Ciaran

Ciaran Toal Research Officer.

windows lisburn cathedral history

The Windows of Lisburn Cathedral, a new guide from Lisburn Museum (Launch 2015)

A new guide to the stained-glass windows of Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn, was recently launched by the Rector, the Rev Canon Sam Wright and the Curator of the Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum, Brian Mackey. The guide, a collaboration between the cathedral and the museum, tells the rich history of the windows, including the […]

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Exhibition Launch: The Boyne

Today Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Mayor Councillor Thomas Beckett, along with the Chairman of the Leisure Services Committee Alderman Paul Porter opened the museum’s latest exhibition: The Boyne, marking the 325th anniversary of the battle.  See some of the photos below. The exhibition marks the 325th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, fought

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Gallipoli Lisburn Museum

Exhibition (April 2015) – The ‘dreaded peninsula’: Lisburn and district men at Gallipoli, 1915

Exhibition (April 2015) – The ‘dreaded peninsula’ April 25th (Anzac Day), marks the centenary of the Gallipoli Campaign, a series of disastrous allied landings in, what is now, modern-day Turkey during the First World War (1914-1918). Turkey’s entry into the war had cut off the supply route between Britain and France and their ally Russia

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The return of Brigadier General John Nicholson to Market Square (Photos and Videos)

On April 21 2015 the statue of Brigadier-General John Nicholson returned to Market Square.  Originally erected in January 1922 in the centre of Market Square (currently under construction), the statue was designed by the sculpture F.W. Pomeroy and gifted by Henry Musgrave.  It was moved to make way for the re-development of Market Square. Have a quick read

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BBC william Crawley imagining ulster 2015

BBC’s Imagining Ulster, featuring material from the museum’s collection

BBC’s Imagining Ulster, featuring material from the museum’s collection Did you see William Crawley’s fantastic Imagining Ulster?  Recently featured on BBC One NI, the show: “explores some of the social, cultural and political influences that have shaped aspects of identity in Northern Ireland. It looks at how Ulster has been a meeting place between different

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R-Space Gallery in collaboration with the Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum March 2015

Project Linlon: 21st March – 18th April 2015, a collaboration with R-Space Gallery

Project Linlon with Nora Fok 21st March – 18th April 2015 Opening events Saturday 21 March: Artist talk 1-2pm (free) Jewellery making Masterclass 2-5pm (£20) In collaboration with the Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum and McConville’s Mill & Museum Dromore, Co Down, international jewellery artist Nora Fok developed “linlon”, a linen and nylon mixed

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Drop in Science workshops Lisburn Museum 7th March

Free Drop-in Workshops: Science Week

Free Drop-in Workshops: Science Week On March 7th we are running another popular ‘drop-in’ workshops, come along with the family and enjoy our FREE science week programme. All ages welcome, workshops are free of charge and there is no need to book – just come along. Morning sessions from 10am-12.00 or afternoon 2pm-4pm, you can stay as long

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Launch of teh research project: Brian Mackey, Ciaran Toal, SDLP, DUP, Lisburn Cathgolics and the Great War

Successful launch of our new research project: ‘Lisburn Catholics and the Great War’

Pictured (left to right): Brian Mackey, Ciaran Toal, Alan Carlisle and Pat Catney at the launch. On February 2 2015 the Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum launched its latest research project at St Joseph’s Parish Hall, St Patrick’s, Chapel Hill, Lisburn.  The project, ‘Lisburn Catholics and the Great War’, aims to explore the untold

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Christmas Irish Volunteers 1914

The Irish Volunteers at Christmas (1914)

The Irish Volunteers at Christmas (1914) Formed in November 1913, the Irish Volunteers were, in part, a nationalist reaction to the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF).    The Volunteers, with Eoin MacNeill acting as a figurehead, although they were largely controlled by the secretive Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB), who would later launch the Easter Rising in 1916.  Bulmer Hobson (1883-1969),

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History ireland Mrs Metge Bombing lisburn cathedral

History Ireland Magazine: Mrs Metge, the Suffragettes and the bombing of Lisburn Cathedral!

