|---|
| Location | Stephen Street, Sligo, Ireland |
| Type | County museum |
| Public transit access | Markievicz Road bus shelter |
The Sligo County Museum (which is Músaem Chontae Shligigh in Irish) is a cool place where you can learn all about the history of County Sligo in Ireland. It's located in Sligo town, inside an old building called a manse. A manse is a house where a clergyman, like a minister, used to live.
Contents
Discovering Sligo's Past
The Sligo County Museum first opened its doors in 1955. It is set up in a building that was once a manse. This manse was built around 1867 and was connected to the start of the Congregational church in Sligo. Right next to it is a beautiful old Presbyterian church, which has been the Sligo Library since 1954.
How the Museum Started
A very important person named Nora Niland helped create the museum. The famous Niland Collection of art is named after her. She was especially helpful in setting up the museum's special collection about the famous writer, W. B. Yeats.
What You Can See Inside
The museum's collections cover the entire history of County Sligo. You can explore everything from the Stone Age right up to today.
Amazing Old Objects
One of the most interesting old items on display is a firkin of bog butter. This butter is over 100 years old! It was found preserved in a bog, which is a type of wetland.
Celebrating Famous People
Sligo is well-known for its connection to the poet W. B. Yeats. The museum has many exhibits dedicated to him. You can see a copy of the Nobel Prize in Literature he won in 1923. There are also some of his works from 1889 to 1936.
The museum also shows paintings by other famous Irish artists. These include Jack Butler Yeats (W. B. Yeats's brother), George William Russell, and Seán Keating. You can also find items linked to Countess Markievicz and her sister, Eva Gore-Booth. Both were important figures in Irish history.
Local Treasures and More
You'll find many local artifacts and interesting rock samples from the area. In recent years, the museum had a special display called News from the Past. This exhibit told the story of Sligo's role in World War I. It even included old photographs from the war that a local person saved from being lost in the 1990s.
Plans for a New Museum
There have been plans to build a new, bigger museum for Sligo. Designs for a new building were made in 2001. By 2002, the museum service had finished its plans for this new County Museum.
Improving the Collection
In 2002, the museum also worked to make its collection even better. They bought furniture from a sale at Lissadell House, adding more historical pieces.
Building the Future
The first part of the new project was meant to include a new Sligo Branch Library and the County Museum. Money was approved for the new library and headquarters in Sligo town. An extra grant was also given for the new museum project in 2001. Construction started in 2008 but was stopped after the groundworks were finished.
