News

One hundred years ago this month, the inhabitants of Lisburn hosted a civic reception to honour local-man Nelson Russell (1897-1971), the winner of the town’s first M.C.. Russell, who grew up in Clonevin Park and attended Friends’ School, was awarded the honour for leading a ‘daring’ daylight raid on German trenches in April 1916 while

‘The Great Flying Challenge’ BBC One Northern Ireland’s new show, ‘The Great Flying Challenge’, follows Dick Strawbridge as he attempts to re-create local man Harry Ferguson’s monoplane. The Ferguson monoplane was the first Irish heavier-than-air craft to fly. The monoplane was designed by Harry, and built in Belfast.  He made his first flight in December 1909. The

2016 Autumn Talks Programme featuring Eamon Phoenix, Donal McAnallen, Lar Joye, Jason Burke, Tom Hartley, Marja Almqvist, Fearghal McGarry and Pat Geary, Sept-Oct All talks are FREE. To book, or for more information, visit www.lisburnmuseum.com email: ilc.reception@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk or tel: 02892663377. Note: Jason Burke is unable to attend, and Philip Orr will now facilitate this session.

Lisnagarvey Hockey, the Olympic Games, and Lisburn’s first Olympian? In August 2016 the Olympics Games will take place in Rio, Brazil, and for the first time in 108 years the Irish Hockey Team will contest the finals (although men from Northern Ireland will compete with both Ireland and Great Britain hockey teams).  In the same year that

Summer Archaeology Dig 2016 at  Hillsborough Castle   This summer we need your help to discover what’s underneath the gardens and add to Hillsborough Castle’s collections, stories and history. With expert archaeologists on hand to lead the dig, we need you to be part of the team and unearth the hidden secrets. Old maps suggest

‘THE SOMME, OUR STORY’ EXHIBITION, July 2016 *Official Press Release* Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has opened a new public exhibition ‘The Somme, Our Story’ in the Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum to mark the Centenary of the Battle of the Somme. The Mayor, Councillor Brian Bloomfield MBE, the Mayoress, Rosalind Bloomfield and Councillor

The Tricolour That Flew Over the GPO: the Story of Sgt Davis (Lisburn) 1916 With the surrender of the Easter Rising rebels on Friday April 28th 1916, and the re-capture of the GPO, a party of local soldiers, who had helped quell the Rising, returned home.  Given a ‘great reception’ at Lisburn Railway Station, the

Circuit of Ireland Rally Winners 2016 receive Irish Linen There was Lisburn Linen For the Circuit of Ireland Rally Winners 2016!  Following the successful launch of this year’s Circuit of Ireland Rally in Lisburn, the Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh, Councillor Thomas Beckett presented Craig Breen from Waterford and his co-driver Scott Martin – winners

Lisburn and the Circuit of Ireland *For event details on Lisburn and the Circuit of Ireland 2016 see the bottom of this post.  Beginning in 1931 the Circuit of Ireland, first known as the Ulster Motor Rally, became the Circuit of Ireland Trial in 1936, and finally the Circuit of Ireland Rally in 1956.  At its

Temporary Museum Closure: March 7th-11th 2016 Due to essential maintenance, the museum will be closed from March 7th to March 11th inclusive.  We apologise for any inconvenience. Staff can be still be contacted here. Next week On Tuesday 8th March you can enjoy live spinning and weaving demonstration and discuss the history of Ireland’s most important industry at

Following King George V’s proclamation, all parts of the empire marked the first anniversary of the signing of the Armistice.  In Lisburn, many gathered at the temporary cenotaph in Market Square, where a short service was held, while others attended services in many of Lisburn’s churches.  At 11am, a bell was rung and the town’s

On Tuesday  27th October 2015 noted author and journalist Kevin Myers delivered a talk titled ‘Ireland and the Great War’ to a packed Assembly Room.  Kevin is well known for his role in illuminating – and returning to the public’s consciousness – the role Ireland and Irishmen played in  the great war of 1914-198, and

Commemorating Men from Lisburn and District who fought and died at Gallipoli In October 2015 the museum’s curator, Brian Mackey, attended a wreath-laying service at Green Hill Cemetery, Turkey, to commemorate men from Lisburn and district who fought and died fighting with the 10th and 29th Divisions, as well as Australian and New Zealand forces,

A former teacher at Hilden Primary School, Ms Hanthorne, is collecting material (stories, images, text, reminiscences or other ephemera) relating to the school for a new book.  If you have any of this material, or you are interested in getting involved, then please contact us here, and we’ll forward your details on.

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

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

Private Alec Martin’s niece telling the story of her uncle, born in Magheragall, who died on April 25th at Gallipoli: MY Anzac story is about my uncle Private Alexander Martin. He was not a local, he never even saw the Manning Valley as far as I know. Source: My Anzac Story: Private Alexander Martin |

Image: The Mayor, Councillor Thomas Beckett with Councillor Paul Porter, Chairman of Leisure, Finny O’Sullivan, whose father fought at Gallipoli, and Rosemary Bunting, Chairman of Lisburn Historical Society at the opening of the Gallipoli display in the Museum. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Gallipoli campaign during World War I, on

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

On Tuesday 30th September 2014, the Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum hosted Dr Fearghal McGarry, Reader in Modern Irish History at Queen’s University Belfast.  To a packed house, Dr McGarry discussed Ireland and the Great War, dispelling some popular myths before opening the floor to questions. This was the second in our series of

Guest Post: this post was written by Matthew, a year 12 student from Fort Hill who spent a week in the museum in October 2014 on work experience.  Great job Matthew! John Barbour moved from Scotland to Co. Down, Ireland in 1784 to establish a linen- thread making business at the Plantation, Lisburn.  The Barbour’s

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 – 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

Courtesy of Lisburn City Council A new, free exhibition entitled ‘Lisburn 1912-1914’ was officially opened in the Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum this week. Residents and visitors are encouraged to come along and learn about the people and the place in the crisis years leading up to the outbreak of the Great War. Alderman

The Great War: Lights out To mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of WWI the Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum will be extinguishing its lights between 10pm to 11pm on August 4th 2012. “The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our life-time.”   Sir