The November/December issue of History Ireland features an article from our Research Officer Ciaran Toal on local suffragette Lillian Metge and her attempt to blow up Lisburn Cathedral in the fight for women’s suffrage.   The article brings together primary and secondary research and not only examines the events surrounding the August 1914- bombing of

History Ireland Magazine: Mrs Metge, the Suffragettes and the bombing of Lisburn Cathedral! Read More »

margaret ward lisburn museum october 2014

Lecture: ‘We are all one in the suffrage faith’ – Dr Margaret Ward. Tuesday 28th October 2014 – FREE

‘We are all one in the suffrage faith’ Lecture: ‘We are all one in the suffrage faith’ – Dr Margaret Ward. When?  Tuesday 28th October 2014 Where?  Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum Email or call 02892663377 for FREE tickets. #suffrage #ulster #ireland #metge #women #lisburn #lovelisburn

Lecture: ‘We are all one in the suffrage faith’ – Dr Margaret Ward. Tuesday 28th October 2014 – FREE Read More »

Blackshaw Exhibition October 2014

Basil Blackshaw: Pictures from the Museum’s collections – FREE Exhibition – Oct 22nd to Nov 7th

Basil Blackshaw was born in Glengormley, County Antrim in 1932, and brought up in Boardmills near Lisburn. Educated at Methodist College Belfast, at 16 he enrolled in the Belfast College of Art (1948-51) and was awarded a CEMA scholarship to study in Paris.   Noted for his early expressionist approach, Blackshaw’s themes have included local

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Lisburn Museum Basil Blackshaw Eamonn Mallie

Basil Blackshaw, Eamonn Mallie and Lisburn Museum’s lastest acquisition

Eamonn Mallie at Lisburn Museum To mark the recent presentation to the museum of Blackshaw’s ‘Colin Mountain from Hillsborough’ (c.1970) by the Lisburn Historic Quarter Arts Group, Eamonn Mallie, the organiser and editor of the publication ‘Blackshaw’ (2003) was invited to give a guest lecture on the artist.  To a packed Assembly Rooms on October

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Lisburn Museum - Accredited

Museum Accreditation: Lisburn Museum

Great news for the Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum: our Museum Accreditation has been renewed! What is Museum Accreditation? The Accreditation Scheme The Accreditation Scheme sets nationally agreed standards for museums in the UK. There are currently just under 1,800 museums participating in the scheme, demonstrating their commitment to managing collections effectively for the

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Riverlands BBC Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum

‘Riverland – The River Lagan’, featuring photos and videos from the museum’s collections.

‘Riverland – The River Lagan’ The BBC’s new series Riverlands explores Ireland’s waterways, and in the first episode ‘The River Lagan’ the show features pictures videos from the museum’s collections.  Special attention is given to the Lagan’s role in supporting the linen trade, including: Lisburn’s canals, Barbours’ Hilden Mill and the retting dams and ponds

‘Riverland – The River Lagan’, featuring photos and videos from the museum’s collections. Read More »

Culture Night @ Lisburn Museum

Culture Night @ Lisburn Museum Friday 19th September 7pm – 9pm FREE   As part of culture night, we have an exciting evening of entertainment to accompany our new exhibition ‘Lisburn, 1912-1914’. Gospel choir Cantiunculae will recite a number of letters from the Great War, giving us a sense of what life was like in

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Killeaton House Grubbs Lillian Metge

Killeaton House, Dunmurry.

Killeaton House c.1900.  It is believed that the photo shows, from left to right, Mrs Harriet Grubb, Mrs Lillian Metge (seated), Mr Richard Grubb and Mrs Margaret Maguire, the Grubb’s housekeeper. Killeaton House Built in 1870, Killeaton House was home to Richard Cambridge Grubb (d. 1916) and Harriet Richardson (1847-1943), daughter of Jonathan Richardson (1804-1894),

Killeaton House, Dunmurry. Read More »

Ciaran Toal, Larry Lamb and Ernie Cromie at the Airwaves Portrush Shows in September 2014.

Aerolinen at Airwaves Portrush, and BBC’s World War One at Home Roadshow.

Aerolinen at Airwaves Portrush Our Research Officer Ciaran was recently involved in BBC Northern Ireland’s World War One at Home roadshow at Air Waves Portrush.  Along with Ernie Cromie of the Ulster Aviation Society and Larry Lamb, he discussed flax production, aerolinen and aviation during the Great War. If you’re interested in Aerolinen, then contact

Aerolinen at Airwaves Portrush, and BBC’s World War One at Home Roadshow. Read More »

Aerolinen 1914 WWI Lisburn

‘The war was won on Ulster linen wings’ how aerolinen and Andrews’ Mill (Comber), aided the war effort.

Aerolinen – The War Was Won On Ulster Wings Our Research Officer recently sat down with Jenny Witt from the BBC to discuss the role aerolinen played in the First World War.  The talk is featured as part of the BBC’s fantastic Word War One at Home series. Today Andrews’ Mill in Comber is a

‘The war was won on Ulster linen wings’ how aerolinen and Andrews’ Mill (Comber), aided the war effort. Read More »

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