Object: Irene MacWilliam’s amazing Irish Linen Wall Hanging LMILC.1997.103 Irene McWilliam is one of the foremost quilters and embroiders. She was awarded a BEM for services to textile art in 2019, and has won numerous awards for her work. In 2021 she won RSPB NI’s artist of the year! Irene has exhibited her work in […]
Object: Irene MacWilliam’s amazing Irish Linen Wall Hanging Read More »
Photo: Main Street, Hillsborough, 1924 Do you recognise this view? This 1924-postcard from the Alan Coon photography studio. As the Dictionary of Ulster Biography notes: Alan Daniel Coon (1867-1938) was born in Buffalo, New York and was Attorney-at-Law in the United States. In 1902 he came to Ulster and opened a photographic studio in Derry
Photo: Main Street, Hillsborough, 1924 Read More »
In 2021 the museum partnered with NI Science Festival to produce a short video on the history of Hilden Mill. The film is one of three in a series documenting the past, present and future of the linen industry in Northern Ireland. View the full playlist here, with great contributions from Dr Anthony
Video: Barbour’s Mill, Hilden, Lisburn Read More »
Photo: McKeown’s Bread Vans, Lisburn Do you remember the James McKeown & Co. Bakery? The bakery opened in Sloan Street the 1850s, and served the people of Lisburn until its closure in the late 1980s. Read more about the bakery’s history here. The Bakery also had premises in Seymour Street.
Photo: McKeown’s Bread Vans, Lisburn Read More »
Video: Dr Patricia Marsh – “The doctors are being run off their feet”: Spanish Flu in Lisburn Dr Patricia Marsh is a medical historian and expert on the history of the Spanish Flu in Ireland and Ulster. Dr Marsh has spoken widely on the flu pandemic, including at Áras an Uachtaráin, Dublin, Ireland. In this
Snippet from the Collection: A short snippet from the museum’s collection: a red cross feeding cup c.1914-18 This patient Feeding Cup or Invalid Cup was used to help nurse injured Soldiers and Sailors who were bed-bound and could not sit up to feed. The cup is marked with a red cross, the symbol of the
Collection Snippets: Red Cross Feeding Cup Read More »
Photo: Preparing Rooms at Stewarts’ Mill Photo of the Preparing Room at Robert Stewart & Sons Ltd, Lisburn, Northern Ireland.
Photo: Preparing Rooms at Stewarts’ Mill Read More »
Video: Dr Alan Parkinson – The Northern Troubles 1920-22 In this talk Dr Alan Parkinson, author of Belfast’s Unholy War (2004) will examine the troubles in Ulster in the 1920s, from Belfast, Derry and Lisburn, and the violent context that surrounded the birth of Northern Ireland (1921). Alan Parkinson is a former university history lecturer/teacher-trainer.
Video: Dr Alan Parkinson – The Northern Troubles 1920-22 Read More »
Photo: The machinery falls quiet at Barbour Threads, Lisburn, 2006
Photo: The machinery falls quiet at Barbour Threads, Lisburn, 2006 Read More »
Photo: building the new civic centre, Lisburn
Photo: building the new civic centre, Lisburn Read More »
Video: Cormac Moore- The day-to-day effects of Partition in Ireland Dr Cormac Moore is Historian-in-Residence with Dublin City Council, and author of a number of books including The Irish Soccer Split (2015) and The Birth of the Border (2019). In this talk Cormac will explore the impact of partition, from law to sport, agriculture to
Video: Cormac Moore – The day-to-day effects of Partition in Ireland Read More »
Photo: Convent, Seymour Street
Photo: Convent, Seymour Street Read More »
Advert: Barbour Threads, c.2000 Did you work there? What are your memories? Did you use their products?
Advert: Barbour Threads, c.2000 Read More »
Photo: Top Hall Ballroom, Lisburn Share your stories of the Top Hat Ballroom with us! Who did you see? Do you have any photos? Share them us!
Photo: Top Hall Ballroom, Lisburn Read More »
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum! Credit: James Lyttle, Lisburn
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Read More »
Photo: Christmas time in Market Square, c. 1960s-70s?
Photo: Christmas time in Market Square, c. 1960s-70s? Read More »
Photo: Market Square and the Nicholson Statue in the Snow, c.1963 Photo: Market Square in the Snow, 1963
Photo: Market Square in the Snow, c.1963 Read More »
Photo: A view of the Crimean Cannon in Castle Gardens
Photo: Crimean Cannon in Castle Gardens Read More »
Photo: A view of the corner of Bow Street and Antrim Street in the snow, 1963.
Photo: Bow Street and Antrim Street in the Snow, 1963 Read More »
Video: Christopher Magill – The East Ulster Riots and the Formation of The Special Constabulary 1920 In this talk, Christopher Magill examines Ulster in 1920, from the shipyard expulsions to the wave of summer rioting that swept through Banbridge, Dromore, Belfast and Lisburn, and the emergence of the Ulster Special Constabulary (USC). Dr Christopher Magill
Video: Pearse Lawlor: Lisburn – The Burnings, 1920 In this talks Pearse Lawlor examines the murder of RIC DI Swanzy in August 1920, and the events which led to serious sectarian rioting and the burning of Catholic owned property in Lisburn throughout summer 1920. View the video here: https://youtu.be/W8x9T9ofcuQ This series was generously supported by
Video: Pearse Lawlor: Lisburn – The Burnings, 1920 Read More »
Video: Prof Brian Walker – Centenaries, 1920-23: commemorations, conflict and conciliation In this talk, Prof Brian Walker explores the issue of anniversaries, centenaries and commemoration in Ireland, from 1798 in 1998 through to 2021 and the ‘birth’ of Northern Ireland, reflecting on our changing response to remembering. Brian M. Walker is an historian and Professor
Photo: A view of Market Square in the snow, 1963.
Photo: Market Square in the Snow, 1963 Read More »
Castle Gardens Geophysical Survey, November 2020 In early November 2020 archaeologists from Queen’s University Belfast conducted a geophysical survey of Castle Gardens, as part of a preliminary survey to ascertain the location of the 17th-century manor house. What is Geophysics? Geophysics is a form of remote sensing. And, according to Historic England: Geophysical survey is
Castle Gardens Geophysical Survey, November 2020 Read More »
Conservation at Lisburn Museum Behind the scenes in the Museum, staff work to conserve and look after the objects within the collection. In this photograph, a staff member is stitching a damask napkin, woven in the weaving workshop, to a conservation board. This will ensure the napkin remains flat and taut. Do you have
Conservation at Lisburn Museum Read More »
Winter Talks Programme 2020 feat Pearse Lawlor, Chris Magill, Brian Walker, Cormac Moore, Alan Parkinson and Patricia Marsh We are pleased to announce our Winter 2020/2021 online talks programme, supported by Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council’s Good Relations Programme. The talks are free and will take place online via Youtube at 7pm (the previously scheduled
Market Square, 1919 David Gould (1871-1952) Born in Scotland, David Gould came to Belfast in 1891 to learn damask designing but qualified as an art teacher after attending the Government School of Art. He lived in Lisburn between 1909 and 1926 and taught at Friends’ School, Lisburn for several years. The Museum has a number
Painting: David Gould, Market Square, 1919 Read More »
Historic Photo: Quay Street, c1970s This historic photo of Lisburn was taken at Hancock Street, Co. Down, looking across to Quay Street. Note the distinctive skyline of the cathedral and Assembly Room clocktower. Castle Gardens is overgrown!
Historic Photo: Quay Street, c1970s Read More »
What is a motte and bailey? Let’s look at Duneight, outside Lisburn.. Situated on the Ravarnet River, this rath was later re-purposed during the 12th-century Anglo-Norman period as a motte and bailey. A motte and bailey is a type of castle situated on a raised earthwork and surrounded by a ditch and protective fence. The
What is a motte and bailey? Let’s look at Duneight, outside Lisburn.. Read More »
Historic Photo: Bridge Street, Lisburn What a wonderful view of Bridge Street from the Dan McWilliam’s collection. Join the conversation on Facebook.
Historic Photo: Bridge Street, Lisburn Read More »
Drumbo Round Tower A familiar sight for anyone travelling through the village of Drumbo, south-east of Lisburn. Drumbo round tower is located in the grounds of Drumbo Presbyterian Church, and built on the site of Medieval Parish Church and an earlier monastery. The tower is over 35ft tall and was built in the Early Christian
Drumbo Round Tower Read More »
Castle Robin is located on the Mullaghglass Rd, between Lisburn and Stoneyford. Although little remains, the site is fascinating and contains remains of a three-story c.17th-century fortified house, likely built in c.1611 by Sir Robert Norton, and an Anglo-Norman motte & bailey. The site commands an excellent view of the Lagan Valley & the Mournes.
Where is Castle Robin? Read More »
